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Google's new search mode helps surface content from inside apps

Called In Apps, the new feature helps users find information from installed apps on an Android device, like messages, phone numbers, and calendar entries.
Written by Natalie Gagliordi, Contributor
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Image: Google

Google is launching a new search mode in the Google app aimed at making it easier to find content inside your Android phone.

Called In Apps, the new feature helps users surface information from installed apps on a device, like messages, phone numbers, to-do lists, and calendar entries. The search takes place on the actual device, meaning there's no need for data access or an internet connection to use it.

For now, In Apps will only work with a handful of apps, including Gmail, Spotify, and YouTube. Google says it plans to add Evernote, Facebook Messenger, Glide, LinkedIn, Todoist, and Google Keep in the coming months.

The feature will be available on all modern Android phones with an up-to-date version of the Google app. Google said In Apps also will come preinstalled on the upcoming LG V20 phone with a dedicated shortcut on the homescreen.

Looking at the bigger picture, the In Apps search mode is a way for Google to create another distinguishing feature for Android. Apple has a similar search function via Spotlight, but Google could really set itself apart if it can expand In Apps enough to work with all of its business and productivity apps.

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