You know how you hate staged rollouts because they drastically limit your chance to ever receive an app update when it first goes live? I have good news that may help increase your chances of winning the app update lottery! Google has opened a public beta for the Google app on Google Play that should get you testing new features well before the rest of the not-so-tech-savvy world.
The beta test opened within the last day to users through a Google Now card (pictured below). Once opened, users are able to opt-in and begin testing, assuming Google has a new beta for you to test. If you aren’t seeing the card, don’t worry, we have the link for you below.
For those not familiar with these Google Play beta programs, just know that once you join them, you get updates through Google Play like you have in the past, they just happen to be newer beta versions most of the time. You will still get prompted to update on Google Play, plus you are still using what is essentially the same app. What I mean is that you won’t have a separate “Google Beta” app or something, you will still just have the normal Google app, it just so happens to be a beta.
Interested? Hit up the link below.
Hmmm no Google Group or G+ Community to join for access? That’s unusual.
Not unsual. Google announced this was now possible at I/O.
@bozzykid:disqus Wasn’t aware of that at all. Thanks for the info.
huh, just got an update in the play store…wonder if that’s bc I signed up or not.
Same here. It probably is part of the beta thing. But like I said in an earlier post, there’s no change log. I don’t even know what I’m beta testing. lol
I can’t be the only one who wants “Search Tools” added, right? Often times I want to limit a search by its date but I have to exit the Google Search app, open Chrome, and search again. Please say I’m not the only one… okay, I probably am.
you’re not
Where can I preview new features? Link pls.
You just join the beta testing and they will push out updates later
I feel like their regular updates are beta tests. Like when Google Maps froze for 3 straight updates last summer. No thanks.
I still don’t understand why the HELL isn’t the keyboard in focus when you access the search.
this has always baffled me.
Definitely worth trying (I hope)
I just hope they at least give a detailed change log with each update for these betas. Change logs aren’t Googles strong suit.
You mean “Bug Fixes and Speed Improvements” isn’t enough detail?
I would hope they started a beta version to test out more than that. But yeah. lol