Google app for Android is getting shortcuts to games, calendar events, and nearby restaurants

Google today updated the beta version of its Google app for Android with shortcuts to various potentially useful widgets, which are, for the most part, delivered through Google search results within the app. The new features do not appear to be available in the Google app for iOS, or for people whose accounts aren’t enrolled in the Google app beta.

The shortcuts appear at the very top of the Google Now home screen, which is available when you tap inside the Google Search box widget or swipe right from the home screen on the Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. If you’re on version 6.10.35 of the Google app beta, you’ll see a weather shortcut, which shows the location and temperature, alongside an icon representing the weather. It also shows widgets for nearby restaurants, Solitaire, “I’m feeling curious” (which shows a random question and answer), a calculator, nearby ATMs, Tic Tac Toe, a coin flip, My Events (which displays upcoming events listed in your Google Calendar), and nearby coffee shops. This row is updated based on which shortcuts you use.