Google Gemini App Gets iPad Optimization

[MacRumors]

Google today updated its dedicated Gemini iOS app to add an iPad-friendly interface, allowing the AI assistant to take up the full real estate of an iPad display.

The Gemini app has been compatible with both the iPhone and the iPad since it launched, but until the latest update, using it on the iPad showed an iPhone-sized interface. The latest version of Gemini adds iPad optimization, plus it includes an option to add a Gemini Home Screen widget, and integration with Google Photos.

What's New
- Gemini now has a full-screen, optimized iPad app
- Gemini can now be added as a homescreen widget
- Gemini can now connect with your Google Photos library
- UI improvements and bug fixes

The Gemini app for iPhone and iPad allows users to access Google Gemini AI. Gemini connects to Google apps like Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Google Maps, plus it has research capabilities, the ability to generate images, study tools, and an option for brainstorming ideas.

Gemini is free to use, but Gemini Advanced, a more capable version of Gemini, requires a Google One AI Premium subscription. Google One AI Premium is priced at $19.99 per month, which is competitive with similar plans from Anthropic and OpenAI.

Article Link: Google Gemini App Gets iPad Optimization

 

[It’s always something]

Downloaded. Let’s hope it’s better at correct answers than it was when I first tried it as an iPhone-only app on my iPad, because it was the worst of the five that I had tried at that time (a couple/few months ago).

 

[antiprotest]

Every day, something happens in every tech company in every nation that gets them further ahead of Apple.

Apple: "Well...ah...because of AI you might not even need an iPhone in 10 years."

Yeah, because of OTHER COMPANYS' AI, not yours! 🤪

 

[eqquito]

Pay attention Meta... WhatsApp is still missing the iPad application and it has been out over 15 years.

 

[Kottu]

At least Gemini (and all other AI except Apple Intelligence ) don't require newer chips to run.

 

[TechieGeek]

They should've done this at launch.

I developed the Feast app and originally launched for iPhone-only (where iPads can still download the app, but get zoomed-in interface), it's time consuming to optimize for iPad but it's not actually that bad, particularly when you're a larger company.

IMO even with minimal stylistic changes iPad users still appreciate an app build for iPad since it behaves so much better and supports landscape.

 

[dominiongamma]

At least Gemini (and all other AI except Apple Intelligence ) don't require newer chips to run.

And somehow it does a better job too!

 

[It’s always something]

At least Gemini (and all other AI except Apple Intelligence ) don't require newer chips to run.

But this is because Gemini and the rest aren’t doing on-device processing (or comparatively little, next to Apple Intelligence). Full disclosure: I’m typing this on an iPad A16, which lacks Apple Intelligence (mostly, since web page summaries seem to have slipped through the product differentiation).

 

[TechieGeek]

At least Gemini (and all other AI except Apple Intelligence ) don't require newer chips to run.

It's smart they're optimizing for iOS 16+, the old ones are painful to support since you get to the point where you're breaking out the codebase "if iOS 16+ do this, else do this" for core functionality

 

[Kottu]

But this is because Gemini and the rest aren’t doing on-device processing (or comparatively little, next to Apple Intelligence). Full disclosure: I’m typing this on an iPad A16, which lacks Apple Intelligence (mostly, since web page summaries seem to have slipped through the product differentiation).

One has to wonder how much functionality Apple can truly embed within a processor. They highlight features like removing objects from photos or analyzing calendars and emails. However, my personal AI use cases, which primarily revolve around extensive daily interaction with ChatGPT, don't seem to fall within the scope of what Apple is presenting. Removing objects from photos, for instance, is a capability that Google Photos has offered for years. It feels as though Apple might be introducing a limited set of processor-intensive functions, possibly to drive sales of new devices. Despite using ChatGPT regularly, I have no current need or intention to use Apple Intelligence. Features like "Image Playground" are particularly puzzling; if the goal is image creation, why would I want output that resembles a painting rather than a realistic image?

 

[Kottu]

And somehow it does a better job too!

They sure do.

 

[iMacDragon]

Now if they could please give the chat app some slight love and let it be in a resizable window finally..

 

[svish]

Great to hear that it is optimized for iPad. However I think there will be Siri integration with Gemini in the coming months and if so don't think there will be a need to use this separately.

 

[clg82]

Downloaded. Let’s hope it’s better at correct answers than it was when I first tried it as an iPhone-only app on my iPad, because it was the worst of the five that I had tried at that time (a couple/few months ago).

Worse than Siri????? lolllllllllllll yeah ok

 

[It’s always something]

Worse than Siri????? lolllllllllllll yeah ok

Yes. At that time I asked only a few questions, and Gemini got all of them wrong. But on an iPad mini A17 Pro Siri got most or all of the same questions right.

In Gemini’s defense, having tried it again now, it is indeed greatly improved.

 

[Bustycat]

What a 💩 iPadOS app comparing to ChatGPT's

 

[artifex]

They should've done this at launch.

I developed the Feast app and originally launched for iPhone-only (where iPads can still download the app, but get zoomed-in interface), it's time consuming to optimize for iPad but it's not actually that bad, particularly when you're a larger company.

IMO even with minimal stylistic changes iPad users still appreciate an app build for iPad since it behaves so much better and supports landscape.

As someone with both an iPad and an Android tablet, it's even more annoying when iPad is just zoomed in (and not even using the full screen), but the Android tablet has its own interface. Especially since my assumption used to be that Android apps were often just ports of i*OS apps when devs found time.

 

[james yates]

Google today updated its dedicated Gemini iOS app to add an iPad-friendly interface, allowing the AI assistant to take up the full real estate of an iPad display.

The Gemini app has been compatible with both the iPhone and the iPad since it launched, but until the latest update, using it on the iPad showed an iPhone-sized interface. The latest version of Gemini adds iPad optimization, plus it includes an option to add a Gemini Home Screen widget, and integration with Google Photos.The Gemini app for iPhone and iPad allows users to access Google Gemini AI. Gemini connects to Google apps like Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Google Maps, plus it has research capabilities, the ability to generate images, study tools, and an option for brainstorming ideas.

Gemini is free to use, but Gemini Advanced, a more capable version of Gemini, requires a Google One AI Premium subscription. Google One AI Premium is priced at $19.99 per month, which is competitive with similar plans from Anthropic and OpenAI.

Article Link: Google Gemini App Gets iPad Optimization

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