Earlier today, Google announced a new way to show contents from apps in Google Search: “app-first” and “stream”.

As Google puts it, the “app-first” process will show contents from within apps that are installed on your device. Many services and websites now show important information only through their app, so this “app-first” approach from Google makes sense.

Because we recognize that there’s a lot of great content that lives only in apps, starting today, we’ll be able to show some “app-first” content in Search as well. For example, if you need a hotel for your spur-of-the-moment trip to Chicago, search results will now include results from the HotelTonight app. Or if you’re thinking about visiting Arches National Park, you will now find details about the 18-mile scenic drive from the Chimani app.

The “stream” feature makes it possible to view content from apps that you don’t have installed on your device, but for now it only works when you are on a good Wifi connection.

For example, with one tap on a “Stream” button next to the HotelTonight app result, you’ll get a streamed version of the app, so that you can quickly and easily find what you need, and even complete a booking, just as if you were in the app itself. And if you like what you see, installing it is just a click away. This uses a new cloud-based technology that we’re currently experimenting with.

For now, “app-first” content is limited to apps and services from HotelTonight, Chimani, Daily Horoscope, and New York MTA Subway Map.

Sounds pretty cool, right? I’d expect “app-first” and “stream” to become an integral part of the Google Search experience by H2, 2016. What do you think about them?