Silly Google Search Question

[dougltc]

On my Nexus 7, when I tap the microphone and speak a search and follow a link in the search results, I cannot find any way to show those search results again... other than switching immediately back to search.

If I later go into the persistent search bar there appears to be now way to see my recent searches...

I suspect that I am missing something obvious and simple...

I did not see any option in settings to enable/disable previous search history display...

Help!

Thanks

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[MJKearney]

So, I thought I had a simple explanation of how all this works, but first I experimented a bit and got totally confused! This is what I found. It will probably unnecessarily confuse you even more and it's way too long of a description of what I found, and it probably doesn't answer your question, but here you go!

If you tap the persistent search bar on the home screen, or swipe up from the home button, Google Now appears. If you tap the persistent search bar, your cursor is already in the search box when Google Now appears, and your keyboard pops up. If you swipe up from the home button, the nice stylized Google Now background appears, but you have to tap inside the search box to activate the keyboard, at which time the background slides away. Either way, you end up starting your search at the same place.

You then type your search query. You can also say "Google" or tap the microphone icon in the search box, and speak your search query. Either way, the same thing will happen as described next. Google Now does the search and shows results. When you choose a result, the Chrome (or default) browser opens to show you that website. If you press the bottom back button (not the back button in Chrome), you'll go back to the Google Now search results. Press it again and you'll go back to Google Now. But if you open another app first or even open the recent apps list for a second, then pressing the back button brings you to the home screen. However, you can then simply tap the recent apps button and choose the Google app to bring up your search results again. Easy enough, I suppose.

But what if you want to skip Google Now altogether (or at least not see the Google Now cards)? Simply tap the microphone icon in the persistent search bar, and the Google "speak now" box appears. Say your query and the search results will pop up. Almost everything then happens normally, like above, except for the problem you described.

Oddly, if you go to the home screen right after bringing up the website from your microphone-only query (made directly from the persistent search bar), the search results are no longer available in the recent apps list. Sometimes Google Now or the search results also disappear from the recent apps list after searching via Google Now, but it's not as immediate as doing a microphone-only search. Additionally, if you do lose your search results after the microphone-only search, it seems your query doesn't appear in the search history list when you initiate a new Google Now search. I'm not sure what triggers this, but it is a bit annoying. I think this is just an Android and Google Now oddity, and will probably be improved in upcoming releases.

Perhaps the easiest thing to do in terms of getting back to your search results is to just skip searching via Google Now or the persistent search bar. Instead, open up Chrome and search directly from the search/address bar in the browser. Then you can navigate back and forth between the results and the chosen websites, using the Chrome back and forward buttons. Or long press on a website search result to bring up the option to open that site in another tab, which leaves your search results tab readily available.

This is kind of unrelated, but if you want to get rid of the persistent search bar, install an alternate launcher that lets you remove it. Nova Launcher Prime, which I use, lets you do this. It's nice to have the extra space. If you still want a search bar on one of your home screens, just place the Google Search widget there.

I hope this overly long response was of some assistance. I now have to take a shower and get ready to watch the 49ers trounce those wicked Ravens in the Super Bowl! Go Niners!!

EDIT: Niners lost. I'm depressed. I vow to never watch another 49ers game until September. Go SF Giants!

 

[dougltc]

So, I thought I had a simple explanation of how all this works, but first I experimented a bit and got totally confused! This is what I found. It will probably unnecessarily confuse you even more and it's way too long of a description of what I found, and it probably doesn't answer your question, but here you go! !

You very accurately described what I am seeing... Thanks.. and the tips will surely help other frustrated users who stumble upon this thread... Thanks

EDIT: Niners lost. I'm depressed. I vow to never watch another 49ers game until September. Go SF Giants!

Yep... I am a Raven's fan since the 1990's... stoked...


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[zkSharks]

While you're both very right that getting back to your results page can be inconsistent at best, if you open Google Now/Google Search and tap in the search bar you should see a list of recent search terms pop up right below the search bar. Tap one and it'll perform the search again and give you the results page.

No, it isn't as convenient as going directly back to your results, of course, but I've gotten used to it and actually found it enables one to quickly switch back and forth between search terms much faster than you would be able to in Chrome.

 

[MJKearney]

While you're both very right that getting back to your results page can be inconsistent at best, if you open Google Now/Google Search and tap in the search bar you should see a list of recent search terms pop up right below the search bar. Tap one and it'll perform the search again and give you the results page.

No, it isn't as convenient as going directly back to your results, of course, but I've gotten used to it and actually found it enables one to quickly switch back and forth between search terms much faster than you would be able to in Chrome.

Thanks for the input. Yes, this is true, and I alluded to it in a roundabout way when I mentioned one thing which is not consistent with the rest of the experience:

"Additionally, if you do lose your search results after the microphone-only search, it seems your query doesn't appear in the search history list when you initiate a new Google Now search."

This is obviously a very specific circumstances, but it can be annoying. I tested this a few times, but would be curious if you are finding the same thing. Maybe it was just my imagination, and I don't feel like experimenting anymore!

 

[MJKearney]

Yep... I am a Raven's fan since the 1990's... stoked...

Curses! Next year, dear Sir, next year...!

P. S. I was once a Ravens fan... when I lived in Cleveland for a few years and they were what they should still be - the Cleveland Browns. R.I.P. Art Modell, but you're still a lousy traitor!

 

[zkSharks]

Thanks for the input. Yes, this is true, and I alluded to it in a roundabout way when I mentioned one thing which is not consistent with the rest of the experience:

"Additionally, if you do lose your search results after the microphone-only search, it seems your query doesn't appear in the search history list when you initiate a new Google Now search."

This is obviously a very specific circumstances, but it can be annoying. I tested this a few times, but would be curious if you are finding the same thing. Maybe it was just my imagination, and I don't feel like experimenting anymore!

I've performed many voice-initiated searches and had the queries show up fine in the recent searches list. Typically when I'm done with a search, I'll swipe away Google Search in Recent Apps. I haven't noticed searches missing from the list, but that doesn't meant it isn't happening to me.

 

[MJKearney]

I've performed many voice-initiated searches and had the queries show up fine in the recent searches list. Typically when I'm done with a search, I'll swipe away Google Search in Recent Apps. I haven't noticed searches missing from the list, but that doesn't meant it isn't happening to me.

This is interesting. I just tried a search using the microphone from the persistent search bar on the home screen, brought up the resulting website in Chrome, then went directly to the home screen again. I then brought up Google Now search, and the search I just did was on top of the search history list. So my initial problem regarding the search history list didn't repeat itself.

I then did another search from the Google Now search box. After bringing up the website in Chrome, I navigated back to the search results, then hit the home button. Upon bringing up Google search again, my most recent search wasn't listed. I then backed out of Google search to the home screen, then immediately brought it back up. Guess what? The most recent search query was listed at the top of the search history. It probably just needed a few seconds to bounce back from the Google servers, since the searches aren't stored locally.
So, Lumenii, you may very well be correct.

 

[zkSharks]

This is interesting. I just tried a search using the microphone from the persistent search bar on the home screen, brought up the resulting website in Chrome, then went directly to the home screen again. I then brought up Google Now search, and the search I just did was on top of the search history list. So my initial problem regarding the search history list didn't repeat itself.

I then did another search from the Google Now search box. After bringing up the website in Chrome, I navigated back to the search results, then hit the home button. Upon bringing up Google search again, my most recent search wasn't listed. I then backed out of Google search to the home screen, then immediately brought it back up. Guess what? The most recent search query was listed at the top of the search history. It probably just needed a few seconds to bounce back from the Google servers, since the searches aren't stored locally.

So, Lumenii, you may very well be correct.

For the most part, searches seem to show up in the list. I've thought about it some more, and followed the steps you performed, and you're right that some searches don't seem to be reflected properly. I now have two queries that aren't in the list, despite multiple attempts to get them to appear.

We know that making searches from a Desktop environment or browser results in the search being added to your web history and noticed by the Google Now/Google Search application. What I've just noticed, however, is that any searches made in the application do not appear to be reflected in the Google Now/Google Search application on other devices, meaning that searches made on a device stay in the local recent searches history and not your Google account's web history. If I'm correct on this, it means that the issue is not related to the information going up to the servers and back down.

That leaves only the method of interaction with the application -- in other words, whether you switch to another application, use the 'back' button until you're at the homescreen, press the home button itself, or press the recents button and then swipe Search/Now away.

I'm partially just thinking out loud here, but see if you follow my thinking and can support any of it.

 

[dougltc]

Curses! Next year, dear Sir, next year...!

P. S. I was once a Ravens fan... when I lived in Cleveland for a few years and they were what they should still be - the Cleveland Browns. R.I.P. Art Modell, but you're still a lousy traitor!

I never fully appreciated what losing the Browns meant to Cleveland until I saw the "A Football Life" episode on NFL network called "Cleveland 95" recently...

And I was impressed at all the great NFL minds that passed through Cleveland in those last few years...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[Groid]

I'm stock rom, rooted, 4.2.1 and I renamed the original default browser files (Chrome) and copied the AOSP browser into /system/app, set permissions, and side loaded Flash. If I do a voice search and retrieve links, I can choose one and my browser opens. Whether I follow a trail of links or open one from my bookmarks, I can just close my browser tab(s) and I'm back on the search results page. I can then choose another link and repeat the process and always can get back to the results by closing the browser tabs. A benefit of the AOSP browser is that Flash works perfectly.