Given the abundance of phones, many users around the world are primarily interacting with the mobile web. Google in response is moving to mobile-first indexing for Search, and is now defaulting to that for new domains.
At I/O 2019, Google announced a number of new features for Search like podcast indexing and 3D AR objects. The latest is a redesign for mobile Search that reorganizes how each result is displayed and adds a site favicon to each card.
There are now a ton of food delivery services from DoorDash to Postmates, with each having their own app to download, sign-up for, and manage. Google is now integrating these services right into Assistant, Search, and Maps for a unified and direct experience.
Just as new web pages are constantly being created, so too is Google constantly indexing these pages to improve their Search results. However, this morning, it seems as though Google’s search indexing has stopped, meaning no new results are appearing in Google Search.
In addition to fun Easter Eggs, Google Search features a number of useful built-in tools. The calculator card was recently updated with various Google Material Theme tweaks and a new history feature.
At I/O 2019, Sundar Pichai announced a “Podcasts about this story” feature for Google Search that indexes podcasts to surface relevant episodes by content instead of just title. Ahead of that, Google Podcasts is officially coming to the web for iOS and desktops.
During the Google I/O 2019 keynote today, Google revealed a big change for Search. Starting later this year, the company is bringing Full Coverage and Podcasts into Google Search starting later this year.
Google Lens was announced two years ago at I/O and is now available on Android, Photos, and Image Search. At I/O 2019, Google is bringing augmented reality to Search on the web for more realistic and detailed results through 3D models
Google is synonymous with search, and that means the search engine has a lot of power in influencing where users end up on the web. Apparently, TurboTax has been leveraging Google Search to hide its free tax tool to push users towards its paid options.
When searching for a new job, like any other kind of search, people tend to start with Google. To help adapt the job search feature to what work looks like for many today, Google is adding a “work from home” filter.
As evidenced by April Fools’ Day, Google is fond of inserting Easter Eggs into products. Google Search is home to “do a barrel roll” and “the answer to life the universe and everything.” Ahead of Avengers: Endgame, entering “Thanos” in Google Search will let you replicate the “Snap” at the end of Infinity War.
Google searches taken in aggregate often reveal interesting insights about what’s currently trending around the globe. It also makes for fun trivia, with this evening’s episode of Jeopardy! featuring a whole category about “Google’s Top Searches, 1999-2018.”
Google.com has long allowed users to filter search results by time from general increments to setting a “custom date range.” The search engine is now testing a new “before:” and “after:” command to filter right from the search box.
The Google Material Theme began rolling out to Google.com on the desktop web in late November with a pill-shaped Search field on the results pages. Earlier this month, that new Search bar made its way to the iconic homepage. Google is now testing Material Theme icons alongside each Search category on the web.
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Google is the go-to option for search, and the company’s hotel and flight search takes some of the headaches out of booking a trip. This week, Google is announcing an expansion of its vacation search service.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Google launched the ability to perform Duo calls on the web. Now, the company is featuring that new ability with advertisements on the Google.com homepage and also on Chrome’s new tab page.
In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee submitted “Information Management: A Proposal” to CERN. Thirty years later, the web has had a revolutionary impact on the world, and Google.com is marking the occasion today with a quaint Doodle.
Late last year, Google Search began testing various Material Theme tweaks. Many elements have since been widely rolled out, with the latest being a slight revamp for Knowledge Panels on the mobile web and Android.
Last November, Google brought the first Material Theme elements to Search on desktop web, with mobile tweaks following afterwards. The Google.com homepage today features a pill-shaped search field to complete the visual redesign.
Since last year, Google has been a vocal opponent of the European Union’s Copyright Directive. While the company recognizes the need for legal modernization, it argues that there are unintended consequences for the publishers and other parties that the EU is trying to help. Google yesterday shared its response to the finalized text ahead of a broader vote.
The opioid crisis in the U.S. is an ongoing public health emergency, with Google noting that searches for “medication disposal near me” reached an “all-time high” in January. In light of that, it’s now easier to find those locations in Google Maps and Search.
Over the weekend, Google presented a white paper at the Munich Security Conference detailing how it fights disinformation across its largest services. This includes efforts covering Google Search, News, and YouTube, as well as advertising platforms.
Over the past several weeks, some users have spotted a Google Assistant shortcut on the Google.com mobile homepage. As of this evening, it appears to be widely rolled out and lets users launch Assistant on their phone.
Last month, Google tested the impact of Search news results that lacked snippets, headlines, and images to comply with the European Union’s proposed Article 11. Ahead of the Copyright Directive being finalized, the company shared how news publishers could see a 45% reduction in traffic.
