Google provides the option of pinning your favourite Google App categories as shortcuts on your homescreen

For the sake of some extra convenience and ease, Google is giving users the option to pin shortcuts to the Entertainment, Sports and Eat and Drinks categories from the Google App.

Present below the search bar, these categories lead the user to their area of interest directly. Following this, a card is the first thing that appears below the search bar. This card asks the user whether they would like to add the category to the homescreen. On pressing this button, the category appears on the homescreen.

On pressing the shortcut the user is redirected to the category on the app, though tapping on the dining shortcut will get the phone to start looking for restaurants near you. Currently it is available on Google App version 7.11 or 7.12 beta version.

It is not known whether the feature has rolled out in India or not. It can be useful for those who like checking live scores of matches and the like.

For those using the Pixel Launcher, they can access it on Google Now. The rest can use the Google App.

Google has also sought other ways to increase engagement with its apps. In an attempt at getting closer to its audience and their interests, Google, in its search app , had brought the function of personalized feeds. These feeds are unlike those of Facebook. In this, the user has the choice to include the feed they want to comes across on their app. This feeds include link to a user’s interests like hobbies, travel, and sports. Many thought that it would be in competition with the News Feed. Called the Google Feed, the links appear on the basis of user history and searches. It includes searches based on Gmail, Google Calendar, YouTube and Google search itself.

When this was globally rolled out, the feeds appeared in the form of cards. And these are made available on iOS and Android. It is also available both in English and Hindi.