Google has announced the incoming availability of Google Go, a new app designed specifically for devices running Android Go, a lightweight fork of the world’s most popular operating system. Like other Go versions of applications developed by the tech firm, this app is targeted at consumers who own smartphones with limited RAM or storage space, as well as users who live in areas with poor network coverage or high mobile data costs. The search giant noted that the Google Go application uses an advanced data compression algorithm which reduces the data consumed when displaying search results by as much as 40-percent. Moreover, the app automatically caches previous search results, which users can view when they are offline. The Google Go app will still attempt to retrieve search results in the background once the device is connected to the network and the software will automatically inform users once the search results have been retrieved successfully. Furthermore, Google claims that the app’s voice search feature has been optimized in order for the functionality to work better on slow mobile data networks. Aside from reducing data consumption, the app is also designed to take up minimal space on smartphones, while downloading and installing it will only take up 5MB of your storage space.
Despite the small size of the app, Google Go still features smart word suggestions, a functionality that helps users search faster without the need to type out entire search terms. Through the Google Go app, users also have the ability to quickly access their favorite websites and applications, including a number of popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In addition, the app provides quick access to other Google services like YouTube, Google Translate, and Google Maps through home page icons.
The Google Go app is compatible with devices running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and later versions of the OS, with Google also planning to pre-install it on all future Android Go smartphones. Google Go is now rolling out to 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa through the Google Play Store.
