Google optimizes search, GMail for mobile devices

Google has optimized its search results pages for tablets and mobile devices, making them faster and easier to browse whether in portrait or landscape view. Software engineer Xiaorui Gan elements like the search button located below the search box give quick access to specific types of results like Images, Videos, Places, and Shopping. “As part of our effort to evolve the Google design and experience, we’ve improved the www.google.com search experience on tablets. We’ve simplified the layout of search results pages and increased the size of page contents like text, buttons and other touch targets to make it faster and easier to browse and interact with search results in portrait or landscape view," Gan said in a blog post. Google said that the update aims to enhance the users' viewing experience, with features such as enlarged image previews, continuous scroll, and optimized thumbnails. It said the improved search experience will roll out in the coming days to iPad and Android 3.1+ tablets across 36 languages. Updates to GMail Meanwhile, Google also updated its Gmail application for Android 2.2 to 2.3.3, providing enhanced notification and sync options, tech site CNET reported. “If (you) use filters and labels to keep your inbox free of clutter, then you’ll certainly appreciate the v.2.3.5 of Gmail. On its surface it might not look much different, but under the hood there are plenty of new options," it said. CNET said the app allows users to sync specific labels and set individual notifications instead of grabbing anything and everything in the inbox. Such a feature provides a peace of mind, and also helps conserve battery life on the mobile device, it noted. Also, it said the app allows one to identify the sender of an email just by listening to the notification tone. “This is a feature that many users have come to depend on for text messages so it only makes sense in Gmail. Additional details in the new Gmail client include setting preferences to always display pictures from specific senders, Priority Inbox sync, and other performance enhancements," it said. — TJD, GMA News