According to our network blog last100, Google unveiled a new user interface today for its iPhone Web apps. Daniel Langendorf reports:
“With Google for the iPhone, users will get an improved UI optimized for the touch screen, customization of default tabs (easy access to favorite applications), faster Gmail (email automatically show up, no refreshing needed), a speedier Calendar (including a new month view), and iGoogle.”
According to Vic Gundotra, VP of engineering at Google, over Christmas the number of queries on Google search from iPhones surpassed the number of queries from Symbian-based phones for the first time. “It’s about usage, not just units,” Gundotra said in an interview with CNet. “The data proves that people are using the browser on the iPhone.”
Dan noted:
“By providing a quicker, slicker user interface, more customization, iGoogle gadget integration, and more speed for all apps, Google is acknowledging the iPhone’s rosy future. iGoogle on the iPhone can be reached by pointing the phone’s browser at google.com/ig/i.
The standard mobile version of Google, made available just over a month ago, is still available at google.com/m, but it’s more limited and is available only in the U.S. It brought together a suite of applications like search, Gmail, Calendar, and Reader into one easy-to-use interface.”
It should also be noted that iGoogle integration enables developers to create widgets for the iPhone, an option not available to them natively on the iPhone because it is not an open platform.
Originally published on ReadWriteWeb (archived copy)