Google is going to extra lengths to make sure that you see its shopping links. The internet firm is introducing Shopping ads to image search results -- look for pictures of a nice couch and you may see a link to buy it. Google says this is largely about enabling more on-the-spot purchases, but there's no denying that this is partly about snubbing Amazon. After all, your first instinct may be to search Amazon when you spot that must-have item; you won't have to do that after today.
That's not the only update, though. Google is also making a bigger deal of local inventory ads. You'll now find out whether or not a retailer has in-store pickup, and a store's knowledge panel will also make inventory searchable. In other words, you won't have to dig through a shop's website (or make a phone call) to find out whether or not it's worth a trip.