Less than one week ago, Google shared to the world it’s new interface. Some people like it, but some don’t. Tastes are not into discussion, and opinions are shared, as usual. But, in the end, a new interface stands tall, whether we like it or not.
What many people do not seem to realize is that the new interface is not just a graphic change. It’s also the result of new features implementation. It’s just the way users now have access to more and more tools from Google.
Google, like other search engines, has added, over time, many new features. These features have to be able to be found, one way or another, through the interface. The new Google interface offers fast access to a wide range of features. Some of them were added with the implementation of the new interface, and some of them were already there.
These new features have the role of helping people find the searched information and to increase the level of relevancy of the displayed results. Now all that it takes is for the user to understand and use the offered advantages.
Here is a list of the Top 5 most interesting features that were implemented with the new interface of Google.
Search what’s new
Sometime we only want to find recent material and information. No matter that are are looking for news or information about other current subjects, there are situation in which we are not interested in information older than a few days.
This is where the chronologically results filtering feature comes in handy. If this is not automatically displayed, you need to click on the “more search tools” link.
What is interesting is that the results which are filtered this way are updated and displayed in real time. Let’s say you make a search and pick only the newest results to be displayed. If, in the mean time Google indexes a a page that fits your search, it will automatically appear on top of the list.
Local Results
The new Chrome and Firefox versions have “location” support. Based on this, the web sites you access are familiar with your geographical area. Thus, they can change the content so that you get local relevancy.
For example, if you search for “pizza” the results will be displayed on how far they are from you. Another example is the search for the world ” weather”. In this case, instead of displaying results that offer the weather forecast, you will see links that lead to web sites displaying your local weather forecasts.
Information vs. commerce
When the displayed results are crowded, then their relevancy has to suffer. Sometime we are looking for a product ( for example, a mobile phone model ) only to get more details on it and not to buy it. And search engines have the bad habit of prioritizing online stores instead of web sites that publish reviews.
The new Google Interface has two options that are named ” Fewer shopping sites” and “more shopping sites”. The first one gives priority to web sites that contains information about products like articles, news, tests and so on. Second option will display with priority the online stores where the product your search for can be purchased.
Preview web site
If you want to be careful and avoid accessing web sites that might be infected you can easily get an idea about the sites displayed on Google by activating the “Page Previews” option.
Once this option is activated, pages from Google will be displayed along a small preview image. Practically, you can see the web site before clicking on it.
Social search
The new Google has an option named Social. Instead of searching in it’s own Index, Google will display results based on your profile.
Google knows your Twitter and Facebook friends, your contacts from your GMail address book and what sites are you reading with the help of Reader. When you select the Social option Google will only search in these types of information.
How to use the old interface
We know that not users are happy with the new interface. Happily, for people that are not pleased, there is the option of using the old interface.
One option is the use of this address: http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=all instead of the regular one. Users that already use Google Chrome or Firefox with the Greasemonkey extension installed can use a script that will bring back the old interface.
Even if Google received a lot of results, some good and some bad, the general impression left by it is positive. After all, this change is a consequence of adding new features. New and very useful features we might add.
