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Source: pcmag.com
It's easy to take the common Google search for granted. But if you take just a moment to really think about it, you might appreciate it for what it truly is: crazy superhero magic!
Just by typing a few words, a single person can achieve near-instantaneous access to all of the world's collected information. Want to know the capital of Moldova? (It's Chisinau.) Who played the mean judge in Ghostbusters II? (Character actor Harris Yulin.) How long does it take Neptune to orbit the Sun? (164.79 Earth years!) Bam, boom, POW!
As long as you have a connected device, you have the power to know just about everything—that's some Professor X stuff right there.
There are, of course, other capable search engines out there; some tailored to serve very niche audiences. But aside from fictional characters on the CW, is anyone out there really "Binging" anything?
While Google has grown to include numerous other pursuits, search remains the company's core product (and its most profitable, as well). With a decade-and-a-half of refinement behind it, Google search has evolved into a complex and beautifully versatile technology. (And one that always works. Have you seen Google.com go down? That's no easy accomplishment for the world's most popular website.)
While you probably use it just about every day, there may still be a lot you still don't know about the old dependable Google search.
1 of 18
Learn Your Search Modifiers
Google's search algorithm is remarkably adept at returning the information you are looking for—even when you aren't exactly sure yourself. But for those times when you know precisely what you need, you can refine your search results utilizing some basic modifiers. Here's a short list of ones you should know:
Exclude terms with a minus (-) symbol: If you, say, want to learn about wildfires in the Amazon rain forest, but not Jeff Bezos's new unnecessary bits of hardware, then you can use the minus symbol to exclude all the terms you don't want, i.e. amazon fire -kindle -phone –tv
Use "OR" to combine searches: You can use this modifier for when you want to get two separate, but related bits of information. Google usually ignores capitalization, however in this case, you need to use an all-cap'd "OR." Google will return different results for capital city Tennessee or Spain than it does for capital city Tennessee OR Spain.
Use quotations to search for the exact order: Searching "Danny Devito hair" will only bring back results that include all those words, in that order. However a search for Danny Devito Hair (without quotations) will bring back a different set of results, which have all those words, but not necessarily in the order you searched for.
2 of 18
Learn Yer Search Qualifiers
Google search also supports a variety of search qualifiers that will help to further filter your results. Here are a few good ones to know:
Search inside a single website: If you want results from within only one site, use site: followed directly by the site URL you wish to use. You must include the site's domain, i.e. Galaxy S site:pcmag.com and not Galaxy S site:pcmag.
Search titles only: Use the search intitle: to look for words in the webpage title. For example grasshoppers intitle:gross will only return sites about grasshoppers that have "gross" in the title. Conversely, allintitle: will only return links with multiple words in the title, i.e. allintitle: cow meat yummy.
Search URLs only: Similar to intitle: function , you can search only in the URL using inurl: or allinurl:.
Search text only: intext: or allintext:allows you to only search in the text of a site, as opposed to the title and URL, which the search algorithm usually takes into consideration.
You can use these terms in conjunction with each other or with the previously mentioned modifiers. Remember, the text you are searching for must follow directly after the colon with no spaces between them.
3 of 18
Get More Image Search in Your Image Search
You can use many of the aforementioned search refiners in Google image searches. However, you can get even more in-depth image searches by clicking over to Google's advanced image search page (google.com/advanced_image_search), which allows you to search by image size, region, file type, and even for specific colors.
4 of 18
Retro-image Search
Google supports "backwards" image searches on most browsers. This function allows you to upload an image file and find information on that image. For example if you uploaded a picture of the Eiffel Tower, Google (probably) has the ability to recognize it and give you information on the Eiffel Tower. Pretty cool. (And it works with faces, too).
In addition, a backwards search can direct you to websites where the particular image appears, or even show you images that are "visually similar."
Just go to Google image search and click the little camera icon in the search bar. Here, you can upload an image (or enter an image's URL) that you'd like to search.
Updated versions of Chrome and Firefox browsers will allow you to drag an image file directly into the search bar, however Internet Explorer does not appear to currently support this drag-and-drop functionality.
5 of 18
Prune Your Very Detailed Search History
If you click on over to google.com/history, you'll find a fascinating and (somewhat unsettlingly) comprehensive record of your Googling history.
This page provides lots of data about your personal search history. For example, I was able to learn that I have performed 34,868 Google searches (or, at least that's how many I've conducted when logged in with my Gmail account), I tend to Google the most on Thursdays and at around noon, and my top query has been my own name (because I'm totes narcissistic apparently!).
Google uses these past search results to tailor future search results (and to better target ads, of course). For example, if you often look up rap lyrics, a search for Boyz n the Hood might return results based on the 1987 Eazy-E song rather than the 1991 movie of the same name.
You have the ability to delete particular past queries by just checking the box next to the search and clicking the "Remove items" button at the top. This pruning can fine-tune your future search results and keep annoying ads away.
If the whole thing creeps you out, you can turn off the tracking of your search history under "settings" in the top right corner. Should you choose to turn this off, keep in mind that you will lose much of the personalization that makes Google such a helpful tool. We all must make these decisions regarding our personal balance of convenience vs. privacy. No judgment here.
6 of 18
Do Math in Your Search Box
Whether you want to figure out a tip on a meal, or create a complex geographical rendering, Google search has got you covered.
You can do basic calculations directly in the search bar. For example, searching 34+7 will prompt a calculator below the bar with the correct answer already filled in. Boom.
Conversely, you can also ask Google to solve math questions in regular language. For example, searching what is 3 times 7 will prompt the calculator and the correct answer. You can also ask things like what is 20% of $67.42 and receive an answer (you can even leave out the "what is" altogether).
And if you are a super math nerd, you can create interactive 3D virtual objects (on desktop browsers that support WebGL) just by plugging in an equation that uses "x" and "y" as free variables. Or, if you are like me and have long forgotten your high school geometry, you can just plug in different numbers along with some cos(x)s, sin(y)s, and tan(x)s and see what renders. It's a lot of fun! For like four minutes.
If these more advance math functions are actually something you can use for your everyday activities, Google has a much more in-depth mathlete-level explainer.
7 of 18
Google Search Is a Master Converter
Google will help you convert just about anything. Just try entering the basic information and then hit enter. For simple conversions, say 38 Celsius in Fahrenheit, Google will not only tell you an answer (100.4, in this case), it will also provide an interactive conversion calculator for further converting.
After playing with this function, I found that Google will supply the answer for some pretty zany conversions, say 17.5 millimeters in light years (for the record, it's 1.84979097 × 10-18 light years), however it will not supply the interactive calculator.
Additionally, you can find up-to-date-ish currency conversion rates with just a few keystrokes (this function will also usually prompt an interactive calculator). The cool thing about this function is you don't even need to know the official currency symbol ($, €, etc.) or ISO designator (i.e. USD for the U.S. dollar or GBP for the British pound)—Google's algorithm is able to discern a sentence-style queries. For example, a search for 38 dollars in Iceland returns the answer that (at the time of writing) $38 was equal to 4,373.80 Icelandic krona.
We should note that when converting currency, Google has a disclaimer stating that it cannot guarantee the up-to-date accuracy of its exchange rates. So, while this function may be useful when budgeting for your next overseas adventure, perhaps you shouldn't rely on it a go-to tool for all your international currency trading.
8 of 18
Google Is a Dictionary
You can ask Google search to define unfamiliar words (or two-word phrases) using either the define: or definition: qualifier. This will prompt Google to return a card with the definition, pronunciation, and—when available—a detailed etymology.
9 of 18
Track Packages in Google Search
You can track your UPS and FedEx packages in your search bar (apparently USPS package numbers no longer work). Just paste it in to search and Google will automatically recognize it and provide a link to the tracking page.
10 of 18
Track Earthquakes
This is more of an academic exercise for those of us who live on inactive tectonic plates (though NYC did unnecessarily freak the fug out a few years ago after being gently jostled by a nothing little baby quake).
However, whether your interest be academic or practical, you can just pop in a search for "earthquake" and Google will return an up-to-date card with all of that day's shakey-shakeys of note courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.
11 of 18
Search File Types
You can also filter your search results by file types using the qualifier filetype:. So, if you wanted to find downloadable PDFs featuring llamas, you could search llama filetype:pdf. If you wanted to find downloadable Microsoft Word docs prominently featuring our llama friends, you'd search llama filetype:doc.
12 of 18
You Talkin' To Me?
From Glass to Google Now to Android Wear, Mountain View is making the hard push for "OK Google" to be the cross-platform voice search prompt. So, it's not a big surprise that Google began baking "OK Google" voice search into its Chrome browser.
This always-listening function is off by default, however if you want to use it, click on Settings > Advanced Settings and under "Privacy" make sure "Enable 'Ok Google' to start a voice search" is checked. You'll then notice the microphone icon in the search box is darkened and filled in, which means Google is listening for the familiar prompt.
Unfortunately, this function is only supported in the Chrome browser for the time being.
13 of 18
Google Knows What Time It Is
Not that you would ever need to use this function on a desktop computer in the mobile age, but Google will indeed return a card with the up-to-date local time based on your IP address—all you have to do is search "time." Amazing, right?
But Google also has the chops to provide the local time anywhere in the world by just searching time + [any location], which could be the name of a city or (if it's in the U.S.) a ZIP code.
14 of 18
Google Is a Meteorologist
Simpler than simple, if you search "weather," Google will present an interactive card with weather information courtesy of The Weather Channel. By default, a search for "weather" will prompt an info card for the location of your IP address.
However, you can also search weather + [any location] and you can find the weather report for just about anywhere in the world, e.g. weather Toldeo, OH or weather Kabul Afghanistan.
15 of 18
Real-Time Stock Quotes
Just type in any publicly traded company's ticker symbol and Google will present real-time price information on that company, e.g. "GOOG" (for Google), "AAPL" (for Apple), or "YHOO" (for Yahoo). Most of the larger exchanges are in real-time, though Google offers a comprehensive disclaimer for which exchanges are on a delay.
16 of 18
Sunrise, Sunset
Want to know when Mr. Sun will be bowing-out or checking-out in your (IP's) neck of the woods? Then you can just search "sunrise" or "sunset." You can even search for the sunrise/set times in other locations, as well.
17 of 18
Flight Times
Here's a handy little tip. If you just type in your flight's number, Google will return a card with updated flight times as well as terminal/gate information. Boom.
18 of 18
Easter Eggs
As we've detailed in the past, Google's engineers apparently have a lot of extra time on their hands with which to implement all manner of Easter Eggs and needlessly well-produced April Fool's pranks. And why should Google's main raison d'etre be left out of the fun? Here are just a few cool Easter Eggs you can uncover through search:
Searching…
… "askew" or "tilt" will tilt your screen; "unaskew" or "untilt" will set it upright again (or just reload the page)
… "Atari breakout" and then clicking on "images" will begin a game of Breakout (but which is somewhat buggy—the ball disappears off the side of the screen)
… "Festivus" adds a Festivus pole to the left side of the screen
… "do a barrel roll" or "z or r twice" will cause the screen to do a 360
… "Google in 1998" will make the page appear as Google did in 1998
… "zerg rush" will cause a bunch of Google O's to attack the screen, which you can fight off by clicking on them.
These are only a few. If you honestly have nothing better to do with your time, Wikipedia has a comprehensive list of still-functioning Google search Easter Eggs.
It's easy to take the common Google search for granted. But if you take just a moment to really think about it, you might appreciate it for what it truly is: crazy superhero magic!
Just by typing a few words, a single person can achieve near-instantaneous access to all of the world's collected information. Want to know the capital of Moldova? (It's Chisinau.) Who played the mean judge in Ghostbusters II? (Character actor Harris Yulin.) How long does it take Neptune to orbit the Sun? (164.79 Earth years!) Bam, boom, POW!
As long as you have a connected device, you have the power to know just about everything—that's some Professor X stuff right there.
There are, of course, other capable search engines out there; some tailored to serve very niche audiences. But aside from fictional characters on the CW, is anyone out there really "Binging" anything?
While Google has grown to include numerous other pursuits, search remains the company's core product (and its most profitable, as well). With a decade-and-a-half of refinement behind it, Google search has evolved into a complex and beautifully versatile technology. (And one that always works. Have you seen Google.com go down? That's no easy accomplishment for the world's most popular website.)
While you probably use it just about every day, there may still be a lot you still don't know about the old dependable Google search.
1 of 18
Learn Your Search Modifiers
Google's search algorithm is remarkably adept at returning the information you are looking for—even when you aren't exactly sure yourself. But for those times when you know precisely what you need, you can refine your search results utilizing some basic modifiers. Here's a short list of ones you should know:
Exclude terms with a minus (-) symbol: If you, say, want to learn about wildfires in the Amazon rain forest, but not Jeff Bezos's new unnecessary bits of hardware, then you can use the minus symbol to exclude all the terms you don't want, i.e. amazon fire -kindle -phone –tv
Use "OR" to combine searches: You can use this modifier for when you want to get two separate, but related bits of information. Google usually ignores capitalization, however in this case, you need to use an all-cap'd "OR." Google will return different results for capital city Tennessee or Spain than it does for capital city Tennessee OR Spain.
Use quotations to search for the exact order: Searching "Danny Devito hair" will only bring back results that include all those words, in that order. However a search for Danny Devito Hair (without quotations) will bring back a different set of results, which have all those words, but not necessarily in the order you searched for.
2 of 18
Learn Yer Search Qualifiers
Google search also supports a variety of search qualifiers that will help to further filter your results. Here are a few good ones to know:
Search inside a single website: If you want results from within only one site, use site: followed directly by the site URL you wish to use. You must include the site's domain, i.e. Galaxy S site:pcmag.com and not Galaxy S site:pcmag.
Search titles only: Use the search intitle: to look for words in the webpage title. For example grasshoppers intitle:gross will only return sites about grasshoppers that have "gross" in the title. Conversely, allintitle: will only return links with multiple words in the title, i.e. allintitle: cow meat yummy.
Search URLs only: Similar to intitle: function , you can search only in the URL using inurl: or allinurl:.
Search text only: intext: or allintext:allows you to only search in the text of a site, as opposed to the title and URL, which the search algorithm usually takes into consideration.
You can use these terms in conjunction with each other or with the previously mentioned modifiers. Remember, the text you are searching for must follow directly after the colon with no spaces between them.
3 of 18
Get More Image Search in Your Image Search
You can use many of the aforementioned search refiners in Google image searches. However, you can get even more in-depth image searches by clicking over to Google's advanced image search page (google.com/advanced_image_search), which allows you to search by image size, region, file type, and even for specific colors.
4 of 18
Retro-image Search
Google supports "backwards" image searches on most browsers. This function allows you to upload an image file and find information on that image. For example if you uploaded a picture of the Eiffel Tower, Google (probably) has the ability to recognize it and give you information on the Eiffel Tower. Pretty cool. (And it works with faces, too).
In addition, a backwards search can direct you to websites where the particular image appears, or even show you images that are "visually similar."
Just go to Google image search and click the little camera icon in the search bar. Here, you can upload an image (or enter an image's URL) that you'd like to search.
Updated versions of Chrome and Firefox browsers will allow you to drag an image file directly into the search bar, however Internet Explorer does not appear to currently support this drag-and-drop functionality.
5 of 18
Prune Your Very Detailed Search History
If you click on over to google.com/history, you'll find a fascinating and (somewhat unsettlingly) comprehensive record of your Googling history.
This page provides lots of data about your personal search history. For example, I was able to learn that I have performed 34,868 Google searches (or, at least that's how many I've conducted when logged in with my Gmail account), I tend to Google the most on Thursdays and at around noon, and my top query has been my own name (because I'm totes narcissistic apparently!).
Google uses these past search results to tailor future search results (and to better target ads, of course). For example, if you often look up rap lyrics, a search for Boyz n the Hood might return results based on the 1987 Eazy-E song rather than the 1991 movie of the same name.
You have the ability to delete particular past queries by just checking the box next to the search and clicking the "Remove items" button at the top. This pruning can fine-tune your future search results and keep annoying ads away.
If the whole thing creeps you out, you can turn off the tracking of your search history under "settings" in the top right corner. Should you choose to turn this off, keep in mind that you will lose much of the personalization that makes Google such a helpful tool. We all must make these decisions regarding our personal balance of convenience vs. privacy. No judgment here.
6 of 18
Do Math in Your Search Box
Whether you want to figure out a tip on a meal, or create a complex geographical rendering, Google search has got you covered.
You can do basic calculations directly in the search bar. For example, searching 34+7 will prompt a calculator below the bar with the correct answer already filled in. Boom.
Conversely, you can also ask Google to solve math questions in regular language. For example, searching what is 3 times 7 will prompt the calculator and the correct answer. You can also ask things like what is 20% of $67.42 and receive an answer (you can even leave out the "what is" altogether).
And if you are a super math nerd, you can create interactive 3D virtual objects (on desktop browsers that support WebGL) just by plugging in an equation that uses "x" and "y" as free variables. Or, if you are like me and have long forgotten your high school geometry, you can just plug in different numbers along with some cos(x)s, sin(y)s, and tan(x)s and see what renders. It's a lot of fun! For like four minutes.
If these more advance math functions are actually something you can use for your everyday activities, Google has a much more in-depth mathlete-level explainer.
7 of 18
Google Search Is a Master Converter
Google will help you convert just about anything. Just try entering the basic information and then hit enter. For simple conversions, say 38 Celsius in Fahrenheit, Google will not only tell you an answer (100.4, in this case), it will also provide an interactive conversion calculator for further converting.
After playing with this function, I found that Google will supply the answer for some pretty zany conversions, say 17.5 millimeters in light years (for the record, it's 1.84979097 × 10-18 light years), however it will not supply the interactive calculator.
Additionally, you can find up-to-date-ish currency conversion rates with just a few keystrokes (this function will also usually prompt an interactive calculator). The cool thing about this function is you don't even need to know the official currency symbol ($, €, etc.) or ISO designator (i.e. USD for the U.S. dollar or GBP for the British pound)—Google's algorithm is able to discern a sentence-style queries. For example, a search for 38 dollars in Iceland returns the answer that (at the time of writing) $38 was equal to 4,373.80 Icelandic krona.
We should note that when converting currency, Google has a disclaimer stating that it cannot guarantee the up-to-date accuracy of its exchange rates. So, while this function may be useful when budgeting for your next overseas adventure, perhaps you shouldn't rely on it a go-to tool for all your international currency trading.
8 of 18
Google Is a Dictionary
You can ask Google search to define unfamiliar words (or two-word phrases) using either the define: or definition: qualifier. This will prompt Google to return a card with the definition, pronunciation, and—when available—a detailed etymology.
9 of 18
Track Packages in Google Search
You can track your UPS and FedEx packages in your search bar (apparently USPS package numbers no longer work). Just paste it in to search and Google will automatically recognize it and provide a link to the tracking page.
10 of 18
Track Earthquakes
This is more of an academic exercise for those of us who live on inactive tectonic plates (though NYC did unnecessarily freak the fug out a few years ago after being gently jostled by a nothing little baby quake).
However, whether your interest be academic or practical, you can just pop in a search for "earthquake" and Google will return an up-to-date card with all of that day's shakey-shakeys of note courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.
11 of 18
Search File Types
You can also filter your search results by file types using the qualifier filetype:. So, if you wanted to find downloadable PDFs featuring llamas, you could search llama filetype:pdf. If you wanted to find downloadable Microsoft Word docs prominently featuring our llama friends, you'd search llama filetype:doc.
12 of 18
You Talkin' To Me?
From Glass to Google Now to Android Wear, Mountain View is making the hard push for "OK Google" to be the cross-platform voice search prompt. So, it's not a big surprise that Google began baking "OK Google" voice search into its Chrome browser.
This always-listening function is off by default, however if you want to use it, click on Settings > Advanced Settings and under "Privacy" make sure "Enable 'Ok Google' to start a voice search" is checked. You'll then notice the microphone icon in the search box is darkened and filled in, which means Google is listening for the familiar prompt.
Unfortunately, this function is only supported in the Chrome browser for the time being.
13 of 18
Google Knows What Time It Is
Not that you would ever need to use this function on a desktop computer in the mobile age, but Google will indeed return a card with the up-to-date local time based on your IP address—all you have to do is search "time." Amazing, right?
But Google also has the chops to provide the local time anywhere in the world by just searching time + [any location], which could be the name of a city or (if it's in the U.S.) a ZIP code.
14 of 18
Google Is a Meteorologist
Simpler than simple, if you search "weather," Google will present an interactive card with weather information courtesy of The Weather Channel. By default, a search for "weather" will prompt an info card for the location of your IP address.
However, you can also search weather + [any location] and you can find the weather report for just about anywhere in the world, e.g. weather Toldeo, OH or weather Kabul Afghanistan.
15 of 18
Real-Time Stock Quotes
Just type in any publicly traded company's ticker symbol and Google will present real-time price information on that company, e.g. "GOOG" (for Google), "AAPL" (for Apple), or "YHOO" (for Yahoo). Most of the larger exchanges are in real-time, though Google offers a comprehensive disclaimer for which exchanges are on a delay.
16 of 18
Sunrise, Sunset
Want to know when Mr. Sun will be bowing-out or checking-out in your (IP's) neck of the woods? Then you can just search "sunrise" or "sunset." You can even search for the sunrise/set times in other locations, as well.
17 of 18
Flight Times
Here's a handy little tip. If you just type in your flight's number, Google will return a card with updated flight times as well as terminal/gate information. Boom.
18 of 18
Easter Eggs
As we've detailed in the past, Google's engineers apparently have a lot of extra time on their hands with which to implement all manner of Easter Eggs and needlessly well-produced April Fool's pranks. And why should Google's main raison d'etre be left out of the fun? Here are just a few cool Easter Eggs you can uncover through search:
Searching…
… "askew" or "tilt" will tilt your screen; "unaskew" or "untilt" will set it upright again (or just reload the page)
… "Atari breakout" and then clicking on "images" will begin a game of Breakout (but which is somewhat buggy—the ball disappears off the side of the screen)
… "Festivus" adds a Festivus pole to the left side of the screen
… "do a barrel roll" or "z or r twice" will cause the screen to do a 360
… "Google in 1998" will make the page appear as Google did in 1998
… "zerg rush" will cause a bunch of Google O's to attack the screen, which you can fight off by clicking on them.
These are only a few. If you honestly have nothing better to do with your time, Wikipedia has a comprehensive list of still-functioning Google search Easter Eggs.
