Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The importance of being immediate - Google Mobile App now for Nokia S60 smartphones

As a user experience designer I like to take every opportunity to better understand the issues that get in the way of people making the most of their mobile phones. The development of Google Mobile App for Nokia S60 smartphones, which launched today, has provided an opportunity to address three aspects of an issue we hear about on a regular basis: immediacy.

1. Immediacy of access

We know from our users that navigating through menus introduces an unwanted delay. Our quick key mechanism launches the application directly from the home screen, making search, Google Maps, Gmail, and other Google mobile services available immediately.


The quick key reminder (left) and the app showing your current location (right)


2. Immediacy of location
Google Mobile App for Nokia Series 60 smartphones comes with location awareness built in. If you use the My Location feature, you'll get local search results that relate to where you are. You can opt in or out of this at any time, via the Settings menu.


Search suggestions that combine with your location to give local search results


3. Immediacy of query formulation

We have adopted a dual approach to help make query formulation quick and efficient. First, your search history is readily available so that it's easy to repeat queries. Second, we offer query suggestions based on what has been entered so far to get you to your results as quickly as possible.

Search history (left) and search suggestions (right)

Additionally, we like to work with feedback about earlier versions of our products, such as the quick key launch feature. We found that some users didn't need a home screen reminder, while others liked having it there. So in Google Mobile App, we added an item in Settings to let people choose what best suits them.

Google Mobile App can be downloaded from http://m.google.com on your phone's browser. Give it a try and please keep all the feedback coming - your input is invaluable to making sure we get products and features right.

Posted by Benedict Davies, User Experience Designer, Google Mobile Team
at

50 comments:

  1. elykomJune 3, 2009 at 11:37 AM

    Is this application available for the S60 5th edition such as the Nokia 5800? Logging into m.google.com I can't see a download link anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CtrlBurnJune 3, 2009 at 12:27 PM

    "We found that some users didn't need a home screen reminder, while others liked having it there. So in Google Mobile App, we added an item in Settings to let people choose what best suits them."

    I know of about a thousand software developers who need to read that passage over and over until it sinks in. Options are always good, even if you don't need them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 1:15 PM

    So far, I really like this program. Is there a way to change the default web browser it uses?

    I'm not a fan of the built-in browser on my Nokia e71, and use Opera mini. But, I can't see a way to change the default.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 1:59 PM

    i 2nd Tim's comments

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 2:03 PM

    i went to m.google.com and there is no option to DL the app on my E71. I miss the app from my old BBerry.

    Where are we supposed to DL the app for S60??

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 2:40 PM

    Good stuff, thanks! Missing a Google Reader option (I changed my location from UK to USA to try and get it - as was suggested on Nokiaaddict - but still no joy).

    Google Reader is my second most-used Googleapp - any chance of a S60 version? Even if it's just a web widget WRT?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jan KocbachJune 3, 2009 at 2:44 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJune 3, 2009 at 2:52 PM

    Any plans to add it (and other google apps) to the Ovi store?

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    Thank you for this stuff.

    But in my option > settings menu there is a duplicate option entry
    "Accès rapide" (Quick Access in english I think)

    I would also like to see google reader intergrated.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 3:08 PM

    I have to reinstall gmail mobile ver 2.0.6.1269 gorganic Nokia-N82, because the launcher in the GM app was greyish and selecting it launched the gmail mobile page in the phone browser.

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 3:12 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 3:14 PM

    Tim said: "... Is there a way to change the default web browser it uses?"

    Good idea Tim, I would like this option too

    ReplyDelete
  13. swrobelJune 3, 2009 at 3:48 PM

    I would also like the ability to change the browser.

    Also, is there a way to search by voice? I see that on the following screenshot but it doesn't seem to work on my E71: http://www.google.com/mobile/images/screenshots/root/default/app.gif

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 4:33 PM

    That's great, but will you EVER have the Mobile App for the Blackberry Storm???????????????

    ReplyDelete
  15. josh909June 3, 2009 at 4:40 PM

    i'm trying to download and getting a 404 Error?

    ReplyDelete
  16. CAD blokeJune 3, 2009 at 5:11 PM

    Newsflash - Australia is a country too. Please add it to the list

    ReplyDelete
  17. TrinitionJune 3, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    I, too, was disappointed that the Google App is seemingly unavailable for the Nokia 5800. Strange, because while it is a S60 5th edition OS, I run plenty of S60 3d edition apps just fine. Is this an intentional or unintentional blacklisting of the Nokia 5800? If unintentional, is anyone working to un-blacklist it?

    ReplyDelete
  18. DerekJune 3, 2009 at 6:52 PM

    Does anyone know of a direct .Sis file i can send to my phone for this app?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tom FoleyJune 3, 2009 at 8:17 PM

    Does anyone know why the choice of countries is so limited? There must be a specific reason?

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    Quickkey needs to work even when the app isn't running. Either that or bring back the standalone search client. I reformatted my phone and am really pissed that I can't add in the simple search client any more because its been replaced with this bloated all in one app.

    ReplyDelete
  21. hotzigettyJune 3, 2009 at 10:16 PM

    A) doesnt really give one touch access to email. I already have gmail app installed, but from the new app, it takes me to the browser to download mail. Same for youtube and the others. What would really help is one main search app/google app, which would open all the other apps directly. So i can search the gmail app for contacts/mails etc.

    ReplyDelete
  22. KimmoJune 3, 2009 at 11:57 PM

    I too would like to see this on Nokia 5800.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Do u like itJune 4, 2009 at 12:38 AM

    I want to see orkut to be integrated with this service, which will make it great for youngsters.

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousJune 4, 2009 at 12:59 AM

    Great app... but how can i attach my existing Gmail to this new app ? - do i need to download it again ? (lower version ?)

    The Google Reader integration could be an excellent improvement...

    ReplyDelete
  25. UnknownJune 4, 2009 at 1:55 AM

    How about google reader integration plus the option to chose your own browser?

    ReplyDelete
  26. zedwillJune 4, 2009 at 3:51 AM

    Excelent, this will improve overall mobile browsing and search. Lots of mobile users like me do not own an iphone or a blackberry. However, thre are tons of nokia users.

    iPhone might have changed the mobile web rules, but don't forget us old mobile surfers. We still are quite a bunch! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  27. UnknownJune 4, 2009 at 7:17 AM

    I'm on a Samsung G810 (Symbian S60v3) but can't see a link on m.google.com either.

    Any chance of it working on my phone?

    ReplyDelete
  28. kartikshradhaJune 4, 2009 at 8:04 AM

    will it work in India?

    ReplyDelete
  29. BruceJune 4, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    Like the new app. BUT, picasa (using my gmail.com login) and reader (using my [mydomain].com login) both stick on the "loading" screen.

    Help!?

    ReplyDelete
  30. UnknownJune 4, 2009 at 9:52 AM

    @chap_ks yes it does..

    ReplyDelete
  31. GermánJune 4, 2009 at 12:06 PM

    This link work for my Nokia 5700. Maybe this work for other S3: http://m.google.com/search/download/binaries/L1/2.1.11/GoogleSearch.sisx?dc=gorganic

    ReplyDelete
  32. chrisJune 4, 2009 at 12:10 PM

    On the E61 searches from this app launch the "Services" browser rather than the full-featured built-in Web Browser. This makes it rather useless as the Services browser is very limited in rendering capability. Could this please be fixed?

    ReplyDelete
  33. KimmoJune 4, 2009 at 12:34 PM

    The program doesn't work for Nokia 5800 when downloaded from the link posted by user German. It installs but its functionality is low, it is close to non-usable.

    ReplyDelete
  34. ErikJune 4, 2009 at 1:53 PM

    Fascinating service, would love to try, but going to m.google.com does not provide me a download for this service!

    Will wait some days and try again!

    ReplyDelete
  35. MacJune 5, 2009 at 1:21 AM

    Please add New Zealand for locations. NZ works fine for google maps locations on S60.

    ReplyDelete
  36. A.T.June 5, 2009 at 2:28 AM

    your I18N & L10N team makes too-far-stretching assumptions -- not everyone in country X speaks/understands language of X (substitute X with anything), so having ability to switch to any other language for UI is vital... Yes, please, put it to settings!

    If you can't create whole set quick, please leave at least English _even_ if I'm in country with non-English population.

    ReplyDelete
  37. UnknownJune 5, 2009 at 6:49 AM

    The link posted above by German worked nicely on my Samsung G810 S60v3:

    http://m.google.com/search/download/binaries/L1/2.1.11/GoogleSearch.sisx?dc=gorganic

    Primarily using it a shortcut widget to gmail and gcalendar. It would be nice to have shortcuts to google reader and google apps as well tho (or even other applications insalled on the phone).

    ReplyDelete
  38. RisviJune 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM

    plz make it version for touch screen 5800...

    ReplyDelete
  39. Brian BeelerJune 6, 2009 at 5:28 AM

    @Chris: And this is exactly why I uninstalled 2.1.11 about two minutes after installing and reinstalled 1.0.15 (something that gets used >20 times a day). Using the "Services" browser instead of the full version for me makes the app unusable. Since I normally have the full browser open using the "Services" browser also burns up precious RAM [on my E61i]. Thanks for mentioning it.

    Too bad because otherwise it looks pretty nice. If this gets fixed I'll definitely try again if the app if I can use the full browser. I'm glad and thankful that Google has written some very nice Symbian apps (the new maps with latitude is sweet) and hope they'll fix this issue.

    BTW IMO the real solution is to get Nokia to fix up the "Services" browser but I don't see that happening anytime soon. My hope is Google will fix it with the requested "work around."

    Google still has an older version at: http://m.google.com/search/download/binaries/L1/1.0.15/GoogleSearch.sisx

    ReplyDelete
  40. Jasmin LoireJune 6, 2009 at 8:50 AM

    I fifth Tim's request to change away from the default browser. I use Skyfire (which I find superior to Opera Mini) and would love to make that my GApps default browser.

    ReplyDelete
  41. jon81ukJune 7, 2009 at 3:51 PM

    again same as others, services browser is useless, it needs to open the full web browser same as the previous version. Going to uninstall and put previous version on I think

    ReplyDelete
  42. DavideJune 8, 2009 at 3:44 PM

    Why on my E65 http://m.google.com/mail?source=mobilesearchapp&v=2.1.11_0&rlz=&dc=Web&client=Web gives me 502 proxy error?

    Same for the gmaps link

    ReplyDelete
  43. DavideJune 8, 2009 at 3:47 PM

    "Same for the gmaps link"
    Sorry same for Youtybe link

    ReplyDelete
  44. PraiseDivineMercyJune 9, 2009 at 12:18 AM

    Ever since this update certain pages on my Nokia 5300 won't display correctly. I used to enjoy reading LJ during my commute, but now the text is all overlapping and jumbled.

    ReplyDelete
  45. JohnJune 9, 2009 at 10:28 PM

    Love it - works on my Nokia E51....BUT not the Gmail link - I removed my Gmail app before installing Google App - but no joy - so, I've gone back to Gmail on the 'desktop' and google app is fine for other functions - not perfect though is it?

    of course being the novice I am I may be missing something here

    keep it up guys

    ReplyDelete
  46. PriscilaJune 11, 2009 at 6:16 PM

    When will we get an official Gtalk application for S60? It's annoying to depend on other 3rd party services!

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnonymousJune 12, 2009 at 9:32 AM

    Hi all,

    Thanks for reporting these issues. Please note that some older versions of Gmail are not currently detected by Google Mobile App. While we're looking at this issue, a quick workaround is to delete your Gmail application and then reinstall it using the Google Mobile App. This will also ensure that you receive the latest version of Gmail on your phone and can load it properly through the app. For more information on using Google Mobile App on your S60, please visit our Help Center at http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=14770.

    ReplyDelete
  48. mothukuriJune 13, 2009 at 6:35 AM

    I removed gmail app and still i don't see option to install google mobile app when i point my mobile browser to m.google.com. I have nokia 5800 express music. Does google know about this problem?

    ReplyDelete
  49. JohnJune 14, 2009 at 5:00 PM

    Thanks for response on this Bret - apprecitated - I have followed suggestions and get Gmail launch on initial occaision but subsequent attempts fail (no response even if I use pull down menus) - other apps in suite all work fine including maps, picasa, notes, calendar

    If I locate the Gmail app manually in my Nokia directory I can open it to check emails.

    still love it

    ReplyDelete
  50. UnknownJune 16, 2009 at 7:21 PM

    I have a HTC DREAM, using Rogers Wireless, how can i make the Google Maps Directions show transit directions? it seems so many phones have this ability, however this new phone only gives driving directions. please don't tell me to search something, as i have done this for days now... please give clear and direct links with direction on how to ad this feature. thanks.

    ReplyDelete

You are welcome to contribute comments, but they should be relevant to the conversation. We reserve the right to remove off-topic remarks in the interest of keeping the conversation focused and engaging. Shameless self-promotion is well, shameless, and will get canned.