Tweet
Google held a special search event in San Francisco this morning to discuss several improvements to its Web and mobile search products.
Though details surrounding the Inside Search event were slim leading up to the announcements, the company promised journalists that it would take them through "an under-the-hood look at Google Search, share our vision, and demo some of our newest technology and features."
At a similar event last year, Google unveiled its Instant Search feature, allowing users to see results as they typed queries into the search box.
This time around, the company focused first on mobile search. It reported that Web searching volume declines over the weekend after staying high during the workweek. In mobile search, however, Google's search traffic jumps on the weekend. The company also said that in mobile search traffic, there is no slowdown during the summer or holidays like there is in traditional Web search. In fact, the company's mobile search has been enjoying strong, consistent growth over the last few years.
To keep that going, the search giant unveiled several mobile search improvements, including a new set of icons on the company's mobile search page, allowing users to find local establishments, including restaurants, coffee shops, attractions, and even gas stations. Upon clicking one of those items, users can scroll through different locales and see their placement on a map. After clicking an establishment, users will find relevant information, including address and phone number.
Google also discussed improved Instant suggestions to help users get to their queries more quickly. In addition, the company has added "plus" icons next to suggestions to let users efficiently modify their queries. For example, if users start typing "Hilton," and choose the plus icon to add that to the search box, the search suggestions will change to queries related to Hilton, such as "Hilton Garden Inn."
Google's new and improved mobile search.
(Credit:CNET)
Finally, Google showed off a new search user interface fortablets that makes better use of those devices' large displays. People sifting through images in a tablet search also can now scroll without being forced to skip to other pages.
Google's mobile search improvements are available now on the company's mobile Web page.
Bringing mobile to the Web
Google also said that it wanted to bring "mobile innovations" to its Web-based search service.
To do so, it unveiled voice search. Users will find a microphone icon when accessing Google search from their Chrome browser, allowing them to speak a query. The service was previously only available in the company's mobile search.
Google has also added a new Search By Image feature to its Images search that delivers results based on a photo. Users can drag-and-drop an image into the search box, or instead choose to upload it or copy and paste it into the field. Chrome extensions are also available to help users search by an image.
After a photo is added to the search box, Google delivers relevant results related to it. So, if a person drops a picture of a location in the search box, for example, Google will return information about the place, as well as any Web results on the same topic.
Google's new Search by Image.
(Credit:CNET)
Google's voice search and Search by Image options are being rolled out on Chrome today, and should be available to all of the browser's users within the next week.
Faster load times
Finally, Google unveiled a new improvement to its Web search that will help users get to their desired destinations sooner.
Dubbed Instant Pages, the offering instantly renders a destination page. According to Google, users currently need to wait 5 seconds to get to a destination page from its search service. With Instant Pages in place, they won't need to wait at all. In one example, Google said that The Washington Post's homepage loaded in 3.2 seconds without help from Instant Pages, and took 0.0 seconds to load with the new feature's help.
Like Google's other Web search improvements, Instant Pages will only be available to Chrome users for now. The company will be making the new feature available this week in Chrome beta.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials
Though details surrounding the Inside Search event were slim leading up to the announcements, the company promised journalists that it would take them through "an under-the-hood look at Google Search, share our vision, and demo some of our newest technology and features."
At a similar event last year, Google unveiled its Instant Search feature, allowing users to see results as they typed queries into the search box.
This time around, the company focused first on mobile search. It reported that Web searching volume declines over the weekend after staying high during the workweek. In mobile search, however, Google's search traffic jumps on the weekend. The company also said that in mobile search traffic, there is no slowdown during the summer or holidays like there is in traditional Web search. In fact, the company's mobile search has been enjoying strong, consistent growth over the last few years.
To keep that going, the search giant unveiled several mobile search improvements, including a new set of icons on the company's mobile search page, allowing users to find local establishments, including restaurants, coffee shops, attractions, and even gas stations. Upon clicking one of those items, users can scroll through different locales and see their placement on a map. After clicking an establishment, users will find relevant information, including address and phone number.
Google also discussed improved Instant suggestions to help users get to their queries more quickly. In addition, the company has added "plus" icons next to suggestions to let users efficiently modify their queries. For example, if users start typing "Hilton," and choose the plus icon to add that to the search box, the search suggestions will change to queries related to Hilton, such as "Hilton Garden Inn."
Google's new and improved mobile search.(Credit:CNET)
Finally, Google showed off a new search user interface fortablets that makes better use of those devices' large displays. People sifting through images in a tablet search also can now scroll without being forced to skip to other pages.
Google's mobile search improvements are available now on the company's mobile Web page.
Bringing mobile to the Web
Google also said that it wanted to bring "mobile innovations" to its Web-based search service.
To do so, it unveiled voice search. Users will find a microphone icon when accessing Google search from their Chrome browser, allowing them to speak a query. The service was previously only available in the company's mobile search.
Google has also added a new Search By Image feature to its Images search that delivers results based on a photo. Users can drag-and-drop an image into the search box, or instead choose to upload it or copy and paste it into the field. Chrome extensions are also available to help users search by an image.
After a photo is added to the search box, Google delivers relevant results related to it. So, if a person drops a picture of a location in the search box, for example, Google will return information about the place, as well as any Web results on the same topic.
Google's new Search by Image.(Credit:CNET)
Google's voice search and Search by Image options are being rolled out on Chrome today, and should be available to all of the browser's users within the next week.
Faster load times
Finally, Google unveiled a new improvement to its Web search that will help users get to their desired destinations sooner.
Dubbed Instant Pages, the offering instantly renders a destination page. According to Google, users currently need to wait 5 seconds to get to a destination page from its search service. With Instant Pages in place, they won't need to wait at all. In one example, Google said that The Washington Post's homepage loaded in 3.2 seconds without help from Instant Pages, and took 0.0 seconds to load with the new feature's help.
Like Google's other Web search improvements, Instant Pages will only be available to Chrome users for now. The company will be making the new feature available this week in Chrome beta.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials