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Google Testing Instant Search Feature

Posted by samzenpus on from the get-it-before-you-want-it dept.

adeelarshad82 writes "According to a recently released video, Google is currently testing an 'instant search' feature that changes search results as you type. The feature was first spotted over the weekend. At the moment Instant Search seems to be implemented on very few accounts. A Google spokesman could not confirm or deny the accuracy of the video saying that at any given moment Google is running 50 to 200 experiments."

6 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. It has a name by robi5 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's called incremental search and was introduced in the emacs text editor decades ago.

    A better invention would be to return relevant search results.

    1. Re:It has a name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes, because incremental search on a text editor and on a search engine are the exact same thing.

  2. I personally saw this by LeiraHoward · · Score: 5, Interesting
    My google page did this sometime this past week. I wasn't logged in, it just randomly started doing it as part of the test... Personally, I hate it.

    You know how when you normally type in things, Google "suggests" what you might be looking for? And how, sometimes, those searches are, shall we say, "interesting" to say the least, or "NSFW" or just plain old weird? (For instance, try typing in "How do I" or "how do you" and see the odd results that occur... the ones I currently see are "get pregnant" and "start selling weed").

    Now, imagine having the results of those show up as you're trying to search for something else entirely.

    Frustrating, to say the least, and embarrassing or potentially job-threatening on some of those more risque searches.

  3. In depth search by belthize · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wish they'd do the opposite. Admittedly getting results for many searches in 1.342 seconds is cool but occasionally I'd prefer much more specific results even if it takes minutes or longer. If they had a service that charged a few $/month that allowed for complex regex and context based searches I'd probably pay it without a seconds thought.

  4. Re:Why? by ByOhTek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Searching for Dickens could also provide some... undesirable side effects. Especially considering Google's habit of putting pictures in normal search results.

    --
    Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
  5. Re:Fix Image Search first!! by Idiomatick · · Score: 4, Insightful

    New image search is a nice improvement. BUT the new links you get aren't as nice. Somehow they seem slower loading for me.

    Why not actually load the page they are on and attach a little bit of code to stick the image over-top. if you click the x hide everything instantly. Why reload the whole god damn page?