Last week Google updated its Google Search app for iOS – the single change list item for the update was that it was optimized for the new iPad’s retina display.
My first thought on hearing of this update is Seriously Google? Who even uses this app anymore? Maybe I’m living in a bubble, but I haven’t used that app in years – if I want to do a Google search I do it in Safari or another browser app.
And in the meantime, the Google+ app still has no iPad support, more than eight months after being released. Considering that Google+ is the shiny new star in the world of Google services (and one they’re doing their best to ram down our throats with ‘personalized’ search results) it seems more than a little odd not to give it any iPad support. Even though the iPhone version looks better now on my new iPad, I still hate the fact that it’s limited to portrait only mode.
If this is all just part of the Google vs Apple no longer friends drama, I have to say I think the lack of a Google+ iPad app is a much bigger loss for Google+ then it is for the iPad. The iPad App Store has no shortage of superb apps, and a pretty damn good one for Facebook. Google+ lends itself much better to the iPad than the iPhone. I just don’t see the logic in going slow on an iPad app.
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I would say the lack of support for Google + by other apps hurts Google more than the lack of a Google+ HD app for the iPad. You just can’t share anything easily to Google + from any iPad apps, whereas it’s tough to find an app that doesn’t support sharing to Twitter and Facebook.
Also, the Google search app is infinitely better than Safari for searching. The ability to use voice search or Google Goggles is excellent. You should try it for a while.
“Also, the Google search app is infinitely better than Safari for searching. The ability to use voice search or Google Goggles is excellent. You should try it for a while.”
Agree with this. Although I find these features are more useful with the iPhone than the iPad.
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Well maybe you should use the google app once every 2 yrs or so, cause it also serves as the app that includes all the google apps, including google+
Even Google doesn’t seem to agree with you:
http://www.google.com/mobile/ipad/
I have you in my iPad circle on Google+ and you may have noticed that I don’t use it anymore because of lack of iPad support. It could be a great iPad app.
Indeed, if Google had invested more on iOS, I would (try) to use Google+.
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I stopped using it and will not be returning until they get iPad support. Get off your butts google and get it done.
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