Google adds new options to the Android search bar

Google has been caught experimenting with options for its Android search bar. For some users, new stuff shows up when they tap on the search bar - be that in the search widget on a home screen, using the one in Google Now, or simply when performing a search in the Google app.

The new options that come up when you tap on the search bar are Recent Searches, What's Hot, and Nearby. It's pretty obvious what happens when you then tap on Recent Searches - you'll get a list of those. What's Hot shows you popular stuff, while tapping Nearby brings you to a list of things you might be searching for, just like in Google Maps.

These are, in one example, Restaurants, Gas Stations, ATMs, and Coffee shops. It's unclear if these categories will change dynamically (and if so, based on what) or if they'll be forever fixed.

As always with such Google experiments, the new options aren't seen by everyone. That will only change if the search giant decides on wide availability for these features.

Source 1 • Source 2 | Via