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Favorite Hidden Google Features?

Posted by Cliff on from the have-fun-with-it dept.

fredtheshingle asks: "Google now seems to allow you the option to track your FedEx and UPS shipments! Search using the tracking number for either carrier and a page that offers to track the package appears. Simply follow that link and the carrier's current status report is displayed. Nice! So what's your favorite hidden Google feature?"

34 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. My favorite Google Feature by Neop2Lemus · · Score: 4, Funny
    Great French Military Victories & click I'm feeling Lucky.

    But then, given the /. debates here, I'm sure you all know that already.

    --
    Needle Nardle Noo
  2. The Standards by amcnabb · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not sure if I know of any that aren't pretty much common knowledge. Anyway, it's fun to search for "answer to life the universe and everything". I also like the calculator function: just enter "2 + 2". The ability to search for "definition any-word-you-want" is nice, too.

    But of course, the best hidden feature is the ability to search for "litigious b******s" and to have the most relevant link appear first. In fact, you can leave off the word "litigious" and it still works, now that so many people have put links with that phrase on their web pages.

  3. Fave "hidden" feature by redfiveneo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's just say Google images. ...with SafeSearch off. ;)

  4. Re:Calculator and spell checker by Bombcar · · Score: 4, Funny

    And for the lazy, I searched google and found a link: Google Features

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    Fellowship 9/11
  5. Google's Best Feature by tiny69 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ego Surfing!!!

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  6. Google Calculator by Lendrick · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not only does it do math, it's also got a bunch of constants built in, and it can convert units on the fly, even to some more esoteric ones. Try entering the following searches

    gravitational constant
    speed of light in cubits per fortnight
    mass of jupiter in stones
    radius of earth * 2 * pi in light years

    It's enough to keep a science nerd occupied for hours. :)

    1. Re:Google Calculator by Undefined+Parameter · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's still missing a few things; for instance, it won't tell me the speed of an unladen swallow in knots.

      But I do like the speed of light in cubits per fortnight. The history geek in me is still laughing. :)

      ~UP

      --
      Eat the Path.
    2. Re:Google Calculator by BrokenHalo · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's because you need a separate unit for African and European Swallows... :-)

    3. Re:Google Calculator by Gudlyf · · Score: 2, Funny
      Damn...this didn't work:

      airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow in miles per hour

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    4. Re:Google Calculator by AndrewRUK · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well of course that won't work, you're not saying whether you mean an African Swallow or a European one.

  7. meanin' o' liff by warmgun · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've always liked this gag. Now if we can just find that question...

  8. bork bork bork! by sdibb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seerch zee Veb

  9. Re:Calculator and spell checker by kernelistic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Did you know that 129263.376 rods per cubic yards is 2 miles per gallon? :-)

  10. Searching in Klingon, Swedish Chef, or Elmer Fudd by dgmartin98 · · Score: 4, Funny

    These people @ Google really have a sense of humor. My favorite funny feature is the ability to do all your Google searches in your choice of Klingon, Bork Bork Bork! (Swedish chef from the Muppets), or Elmer Fudd.

    Dave

    --
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  11. Regular Expressions by Michael.Forman · · Score: 5, Funny


    My favorite feature is the ability to search for items using regular expressions. Just type the string "site:/^[cs].*?edu$/" and BAM! You get jack squat.

    Some day our Linux search engine heros will grace us with regular expressions.

    Open Source Industrial Music.
    Michael.

    --
    Linux : Mac :: VW : Mercedes
  12. Re:Define: by Zork+the+Almighty · · Score: 1, Funny

    "reveal:" which tells you who the people on slashdot really are.

    --

    In Soviet America the banks rob you!
  13. Best units to convert with google calculator. by Myco · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've been having fun converting moles to baker's dozens -- what else ya got?

    --
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  14. Re:Have you seen by Bambi+Dee · · Score: 2, Funny

    How come nobody, not even people who somehow manage to come up with "pretny" or "brither", misspells "Spears"?

  15. Re:Have you seen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    britney6 spears

    I bet this person was typing with one hand. :)

  16. OT: My favorite quote about regular expressions by Big+Sean+O · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some people, when confronted with a problem, think "I know, I'll use regular expressions." Now they have two problems.

    --Jamie Zawinski, in comp.lang.emacs

    --
    My father is a blogger.
  17. Google H4xx0r by skinfitz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Google H4xx0r is quite amusing.

  18. Re:Calculator and spell checker by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    It helped me as well. Doc Brown.

  19. Favorite Hidden feature by benj_e · · Score: 2, Funny

    My website after the last update.

    --
    The Tao that can be spoken is not the one eternal Tao
  20. Re:Have you seen by Bambi+Dee · · Score: 2, Funny
    Well, they do correct, for example, "brotuny spiers": Did you mean: britney spears

    (Sheesh, what a way to spend an afternoon.)

  21. Re:Calculator and spell checker by sbennett · · Score: 5, Funny

    And the ever popular Question

    How about this one?

  22. Yes, but ... by JohnQPublic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Try 40 rods per hogshead in miles per gallon, and all you get are Simpsons references. Of course, one of the first is Shafe's Simpsons Stuff - Grandpa's Hogshead Converter, so it works. Sort of.

  23. Re:Calculator and spell checker by rolocroz · · Score: 5, Funny

    The page is Slashdotted - here's a Google cache..

    --

    I meta-mod all positive moderation Unfair, because it's abuse of the system.

  24. Re:Calculator and spell checker by 00420 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow that's pretty cool too.

    Google can help you find some pretty cool things.

    I just learned that with my internet service I can theoretically download 11 terrabytes per year.

    I really need a bigger hard drive :0

    --
    Have you tried Linux yet?
  25. "I don't think it means what you think it means" by alexo · · Score: 2, Funny

    > Me having sex with my SO is legal. That doesn't mean I want information about it out in the open.

    As far as I know, having sex with your Superior Officer is universally illegal.

  26. Re:This "hidden" category... by vidnet · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who are the lucky bastards who get paid to maintain this tree?

  27. Re:Calculator and spell checker by spongman · · Score: 3, Funny

    one of my favorites

  28. Re:Define: by clbyjack81 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Here's a pretty neat little trick...in the google search bar type in...

    "french military victories" and click the 'I'm feeling lucky' button!

    --
    Cole's Axiom: The sum of the intelligence on the planet is a constant. The population is growing.
  29. Thank you google drone? by quinkin · · Score: 2, Funny
    Thank you google drone - hope this helps your IPO...

    Q.

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    Insert Signature Here
  30. I love by IronBlade · · Score: 2, Funny

    I love the feature which lists their features... oh, wait, it's just their features page...

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