Tag Archives: Google Search

Making it easier to Search in Bengali

Bengali is the sixth most spoken language around the world – not a small feat, considering that there are over 7,000 living languages on our planet. Starting today, we’re making it much easier for the over 200 million Bengali speakers to search for things they care about.

Bringing you the Knowledge Graph in Bengali: things, not strings

When someone conducts a search, they want an answer, not trillions of webpages to scroll through. To help Bengali speakers discover new information quickly, we’re now making the Google Knowledge Graph available in Bengali language. So next time when you’re searching for cricket legend Sourav Ganguly in Bengali, we’ll show you things, not strings – and you’ll instantly get information that’s relevant to your query such as Sourav’s date of birth, his number as an active cricket player, or links to his profile on social media.

The Knowledge Graph enables you to search for things, people or places that Google knows about—landmarks, celebrities, cities, sports teams, buildings, geographical features, movies, celestial objects, works of art and more. It’s not just rooted in public sources such as Freebase, Wikipedia and the CIA World Factbook, it’s also augmented at a much larger scale—because we’re focused on comprehensive breadth and depth. The Knowledge Graph is currently available in 41 languages, mapping out how more than 1 billion things in the real world are connected, and over 70 billion facts about them. And it’s tuned based on what people search for, and what we find out on the web, improving results over time.

Making spelling in Bengali easier

Search is a lot about discovery–learning something new about the world, having fun, and getting inspired. But especially when you’re on the go or in a rush, it’s all too easy to misspell that thing you were searching for. To help you get answers even when you misspelled a word, we now support spell correction for Bengali queries. So whenever a typo made its way into your search query, we’ll be there to help, suggesting similar queries.

The image on the right hand side shows you the new search experience with spell correction in blue

We’ve begun to gradually roll-out the Knowledge Graph in Bengali to users around the world. We hope that this update, together with the spell correction in Bengali, will make Search an even better experience for the millions of Bengali speakers around the world.

Posted by Weizhao Wang, Software Engineer and Enzam Hossain, Software Engineer

Source: Official Google India Blog

Google app: the ultimate Search tool for iPhone users

Millions of iPhone and iPad users around the world rely on the Google app as a go-to resource for Search. Now we’ve added some new features to make your Search experience even better. Ready to become an iPhone power user? Here’s how.

Search in any app with the Gboard keyboard extension

Last May, we launched Gboard, a keyboard for iPhone that allows you to search Google and send information, GIFs, emoji, and more — right from your keyboard. While Gboard first launched as a standalone app, it now comes installed with the Google app. Don’t be stifled by the same old texts and smiley faces; with Gboard, expressing yourself with emoji, multiple languages and GIFs has never been easier or more fun. To access, go to your Google app settings to set up Gboard on your device.

Stay in the know with the “Trending on Google” Widget

The “Trending on Google” widget keeps you in the know about hot topics and breaking news from around the world by displaying live trending Google searches. See something that catches your eye? Just tap on the trending search to open up the Google app and learn more.

To access the widget, use 3D Touch on the app icon or swipe right on your home screen. To install it, swipe right on your home screen, scroll to the bottom, tap “Edit”, then add “Trending on Google.”

Save time with 3D Touch

Hard pressing on the Google app icon not only allows you to access the new “Trending on Google” widget, it also opens a set of quick search actions to help you get things done faster. One hard press jumpstarts any search that suits your need—whether you’re typing, talking, looking for images, or surfing on the downlow with incognito mode.

We have also integrated 3D Touch throughout the app. When you’re viewing web pages or search results and want to find out more , just hard press on the G button at the bottom of the page to instantly start a new search. Or you can hard press on Search results, Map results, and cards in your feed to see a preview of the content before opening it all the way.

Take these search tips for a spin and let us know what you think! To share feedback, go to the settings in the app.

Source: Search

The High Five: Top searches from the week of March 20

Here are a few of the top five trending Google searches from the week of March 20.

Tragedy in London

People turned to Google find out more information about the tragic attack in front of the U.K. Parliament in London, and developments in the days that followed. Many questions centered on the identity of the attacker, who killed four people in the deadliest terror attack in the U.K. in over a decade.

It’s searchin’ time

Children of the ‘90s, rejoice—and go, go to the movies. The Power Rangers are back, with a reboot hitting theaters today. Some people are nostalgic and searching about past Power Rangers, while others want to know who’s who in the new movie. One thing’s for sure, the graphics and costumes have improved over the last couple of decades.

Bracket racket

The NCAA Basketball Tournament is in full swing (oops, wrong sport). In addition to bracket updates and scores, people wanted to know: “What are the conference records for the NCAA tournament?” And “Gonzaga Men’s Basketball” is a trending search now that they’re one win away from their first-ever Final Four.

The other type of Court

Searches about Neil Gorsuch continued to rise this week, as the Supreme Court nominee’s confirmation hearing took place in Washington. So far, searchers seem to be in the “small talk at a dinner party” phase—they’re curious about his age, where he lives and his marital status.

Not so fortunate

This week on “Wheel of Fortune,” Tennessee Williams fans groaned. And so did the contestant whose performance left something to be desired. With $600 on the line, Kevin was one letter away from solving a puzzle that read, “A Streetcar N-A-blank-E-D Desire.” He went with K (the correct letter was M). STELLAAAAAAA!!!!

Source: Search

The High Five: game time and morphin’ time

This week, we saw lots of high fives on the basketball court and among Power Rangers fans … but not on a particular episode of “Wheel of Fortune.” Here are a few of the top five trending Google searches from the week of March 20.

Tragedy in London

It’s searchin’ time

Bracket racket

The other type of Court

Not so fortunate

Source: Search

The High Five: game time and morphin’ time

Tragedy in London

It’s searchin’ time

Bracket racket

The other type of Court

Not so fortunate

Source: Search

Google for Brazil: Building a more inclusive internet for everyone, everywhere

Brazilians love the internet. With more than 139 million people online, Brazil ranks among the top five internet populations in the world. Brazilians are also heavy users of Google products, from Search and Android to YouTube and Maps to Photos and Waze. And Brazil is an innovation hub for Google. Our engineering team in Belo Horizonte has made remarkable contributions to our products globally, such as improving health-related searches.

But we know there is still a lot of work to do in Brazil and elsewhere to make technology work better for more people. So today at our Google for Brazil event in São Paulo, we made several announcements about how we're working to make the internet more inclusive and to make our products work better for people in Brazil—and around the world.

Google Duo audio calling

Last year we created Google Duo to bring simple, high-quality video calling to users on Android and iOS. Now we’re adding audio-only calling in Duo. So in those moments when video calling isn't an option—like when you’re about to hop on a crowded bus or have a poor network connection—you can stay connected with family and friends through audio calling. Duo audio calls work well on all connection speeds and won't eat up your data. This feature will be available starting today first in Brazil, and we'll be rolling it out to users around the world in the coming days.

Google Allo file sharing and Smart Smiley in Brazilian Portuguese

Since launching Google Allo last September, users in countries like Brazil have requested the ability to share documents in group chats. Starting today, Android users everywhere will be able to share documents and other files (.pdf, .docs, .apk, .zip, and mp3) with friends on Allo. And for users in Brazil, we're also rolling out Smart Smiley in Portuguese, which uses machine learning to help you find the right emoji faster. Tap the Smart Smiley icon on the compose bar, and the app will suggest relevant emojis and stickers to help you finish your thought.

Google Photos: Faster backup and sharing, no matter the connection

We built Google Photos to help people store, organize and share photos and videos in a hassle-free way. But it can sometimes be difficult to back up and share photos and videos, especially when you're on the go and don't have an internet connection. So today we're rolling out two new features to make backup and sharing easier on low connectivity. Now on Android your photos will back up automatically in a lightweight preview quality if you aren't able to back up in high quality, and still look great on a smartphone. And when a good Wi-Fi connection becomes available, your backed up photos will be replaced with high-quality versions. We’re also making it easier to share many photos at once even on low connectivity. Never mind if you're at the beach or hiking in the mountains, with Google Photos on Android and iOS you can now share pictures quickly even with a spotty connection by sending first in low resolution so friends and family can view them right away. They'll later update in higher resolution when connectivity permits.

It can be hard to find time to organize your pictures, so Google Photos automatically creates animations, movies, collages, and albums. For movies, Google Photos will select the best moments, put them together with professional-style transitions, and set it all to music. With Brazil in mind, we recently rolled out a great example of these kinds of movies—your best photos from Carnival, set to a soundtrack of samba.

Maps location sharing

We're adding a new location sharing feature in Google Maps that lets you tell your friends and family where you are and when you’ll arrive at your destination. You have complete control over whether you share your location, who you share it with, and how long you share it. You can stop sharing at any time. No more "where are you now?" messages back and forth. To manage your location sharing settings across Google products go to the "Your personal info" section of My Account and select Location Sharing.

Posts on Google

Last year we started experimenting with allowing people and places to post directly on Google Search. We started out with the U.S. election and have completed dozens of other experiments around the world. Starting today, in the U.S. and Brazil, we’re taking it to the next step and opening up the application process so that organizations and people within specific categories can post directly on Google.

Now, when you search for museums, sports teams, sports leagues, movies and, in Brazil for now, musicians, you can find content from that participating organization or person, right on Google. So if you’re searching for the Henry Ford Museum in the U.S. or for Vanessa da Mata in Brazil, you'll see updates directly from the source with relevant information, like new exhibits, timely updates and interesting facts. Beyond these categories in the U.S. and Brazil, we’ll continue to experiment globally and look forward to making Search even more useful and timely.

We made some Brazil-specific announcements at our event in São Paulo today as well, including plans to roll out the Google Assistant in Brazilian Portuguese on Android phones running Marshmallow or Nougat. We also extended a $5 million Google.org grant to the Lemann Foundation for an exciting tech-based education project in Brazil, launched the iconic São Paulo Museum of Art on Google Arts & Culture, and announced plans to roll out Waze Carpool in Brazil later this year.

All of today's announcements were inspired by your feedback. We do extensive research in places like Brazil, and we use those insights to make new product features tailored to people's needs in mobile-first countries. The great thing about building products for the most difficult, limited internet conditions is that you end up creating great products for everyone, everywhere.

Source: Search

New shortcuts in Search help keep you in the know

These days, you expect information at your fingertips. Starting today, we’re making it easier than ever to stay in the know and get the information you need quickly and easily. Starting today in the U.S., we’re introducing tappable shortcuts on the Google app for Android and iOS and Google.com on the mobile web that give you easy access to great tools and the ability to explore deeper within topics you care about.

Shortcuts for quick access to answers you need

Getting up-to-the-minute info is as easy as a single tap. With shortcuts right on the home screen, you now have access to in-depth experiences across sports, eat & drink, entertainment and weather. Need to know whether to bring a raincoat tomorrow? Want the score to last night’s basketball game? Looking for what’s on TV tonight or who’s nominated for best supporting actress? Shortcuts on Google will get you there.

Android users will find dozens of other useful shortcuts too—translate, nearby attractions, flights, hotels, internet speed test, currency converter, and more. Plus, if you’re looking for fun, there are shortcuts like tic-tac-toe, roll a die, animal sounds, solitaire, and always a Google favorite: I'm feeling curious.

Shortcuts to explore and keep up with your areas of interest

The Google search box is great when you’re looking for a specific answer, but there are also moments when you just want to catch up on the latest for topics of interest.

Now with a tap on the entertainment shortcut, you can see what’s playing this weekend at your local theater or what to watch on TV. You can also get the latest news from both the small and silver screens. You can tap into news, trailers and reviews that are relevant for you or swipe through listings to catch up on your favorite show.

When you’re curious about nearby lunch options or outdoor dining for your weekend getaway, the eat & drink shortcut is your local scout. Access nearby dining options, explore recommendations and stay updated on the dining scene in your neighborhood. It’s the easiest way to uncover nearby must-try spots while you’re out and about.

Similarly on sports, whether you love basketball, hockey or football, now you don’t need to type anything when you want the latest scores. Just tap into game times, scores and team news, so you never miss a play. You can customize your experience for the teams you cheer for—or against—whether it’s the playoffs or a regular season game.

Don’t let bad weather rain on your parade. Tap the weather shortcut and be ready for the day before you walk out the door. You’ll have access to updated information every time you tap—from hourly sky conditions and chance of rain, severe weather alerts, a detailed 10-day forecast, and more.

To find the most timely and recently used shortcuts, make sure your Google app is updated to the latest version and then look for your shortcuts right underneath the search box. You’ll see new shortcuts appear for big moments and events moving forward. Search on!

Source: Search

The High Five: bring back the bees and beware the Ides

You made it to Friday. Can we get a High Five? In this new series, we’ll show you what’s trending on Google with a look at a few of the top searches from the week of March 13.

Cheerios

Where have all the bumble-bees gone? People are buzzing about Cheerios this week, as the brand dropped its bee mascot to raise awareness for the alarming decline of the world’s bee population. They’ve pledged to give away 100 million wildflower seeds to bring back the bees.

Luck of the Irish

People aren’t just searching for pots of gold, they’re turning to Google for more information about the history of St. Patrick’s Day, the luck of the Irish, and local parades and pubs.

Beware the Ides of March

If you’ve always wondered why we should beware the Ides of March, which occurred this Wednesday, you’re not alone. Many searched about the meaning of Ides of March and who was famously killed on that day.

Did someone say free food?

Searches for American Airlines took off after the airline announced plans to offer free meals to passengers seated in economy on cross-country flights.

This is you searching “This is Us”

Fans of NBC’s hit show “This is Us” had a big week. The season finale aired on Tuesday, and many turned to Google to learn more about the show’s actors and surprising season finale.

Source: Search

The High Five: vibrant women, colorful blooms and (less) colorful donuts

You made it to Friday. Can we get a High Five? In this new series, we’ll show you what’s trending on Google with a look at a five of the top searches from the week of March 6th.

International Women’s Day

On Wednesday March 8th, the world celebrated International Women's Day. People searched on Google to learn more about the day, iconic women throughout history, and how people celebrated this week. Here at Google, we had a lot going on with Doodles, on VR and YouTube, and in media.

Ed Sheeran

People aren’t just Thinking Out Loud about Ed Sheeran, they’re searching for him. This week he announced a world tour, and all 16 songs on his latest album, “Divide,” are expected to make it into Billboard’s Top 40 … solidifying his spot on the A Team. His album on YouTube already has more than a billion views—looks like All of the Stars are aligning for Ed.

Super Blooms

Everything's bigger in Texas, but there are “super blooms” in California. The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is seeing its biggest super bloom in 12 years, but flower-lovers have to act fast. This oasis of wildflower blossoms could disappear soon, thanks to high winds and the area’s infamously hungry caterpillars.

Tim Tebow

Heisman trophy winner and former NFL star Tim Tebow is trading touchdowns for home runs. The former Broncos quarterback made his baseball debut this week at spring training with the New York Mets.

Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins

Donut and ice cream lovers might see a change in some of their favorite flavors. Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins announced that they will eliminate synthetic colors from their food and beverages by the end of 2018.

Source: Search

Improvements to searching for special characters in programming languages

For those seeking answers to technical queries, Google just upped its search game. Now for queries containing sequences of 2-3 special characters such as [== vs ===] and [+=], Google will return results on the meaning of these sequences in programming languages.

For example, if you’re searching for the meaning of [c++17], you will get results for the well-known programming language instead of c17, which brings up a Boeing airplane. Additionally, organization and product names that include punctuation, such as She++ and Notepad++, will return more accurate results.

Whether you’re a student looking to learn the basics of computer science or an engineer at a tech company, Google is now an even better resource to find information about various programming languages. We’ll continue to improve the experience over time for our fellow programmers and tech lovers out there because after all, we’re techies, too!