Hasta La Gadget!

Have there ever been questions in the back of your mind, but they weren’t really a top priority to sit down and search for the answer? Google is wanting to give you answers and information for things that you’ve always wondered about, but never actually searched for, with a new kind of mobile search tool that Google is working on.

This new concept that Google is concocting aims to understand the hidden needs of users by sampling a test audience as they go about their everyday lives. For instance, one test subject was contacted several times per day over the course of several days, and told Google about the things they wanted to know, such as how long the line is at the grocery store, or questions that randomly arose while they were too busy doing something else.

We’re not sure what exactly Google has up its sleeve, but lead user experience designer for Google Search Jon Wiley said that “the perfect search engine will provide you with exactly what you need to know at exactly the right moment, potentially without you having to ask for it.” So, it seems Google is simply just looking to improve it’s search engine, but with telepathic-like features.

There’s already services like Google Now that give you information whenever you need it at a moments notice, and it seems that this is exactly the direction that Google is heading. Wiley mentioned that Google isn’t ready to release information on its study just yet, but other similar studies will likely follow in the future, and we should be seeing more and more activity on this front as time goes on.

[via Technology Review]

Google plans to give you search results for things you never search for is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It may not be long before Google finds itself being taken to court by the FTC, as new reports are claiming that the FTC is nearing a decision about whether or not it wants to hit Google with a lawsuit. Mercury News claims that a decision could come before the end of the year, and if the FTC decides that it want to take Google to trial, it could mean bad things for the search giant. Specifically, Google could be forced to part with some of its services, either being forced by the FTC to shut them down or sell them off.

For those not in the know, the FTC has been looking at claims that peg Google with anti-competitive behavior. According to some of Google’s competitors, the big G has been giving its own services precedence over their services in search results. That, obviously, has Google’s competitors upset, which is why the FTC launched an investigation that has now lasted 18 months. Google has also had to deal with claims that it isn’t being fair in licensing out Motorola‘s standard-essential patents.

Google’s fate may not be as grim as the one suggested above, however, as the FTC could simply force Google to change its search results so that the listings more clearly show what’s being offered by Google and what isn’t. Google continues to claim that it has done nothing wrong, but ultimately, that will be up to the FTC. Shutting down services certainly isn’t something Google wants to do, so it’s pretty easy to understand why Google has been fighting these claims.

Whatever’s actually going on behind the scenes, we should have the FTC’s decision at least relatively soon. If the commission’s decision on whether or not to take Google to court is really coming up before the end of the year, then things should be ramping up (or alternatively dying down) pretty quick. Keep it tuned here to SlashGear for more information.

FTC may be close to decision in Google antitrust review is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Election Day is quickly approaching, and if you’re still undecided on who to vote for, or if you’re not sure where to vote, Google will help you out. The search giant has launched what they call the Voter Information Tool. It will show you how to register to vote, where to vote, and what candidates are on your ballot.

Within Google’s Voter Information Tool you can find social media links for all the candidates on the ballot, as well as helping you locate your polling place or early voting location if your city offers it. You can also instantly access YouTube’s 2012 Election page, where you can watch videos on anything and everything related to the election.

The tool also makes it easier to research all kinds of information about the candidates including spending and fundraising plans, as well as their various views on the economy and how each candidate plans to run the country. Essentially, Google is aiming to make the tool a one-stop shop to find information about the election.

In an effort to reach as many people as possible, Google has partnered up with companies such as Foursquare and AT&T in order to spread the word about the tool. Election Day is a chaotic day — not only for poll workers and the candidates, but for regular voters as well. Google aims to make it easier for everyone come November 6.

Google’s Voter Information Tool makes it easier to choose and vote come Election Day is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Windows 8 is here at last and, for the most part, we think it’s pretty great. However, as with all new Windows installs, Internet Explorer and Bing are both present. Most people would rather leave those two behind and use different browsers and search engines instead, and today we’re seeing Google capitalize on that. Google has launched a new “campaign” of sorts to get new Windows 8 owners using both its search engine and Chrome as quickly as possible.

It’s called “Get Your Google Back,” and the big G has even launched a new website with the sole purpose of getting its products on your Windows 8 machine. The process seems painlessly simple – once you’ve got Windows 8 installed on your computer, open up Internet Explorer and direct it to getyourgoogleback.com. Once you’re there, you’ll be prompted to install the Google search app for Windows 8.

The website also has a button to make Google Chrome your default browser, and clicking that button will begin the install of Google’s much-loved Chrome. The whole process is laid out in the handy little video posted below. Google gets bonus points for setting the video to a strikingly good cover of Jackson 5′s I Want You Back.

And there you have it – just a few simple steps and you can have Google search and Chrome tiles right there on your Start screen. Are you a new Windows 8 user who will be following Google’s advice, or are you going for a different search/browser combo? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check out our story timeline for more on Windows 8!

Google shows Windows 8 users how to easily ditch Bing and IE is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We had a bit of a laugh with Google’s Kevin Bacon calculator. Not everyone needs to tie their searches to the star of Footloose, though, which is partly why Google is pushing out an update to its Knowledge Graph that explains how searches turn up related items. The effort is starting with actors, celebrities and their links to any movies and TV shows they’ve starred in. Looking for Orson Welles and mousing over Rita Hayworth’s portrait reminds us that the two luminaries were married for years, for example. We won’t know when the more intelligent searches will expand, but at least we won’t be quite so confused if the animated Transformers movie appears next to Citizen Kane.

Filed under: Internet

Google Knowledge Graph explains related content, finds the six degrees with less Bacon originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Oct 2012 01:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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