Posts tagged google search
Google Announces Synchronized Starring and Personalized Suggestions For (You Guessed It) Android
Feb 3rd
This is the kind of preferential treatment we’ve been hoping for since Android was announced. Google just announced a pair of new features that help blur the lines between your PC and Android experience. Using your Google account, users can now pull up previous searches and starred/favorite places in the latest version of Google Maps. More specifically, you can pull up a search on your Android device that was initially done on a computer. Did you save a few local hot spots in Google Maps while on the laptop this morning? Bring ‘em up on your (insert Android phone) tonight!
Both of these features are available in Google Maps 3.4. The brand new Nexus One update going out this week will already bake in the new version. For the rest of us, we’ll have to wait a bit until it’s rolled out in the Android Market. We can’t wait to see where they go with these features and especially how Latitude gets integrated!
Might We Suggest…
Google Goggles Now a Reality – Download Today!
Dec 7th
We just learned of the new Visual Search from Google over the weekend, but it turns out the search service is ready to go! Forget that waiting period we were expecting while Google employees tested the app out. Apparently, they’ve been playing with this for months now.
Head to the Android Market and download Google Goggles and get in on the new way of searching. Using your camera phone, you can snap a picture of books, landmarks, artwork, places, contact information get Google results instantly. Yes, it’s free! Perhaps it’s the skeptic in us but we tried this out a couple of times and found the app to be considerably more accurate than expected.
There’s a handy video that helps users understand what works well and what doesn’t. This will be one app we’re going to enjoy watching evolve!
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See the Future of Search with ‘Google Goggles’
Dec 5th
Hartmut Neven heads up a team of Google-folk working on a yet another awesome bit of technology. It’s called “visual search” and it works by tying the cameras in your handset to Google’s search engine. And it’s awesome.
Envision this…being able to take a picture of something (anything) and get instant results back on your phone. As in “less than a second” instant.
“Imagine you’re a tourist and you arrive at this place and you want to know more about it. All you will have to do is take a picture of the sign. We send the information up to the server and we recognize this as the Santa Monica pier. The idea is you see something that interests you, you whip out your camera phone, take a picture of the object of interest, and this will trigger a Google search. – Harmut Neven
Before this hits the real world, it will need to go through the obligatory Google testing process. This mean roughly 20,000 Google employees will “dog-food” the service and put it through the paces. This feedback will be instrumental in making sure everything works as it should before it hits your phone.
Below is a video demonstration of Google Visual Search as well as a sneak peek into a little behind-the-scenes stuff at Google.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
To see the full “Inside the Mind of Google” special, tune into CNBC later today (Saturday, December 5th 7p ET)
Other airings:
Sunday, December 6th 10p ET
Thursday, December 10th 8p | 1a ET
Thursday, December 24th 4p | 8p ET
Friday, December 25th Midnight ET
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App Review: QSB Add-Ons
Dec 3rd
I am a big fan of applications that do a lot and need little to do it–basically, high-impact, low-maintenance apps If you are like me you will enjoy the QSB addon applications by Arno den Hond.
The Quick Search Box widget is a pretty useful tool in and of itself, but adding these applications turns the QSB into a calendar portal, currency converter, calculator, web site shortcut and twitter tool all in one. Installation is a breeze with only a quick modification to your search settings to make sure the apps are called from within the QSB. Once you add the app(s) of your choice in your search settings you can start using QSB to search for more than just contacts and web information.
Search Calculator
Instead of launching the calculator app simply type in your equation in the QSB. The answer shows up without a single click.
Search Currency
You like that new app you found in the Android Market but have no idea how much 4.99 euros are in American dollars. Type “4.99 euro to usd” and you have your answer. Once you set your defaults you only need to type “4.99 euro” and you get your answer!
Search Tweet
Need to quickly update your throngs of followers? Simply type out your update in the QSB and click on “Send Tweet”. No need to start your Twitter app. Although, Twidroid is required.
Search Url
Typing “Wiki Lakers” in the QSB without the Search URL app will take you to the traditional Google search results screen. That would require you to click on the link of your choice. Typing “Wiki Lakers” in the QSB with the Search URL app installed brings up a link that takes you directly to the Wiki page all about the LA basketball team.
Search Calendar
Simply type out the day, time and event and Search Calendar will give you options to add the event to your calendar. If you have multiple calendars each one is displayed–very handy.
I only found a few issues/quirks with the apps.
- The Calendar app didn’t like the word “tonight.” If you are adding an event on the same day use “today.”
- Search Tweet seems to require the paid version of Twidroid. Still waiting on definitive word on this from the developer.
- The final quirk is best explained by the developer himself: “The QSB needs to be ‘trained’ into showing the ‘results’ of my apps on the initial list. After the tool has been selected ~5 times from ‘more options’ it will be shown immediately and the usability is greatly increased.”
That is less a function of the OS than the application but it does have to be understood. When you first use the applications all you will see is an additional “more results” button following your search results. Clicking that will bring up calendar, currency, calc, etc. After selecting this enough times the OS begins to bring it up without being prompted. Like Arno den Hond explained, once “trained” the application’s usefulness is greatly increased!
- This App Was Tested Using: G1/Dream on Android 1.6
- Presentation: This is as no-frill as an app can get. Once you get the idiosyncrasies it simply works.
- Value: Search Currency and Search Calculator are both free. Unbeatable value. The others are available for €0.99. I’ll let you download the currency converter to get the price in dollars! Hint, its a good price point for the apps.
- Stability/Resources: This high-impact app is very low maintenance. No lag, no battery drain, no force closes during my testing which spanned almost two weeks.
- Bottom Line: I have grown to rely on this suite of apps. I use calculator and calender more than the others but have found a need to use each over the two weeks I used the apps. Definitely worth a look and certainly recommended! Search QSB Apps gets a solid 4 from me.
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HOW TO: Try Out The New Google Search Right Now
Nov 26th
A couple of days ago we wrote about a redesign of the Google Search interface, with a new, snazzy sidebar on the left side.
Now, the folks at Gizmodo have found out a way to test this new look out for yourself. However, before you try it, you need to be aware of the following:
To get this trick to work, you must use the international version of Google Search, available at google.com. If you’re redirected to a localized version of the search, try this address: google.com/ncr.
Furthermore, you may not be able to reverse the changes to your Google interface without erasing a specific cookie; if you’re not comfortable messing with individual cookies in your web browser, don’t try it out.
If you still want to do it, the procedure is very simple. Go to google.com, erase everything from your address bar (even the http://google.com) and paste the following code into the address bar.
javascript:void(document.cookie="PREF=ID=20b6e4c2f44943bb:U=4bf292d46faad806:TM=1249677602:LM=1257919388:S=odm0Ys-53ZueXfZG;path=/; domain=.google.com");
Hit enter, refresh (if you’re again redirected to a localized version of Google, click “go to Google.com” or go to google.com/ncr once again). Conduct a search, and enjoy your new sidebar on the left!
If you want to revert to the original Google Search, you need to delete a cookie for Google.com, named PREF and starting with “ID=20b6e4c2f44943bb”. In the screenshot below, taken in Chrome, the cookie you need to remove is highlighted.
Reviews: Chrome, Google
Tags: google search
The Google Phone Rumor Returns… AGAIN
Nov 18th
Here we go again! The “it’s not happening/yes it is” rumor of an actual Google branded handset has come back. TechCrunch is reporting today that not only is it going to happen, but it was originally slated to drop this quarter.
While we might have dismissed this rumor a time or two in the past, we’ve also reported on stuff that helps make this potential game changer a reality. Darn it if the pieces don’t add up in the end.Here’s what TC is saying today.
- It will be sold direct and through retailers.
- It will be produced by a major handset maker but will only have Google branding.
- There will be zero negotiation or compromise over the design of features. It’s ALL GOOGLE
- One source tells them that HTC will make the phone, while other information suggests Google is working with a Korean phone manufacturer on the Google phone – LG or Samsung.
- Google is planning a big advertising push around the device early next year – like January
It will be very interesting to see what other handset makers think of this move if and when Google drops a phone. How will other Open Handset Alliance members react? Will they continue to embrace the platform for what it is and offers or will they pull support?
We doubt having 1 more player in the game will change anyone’s min, even if it is Google.
Let’s hear what you guys have to say! What have you heard?
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Search, Better
Nov 6th
One of the most exciting things about Android is that it is constantly changing. We were all anxious for Cupcake, Donut and now for Eclair. Admit it, you waited by your phone anxiously anticipating the moment it informed you of the availability of a new system update. Some changes come under the radar however. New and improved mobile search is one such stealth improvement you might have missed.
Google Search Options have existed on your desktop for most of 2009. These options allow you to filter your searches based on results (blogs, news, videos, etc.) and time (24 hours, week, year, etc.). Google announced recently that the same helpful filtering options are now available to mobile users. Read the rest of this entry »
