Google Gesture, an alternative way to search your device

Editor’s Note: Please officially welcome Basil Loupis to the Android Australia Team!

I’m all for an uncluttered desktop, so I am constantly on the lookout for apps that will allow me to open my apps quickly, without having to fiddle with searching through folders and screens. Google Now seemed to have some potential, but although it will find the nearest Pizza bar, it will not launch my mail, find a contact, or open an application. I have tried most of the so called ‘assistants’ but they are gimmicky, clumsy and have a less than 50% success.

My ultimate aim is to have no shortcuts or folders on the desktop and only a few widgets so I may instantly check mail, messages, calls, G+  and bookmarks to my most frequent sites. A good notification bar as in Jelly Bean is also very useful.

I heard that ‘Google Gesture‘ is now available for the Nexus 7, and tried to download the application. Guess what? No go for the N7, but okay to install on the Nexus S phone. It’s funny that the application description on Google Play says that it is ready for the N7 and yet when you try to install , it says that the app is not compatible with my device. Why Mr Google?

I am not known for giving up so easily, so I got this handy little app called ‘apk Extractor‘ to find the gesture apk on the phone and mail it to myself.  Google Gesture is now happily installed in all 3 of my devices including the Sony Tablet S with ICS.

I like it! It seems to work best with Jelly Bean and almost as well on ICS (Does not bring up any relevant browser bookmarks on the Sony Tablet S but does on other ICS devices).

Gesture any letter or number and it will show up all the apps and contacts with this letter.  Gesture a second letter and it will further refine the search. A ‘J’ brought up the celebrated founder of Android Australia on my screen. A double A, brought up (among others ) a bookmark for Android Australia.  This app is also a good learner and seems to remember your most frequent gestures and place them on the top of the screen.

Testing is still in progress, but  I think that it will be worth my perseverance! Will I finally get rid of all of my short cuts & folders from my homescreens? Hope so!

As always your comments and suggestions will be most welcome.