Search

Microsoft’s Bing gets its iOS 7 revamp and flat icon

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 28, 2013

I'm not using Microsoft's Bing search engine much on the web, but really meant to fall in love with the iPhone and iPad app, and long before Google's Search iOS software became sleek. The problem is, Redmond was rolling out those updates way too slow for my taste.

I last checked Bing out some time last year and was disappointed that it still had certain non-Retina elements to it, such as the logo graphics. Today, Bing for the iPhone and iPad has gotten a fresh coat of paint, a nice new flattened logo and a completely revamped user interface re-created from scratch with iOS 7 in mind...

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iOS 7.0.3 brings back web and Wikipedia search from Spotlight

Sébastien Page ∙ October 23, 2013

A feature that could have easily gone unnoticed with yesterday's release of iOS 7.0.3 is the return of web and Wikipedia search directly from Spotlight. The feature had been missing since the first beta release of Apple's latest mobile operating system.

To access it, simply pull your Home screen down to reveal Spotlight Search. Then start typing whatever you're looking for. If necessary, scroll all the way down. In my experience, I've found that some common searches usually return tons of emails first, making the feature a little less convenient to use than I would want to...

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Google Search app gaining Reminders, ‘OK Google’ activation, push notifications and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

Google today invited a bunch of reporters to a garage where the Internet giant started it all, a convenient setting given Google Search turns fifteen tomorrow.

The company's SVP of Search Amit Singhal let us in on some notable updates concerning the mobile Search app for iOS and Android. For starters, the new version sports a refreshed user interface and such enhancements like new comparison filters.

More importantly, the iOS app will gain push notifications for reminders that will pop up on your screen when due. You'll be also able to use the 'OK Google' phrase for hands-free Google Search access on your iOS devices, the company said, and more...

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Apple seen testing new App Store ranking scheme based on user ratings

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

Ever since Apple in February 2012 bought Chomp, an app discovery engine, and subsequently killed both its Android and iOS apps, the rumor-mill has been abuzz with the supposed improvements to the App Store discovery stemming from the acqui-hire.

Disregarding the occasional tweaks to the App Store search algorithm here and there, the experience of discovering popular software beyond the apps Apple exposes on the main App Store pages remains a very tedious affair.

To put it perfectly bluntly, it often feels like finding a needle in the haystack. But according to a new report out Friday, things could soon improve as the company's apparently been experimenting with new algorithms for iTunes and App Store rankings...

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Phlo brings its multi-site search tool to iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

If you're like me, you perform a number of searches on the web throughout the day. And not just on Google either, but Wikipedia, Twitter, YouTube, and various other sites. Wouldn't it be nice if you could search them all at once?

You can, actually, using Phlo. The app, which launched for the Mac earlier this year, allows you to search all of the above-listed sites (and many others) in a single go-round. And now you can do it on-the-go with the new iOS app...

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Google searches, now with flights, reservations, package delivery info and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2013

Regardless of the devices you happen to favor, chances are high you're using Google Search, the default search engine on iOS gadgets and Mac notebooks and desktops.

It's been awhile since we covered Google Search improvements here on iDB and I didn't want to pass on the opportunity to fill you in on today's pretty important round of enhancements to the good ol' Google Search.

Folks using Google Now on iOS on Android have been loving the way the feature automatically serves relevant information pertaining to their flights, reservations, appointments and more. Now all of that is available in standard Google Search on desktop and mobile devices, right in your browser...

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FindIt: a simple iPhone app for searching Gmail, Dropbox and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

Folks with Gmail, Dropbox and/or Google Drive accounts will be happy to hear that there is a new app available that allows you to search through them with a single tap. It's called FindIt, and it can locate emails and files for you on all three services.

Need to pull up an old email? No problem. Just type in the name of the person who sent it to you, or part of its subject line, and FindIt will track it down. And the same goes with media and other file types. Think Spotlight search for your cloud apps...

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‘SmartSearch’ places Google results directly within Spotlight

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

What would it be like to receive instant query results from Google directly from within iOS's stock Spotlight search? A new tweak entitled SmartSearch provides a few clues as to what that might be like. It's far from a perfect execution of the idea, but it's an interesting idea nonetheless. Have a look at our video walkthrough, which shows SmartSearch in action.

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‘SearchCollapse’ allows you to collapse results in Spotlight search

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

After reviewing SearchAmplius an hour or so ago, it was only appropriate to review its sister tweak, which is entitled: SearchCollapse. SearchCollapse is a tweak that can work in tandem with SearchAmplius, but it should also be noted that it can function on its own as a standalone tweak.

SearchCollapse, as its name not so subtly implies, allows users to collapse their Spotlight search results, either automatically, or by tapping on the app icon associated with the result. Have a look at our video walkthrough inside for more detailed information.

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‘SearchAmplius’ brings advanced search features to Spotlight

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

SearchAmplius is a new jailbreak tweak that brings some really cool new features to the Spotlight search page. Normally, I've found that tweaks of this nature absolutely fail to impress me, but SearchAmplius is one of the rare exceptions to that rule.

The tweak, which is simple in design, allows you to configure additional search modules for use in Spotlight. For example, you can search YouTube videos directly from Spotlight, and play them via the official YouTube app with just a tap on the search result. You can also search Cydia releases in much the same way, tapping on the name of the release to be whisked away to the Cydia install page for the tweak in question. App Store apps are there, too, and work much the same.

Other tweaks have tried to do similar functions in the past, but SearchAmplius is definitely at the top of the list when it comes to supercharging Spotlight. Have a look at our full video walkthrough inside for more information regarding the tweak.

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Apple replaces Google with Yandex on Safari in iOS 7 in several countries

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2013

When Apple’s SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue during yesterday's keynote said that Siri in iOS 7 will integrate Bing web search results, everyone went silent. While Google is still the default search engine in Safari, Apple will pre-install the Yandex search engine in Russia and several other countries, a Russian newspaper reported Tuesday. The development could signal Apple's intention to gradually distance itself from Google search...

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