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Google Search By Number
fizz writes "Well, Google has done it again. This time, simply enter any tracking number or id number into the Google search box, and Voila! You have a link to the shipper and tracking information. They have a funny little mom/son tech talk bit on the blog about this."
Google is becoming the one-stop shop for information. While I know their motto is, "Do no evil", I can't help but feel a little squeamish about it.
"I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey
Favorite Hidden Google Features?
Just because someone's mom doesn't know something about Google doesn't make it new.
Most of /. probably knew about this, since it's been around since at least February 2004
That page contains the request Are there other types of numbers you'd like Google to search? Please email us at suggestions@google.com.
Today's page contains Are there other types of numbers you'd like Google to search? Please contact us.
If in the last year Google received suggestions for other numbers to be searched, they do not seem to be implemented today. Drivers Lic #'s, SSN's, Lic Plate #'s, are not likely to be included. What numbers could Google search?
Test signature: Brett Walker
Google has had this feature for a very long time. I don't see how this is news.
And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start
To mold a new reality... closer to the heart
even cooler: check out the first google map hack (it even blew the pants of the google maps crew):
http://paulrademacher.com/housing/
Ya-who?
Put them into Google every day to see if they're on the move...
I wonder if you could then call the shipper and tell them the ship-to address is wrong and have whatever it is sent to your house...
Someone's bound to try it, i betcha.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
User types "666" into the Google search box, hits Enter. "AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
If you enter their website traditionally, UPS requires that the user click the annoying "By selecting this box and the Track button, I agree to these Terms and Conditions." Google bypasses this. What are the legal ramifications of this bypass?
I typed in 42, and the first search result was The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything!
... my car keys. So what good is it?
--- Attorneys Assisting Citizen-Soldiers & Families -
Google search on "google package tracking" yields this December 11, 2003 Google Weblog post.
http://google.blogspace.com/archives/001089/
Ok maybe sketchy isn't really the word I should use here, but wasn't there a report on wired.com like two weeks ago about how google tracks your every move if you are logged into there service (gmail account). So they know exactly who you are (because of the email info) they know what you are searching for (everytime you type in a search query) and now all they need is to see what tracking numbers you put in...they see what you buy, and they can sell this info to massive companies, or hell to advertising companies and bombard you with spam or banners when you go on there site. That or they just wanna create a better service for all of us...(right) P.S. Yeh its a pretty far fetch idea, but then again anything is possible when you live in a time when Senators wanna tax you for every byte you download off the net.
"Well, Google has done it again"
Yes, they managed to get on slashdot for something really, really old.
Having this information crawled and therefore easily available to a world-wide audience makes me nervous. What if you are having passports or some other ID material shipped? Or medical tests? Interception is now that much easier. I know the protection before was via obscurity, i.e. the information was not crawled, but, personally, I think that shippers should not make this information crawlable.
-LLM
Annoy a Conservative...
I am not blaming Google of course, it is the fault of the university and the professor.
This is what happens when geeks get billions of dollars (from going public) and have no parental supervision. :)
Sugapablo
I wish I'd thought of this years ago. You mean I can avoid paying income tax just by earning nothing? I'll tell the payroll department right away! Think of all the money I'll save!
Well, not exactly. It's a very cool hack. My #1 feature request is to link it to Google's satellite maps also.
Mmmm.. Donuts
Give me a break. Google has done this for nearly 2 years now.
Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
Did anybody notice this :
Enter anything you want to search on www.google.com input box, click "Google Search" and VOILA!! Google displays the webpages containing those keywords!!!
Since Gmail is already scanning my messages, why doesn't it pick tracking numbers out of my e-mail? Then it could do something useful and give me a link to the shipper.
Yorkspace
You say "nobody said it was new", and then call it 'news' toward the end. By definition things on the front page of a news site are...well, you know. ;)
Anyways, just because you and a handful of others didn't know about this feature, doesn't mean it belongs on the front page.
I mean, I'm sure there's plenty of really interesting tidbits in, say, world history that neither of us are privy to: that doesn't mean someone should submit or accept a front page post about them.
And just for future reference, in the hopes of avoiding further seperate front page posts on each of these long-implemented features: Google can also help you correct wrongly spelled words (including links to a dictionary entry), let you search through a catalogue of images, and I hear they've even got their own web-based email service.
I heartily encourage you, 'Zonk', and the rest of the Funky Bunch to give a healthy once over of the very much hidden Google features page, just chock full of similar surprises. Ciao!
BytesTemplar.com
If you have ever tried to locate drivers or a manufac for an unknown piece of hardware, you can find the brand and model with its FCC number, which is required to be on the hardware. Good for computer geeks!