Google ushers Web surfers into its labs

NEWS

Popular search engine Google on Tuesday launched two sites for developing experimental search and browsing technologies. The first experiment page, Google Labs, lets Google users try out technologies fresh from Google's research and development team. At launch, these experiments include a glossary, a voice-search application, keyboard shortcuts for navigating through search results, and a tool for creating sets of Web sites or other items derived from a smaller set of like items. The second page features experimental add-ons to Google's toolbar, a software download that lets people surfing the Web with Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser search the Google database through a persistent application built into the IE interface. "Both of the services enable Google's users to experience and provide feedback to Google's latest innovations in search technology," a Google representative said about Tuesday's launches. Google is expanding its research and development on several fronts, including courting software developers by offering limited licenses to experiment with Web APIs (application programming interfaces) that allow programs to tap directly into its search database. The moves come as the company is trying to find its financial footing amid fierce competition in the market for Internet search services. Widely thought to be preparing for an initial public offering, the company has been slowly cementing its position as the No. 1 search provider on the Web, with more than 3 billion documents in its database. In the last couple of years, Google's technology scored it a high-profile contract to provide backup search results for Yahoo!, taking over Inktomi's position. It has also replaced paid-listing company Overture Services on EarthLink's site. Such successes have complicated Google's place in the search world. Google's automated search service increasingly poses a direct challenge to Yahoo!'s handpicked directory of Web sites. According to a report from StatMarket, a division of Net research company WebSideStory, Yahoo!'s search market share has dropped in the past two years from 46 percent to 36 percent, while Google's has climbed from 1 percent to 32 percent. That could become a factor in whether Yahoo! decides to renew its Google deal when it expires next month. Meanwhile, Google recently revamped its keyword advertising service, drawing a patent infringement lawsuit from Overture over its method for auctioning ad positions. Not all of the current labs projects point directly to paid services. But, like its APIs bid, they may become a catalyst to help drive Google's recent efforts to lift its revenue. For now the service relies on advertising, but it has taken steps to broaden its billing base, for example, by introducing an enterprise search device earlier this year. "In some ways, (the labs site is) yet another marketing gambit," Chris Sherman, editor of industry newsletter Search Engine Watch, wrote in an email interview. "Google users love the idea of getting a peek beneath the kimono -- and I've already seen a lot of positive buzz in blogs, forums, etc. that will surely make its way into the mainstream media over the next few days and weeks." The labs site bills itself as "a playground for Google engineers and adventurous Google users". "Google staffers with wild and crazy ideas post their prototypes on Google Labs and solicit feedback on how the technology could be used or improved," reads a Google FAQ. "None of these experiments are guaranteed to make it onto Google.com, as this is really the first phase in the development process. Google users with a desire to jump over the cutting edge are invited to check out the posted prototypes and send their comments directly to the Googlers who developed them." A Google Labs disclaimer warns that the experiments are by definition not ready for prime time, and testers should adjust their expectations accordingly. "Just a note," warns the disclaimer. "These technologies are still in the beginning stages of development, so they may disappear without warning or perform erratically. If something's not working on this page, please come back and try it again later." Google's experiments stray from the territory of search. One feature called "browser control", sure to raise eyebrows about Google's ambitions and direction, lets people suppress advertising pop-up windows that appear when the browser attempts to leave a Web site. The feature works by clearing the JavaScript event "onUnload". Asked to clarify whether this browsing feature marked a departure from Google's traditional search mission, the Google representative would only say that "it's something we're experimenting with to see if there's any level of demand or interest". Another experimental navigation feature, albeit with a more direct connection to search, helps Google toolbar users navigate through results with a "next" and "previous" button, eliminating the need to double back to the search results page. A third toolbar experiment is a "combined search" button, letting people search Google's image, newsgroup and general databases in combination. In other news, Google added seven new interface languages to its toolbar, bringing the total to 20. Newly added languages are traditional and simplified Chinese, Catalan, Polish, Swedish, Russian and Rumanian. Google's Web site interface supports 74 languages. CNET News.com's Evan Hansen contributed to this report.

For everything Internet-related, from the latest legal and policy-related news, to domain name updates, see ZDNet UK's Internet News Section. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

@Jack, > Works really well for thieves.... Nice attempt to deflect the argument by tossing in a point that's totally irrelevant, even it were...

6 hours ago by BrownieBoy on AMD Ultrathins to challenge Intel Ultrabooks

Make that 13 people now - I got refused today at Manchester airport. I thought I was up to date on this legislation - I knew of the EU ruling from...

9 hours ago by bootlegger on UK airport body scans will not be opt out

Don't forget to check out apps like GoodReader or SlideShark either, they're indispensible for people on the go in presentation situations. Best...

12 hours ago by tinycg on Four top iPad apps for people on the move

Well it seems there is something a number of us agree on. Why is the Ubuntu Unity launcher so ugly? I thought perhaps it was something to do with...

16 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Duplicate comments are not made intentionally. Its very good to know that now you are keeping check on this problem because sometimes a commenter...

1 day ago by Freebies202 on Microsoft fixes blog comments, speeds up blogs with open source

"the very significant number of users" and "many (most) of us" - you have no evidence for these statements. It is a fact that most users are saying...

1 day ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Another grammar faux pas is the improper use of "you". When sitting down down in a restaurant, for example, I get cringe when the waitress...

1 day ago by Marg Menzies Harrison via Facebook on 10 flagrant grammar mistakes that make you look stupid

And NOW, folks, for Canonical's next trick... Kubuntu is late. Here's a pencil. Draw your own conclusions. cf.:...

1 day ago by zdnetukuser on Linux Minterface

@kevinmchapman. The discussion here reflects the very significant number of users who really do like the traditional menu system and who wish to...

2 days ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Er, no... It is an efficient means of finding the application/file/setting you need in one place. The icons are a simply a fallback for when you...

2 days ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Isn't the provision of a text based search an admission by the developers that the mass of icons approach does not work? I don't need to use a...

2 days ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

"Unity and GNOME 3 both abandon the old text-based cascading menus in favour of a graphical icon-driven system." Point truly missed. Both use a...

2 days ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

whs001 - Thank you, I'm glad you liked the article. I absolutely agree with you on your first point. I should perhaps have made it clearer that...

2 days ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

If we allow corporate interest to dictate the way our government circumvents due process against foreign entities then we should accept the same...

2 days ago by Dennis Nilsson via Facebook on ACTA stumbles in Germany

I totally dislike pirating of works, I fear that artists will be deterred from creating works if they think that they are going to get ripped off....

2 days ago by GHar123 on ACTA stumbles in Germany

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

2 days ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

2 days ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

2 days ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

2 days ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

2 days ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Google ushers Web surfers into its labs

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Google doodles with Dilbert

Heart of England NHS begins massive digitisation plan

Post your comment

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in IT Strategy

Heart of England NHS begins massive digitisation plan

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

PHP Web Developer - html, css, javascript

Java Developer, Online Gaming, London

Quant Dev, Hedge Fund, FX, Excel VBA

Inside ZDNet UK

A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

2012 Predictions: VCE FastPath, VI SAN Probe & Hadoop

BlackBerry Bold 9790

Make faster, smarter decisions using BI

Ten factors that make Ubuntu 11.10 a hit

Toshiba Portégé Z830-10P Review

BT's archive: Pictures from the vault

News & Analysis

Reviews

Blogs

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features

ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Business of IT / IT Strategy

Google ushers Web surfers into its labs

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Post your comment

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in IT Strategy

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Inside ZDNet UK

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features