Google Search

873 'Google Search' stories May 2011 - September 2017

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Google shares the top 10 “how to” questions that people search

Joe Maring Sep 1 2017 - 12:02 pm PT

Google Search is an immensely powerful tool. You can use it to check movie times, self-diagnose what that rash on your arm is, learn how to cut an onion without crying, and virtually anything else that comes to mind. Among everything that we use Google Search for, one of the most popular search types are “how to” questions. Google recently looked further into the “how to” queries on its search engine, and the results are quite interesting.

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Google app for iOS adds ‘instant answers’ and trending searches near you

Abner Li Sep 1 2017 - 9:01 am PT

The latest version of the Google app rolled out to iOS yesterday with a number of new features centered around making Search faster. “Instant answers” are already found on the web and provide the results of basic queries without having to complete a search, while the Google app will now list trending searches around you.

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Google Flights now recommends cheaper travel/booking dates & nearby airports/hotels

Abner Li Aug 29 2017 - 10:06 am PT

Google is updating its travel tools today with a focus on reducing costs and making planning easier. Google Flights will now suggest travel and booking dates that are less expensive, while Search will recommend nearby airports and hotels that might be cheaper.

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Google searches for depression now feature a clinically validated screening quiz

Abner Li Aug 23 2017 - 12:50 pm PT

Since 2012, Google Knowledge Graph cards have grown to include a large corpus of useful information. Last year, Search began rolling out health-related cards that list symptoms and the usual treatments. Google is today adding a clinically validated screening questionnaire to the Knowledge Panel on depression.

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‘Eyes hurt’ Google searches peaked in the US during yesterday’s solar eclipse

Abner Li Aug 22 2017 - 9:22 am PT

While Google Trends only provides a relative snapshot of people’s searches, it is nevertheless a quite interesting view into human behavior. At times, said behavior can be quite frustrating as evident by yesterday’s peak of “eyes hurt” searches on Google.

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Google testing ‘Search Lite’ app in developing markets w/ custom homescreen, data saver

Abner Li Aug 16 2017 - 11:52 am PT

With the next billion users coming from developing markets, Google has taken to creating apps specially tuned for those users. The latest is called Search Lite and offers a lighter, more focused version of the main Google Search experience.

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Google rolling out Q&A feature to business listings in Maps, mobile Search

Abner Li Aug 16 2017 - 10:17 am PT

Over the years, Google has added a number of features based on crowdsourced data to improve local discovery in Maps and Search. The latest effort involves adding a question and answer section directly to listings in Maps and mobile Search.

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Google estimated to pay Apple $3 billion in 2017 to be the default search engine on iOS

Abner Li Aug 14 2017 - 10:29 am PT

For Google, being the default search engine on iOS is highly lucrative, with Apple’s mobile devices predicted to contribute approximately 50% of Google’s mobile search revenue. So much so that one financial firm estimates that Google will pay Apple $3 billion this year to remain the default.

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Updated Cooking section, Recipe card seem to be more widely rolling out in Google Feed

Abner Li Aug 9 2017 - 11:49 am PT

Google has long possessed a number of cooking-related tools, including a recipe-optimized Search functionality. Back in April, the Assistant on Google Home added the ability to verbally walk users through creating a dish. The Google Feed is now gaining more food-related smarts as its built-in ‘Cooking’ feature sees a wider rollout.

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Google is testing a ‘pop-up’ that shows search results within search results

Justin Duino Aug 4 2017 - 9:36 pm PT

On the heels of a new feature being tested within the YouTube application, we have spotted another that places Google search results within search results…

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Google creating AMP-based Snapchat Discover competitor w/ content appearing in Search

Abner Li Aug 4 2017 - 11:22 am PT

A day after news surfaced that Google was interested in buying Snap last year, a new report notes that Google is developing a “Snapchat-like media content” format based on AMP. Working with several partners, it will allow publishers to create Discover-like visual content similar to Stories.

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Google Search on the mobile web adds navigation drawer & new unified ‘Saved’ page

Abner Li Aug 1 2017 - 10:02 pm PT

Over the past few weeks, Google Search has been testing some interface changes on the mobile web. While that particular change is not yet live for most users, Google is now rolling out a navigation drawer for its mobile site and a new centralized “Saved” page.

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Google announces Search Console redesign, showcases two upcoming reports and tools

Abner Li Aug 1 2017 - 11:24 am PT

The Search Console is an important tool for those who want to optimize their site’s search performance. Google today announced an “extensive redesign” with several key goals in mind. The company will start showcasing the revamped product by releasing two new beta features in the coming weeks.

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In continued focus on mobile, Google retires instant results in desktop Search

Abner Li Jul 26 2017 - 9:16 am PT

Since 2010, typing a query into Google on desktops would automatically begin listing results based on what Search assumed you were looking for. Google is now removing this desktop-specific feature given how most searches occur on mobile.

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Google experimenting with autoplay movie and TV trailers in search results

Joe Maring Jul 26 2017 - 7:47 am PT

Google is works on a number of different products and services, but no matter what project the company takes on, its biggest involvement is, and could always be, its search engine. Google Search has grown and matured quite a bit over the years with subtle improvements and new features, and it looks like Google’s latest venture with Search is to test out automatically-playing videos…

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Google is testing a question and answer feature for businesses in search

Ben Schoon Jul 25 2017 - 11:55 am PT

Whether you’re trying to find a new restaurant or buying a new car, you likely research the business to see what others think about it or to get other general information. Google’s “local panels” provide a ton of information about businesses, and currently, it looks like Google is preparing a new feature for this panel.

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Google hotel search results now include vacation rentals

Jul 25 2017 - 10:26 am PT

Google has useful search tools for quickly finding the best deals on flights, movie tickets, and more. With a recently added filter for vacation rentals, hotel searches have become even more helpful.

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Google releases SOS Alerts on Search and Maps to keep you safe during a crisis

Joe Maring Jul 25 2017 - 6:13 am PT

As past events throughout time have proven, the world can sometimes be a dark and dangerous place. Having access to the right information during a crisis can prove to be lifesaving depending on the situation at hand, and the release of SOS Alerts on Google Search and Maps aims to make dealing with these future events easier and much more manageable.

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Google reportedly bringing its new mobile Feed to the web as part of major homepage redesign [Update: mobile web only]

Abner Li Jul 20 2017 - 3:05 pm PT

Update: In a statement, Google tells us that they hope to rollout “some version of the feed experience” to the mobile web. However, there are no plans to bring the Feed to the desktop. Their full comment is below.

Google yesterday announced a revamp of the Feed, formerly Google Now, that focuses on delivering smarter, more contextual information that is better personalized. Limited to mobile for the moment, one report today notes that Google is bringing the Feed to the web.

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Google Search adds dedicated search box to dictionary card for faster lookups

Abner Li Jul 20 2017 - 2:08 pm PT

After sporadically appearing for several weeks, Google has rolled out a small, but useful addition to the dictionary card of Search results. The widget finally adds a dedicated search box to quickly lookup words without having to refresh your current page.

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Top European court to hear Google’s appeal for more limited scope of ‘right to be forgotten’

Abner Li Jul 19 2017 - 11:05 am PT

Several years ago, the European Union passed a “right to be forgotten” law that instructs tech companies like Google to delist certain content when requested by an individual. Search abides by this, but Google only removes information on a regional, not global, basis.

France’s data protection agency CNIL fined the company on this distinction, with Google appealing last year. Given the significant impact of such a ruling, the appeals court today decided to refer this case to the top European court.

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You can now book your spa or salon appointment through Google Search and Maps

Justin Duino Jul 13 2017 - 10:14 am PT

At the end of 2016, Google began to roll out a new feature that allowed people to reserve their spot in fitness and wellness classes straight from a business listing within Search and Maps. Starting today, Google has expanded this feature to also include spas and salons so that you can quickly and easily schedule your haircut or mani-pedi without having to call the shop or deal with a confusing online interface…

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Google makes it easier to add and find accessibility information in Maps and Search

Abner Li Jul 6 2017 - 8:53 am PT

Google Maps is taking advantage of its large crowdsourcing aspect to make it easier to both input and find details about the accessibility of a location. In addition to this information appearing in Maps, it will also appear in Search result cards.

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Google Search testing rounded cards, muted colors, and more on Android, iOS, mobile web

Abner Li Jul 1 2017 - 3:09 am PT

Google appears to be widely testing a slight visual redesign of mobile Search that tweaks the appearance of results and their cards. Over the past few hours, several users have spotted the change in both the Google app for Android and iOS, as well as on the mobile web.

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