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Google Search redesign adds website names and logos to results page
Google is bringing a new Search layout to mobile, and it's rolling out the changes beginning today. Now, when you search on your mobile device, you'll see a website name and logo at the top of each results card. If Google has a "useful ad" to show you, it will appear with a bolded ad label and the web address. The new design will also allow Google to add new actions, like the ability to buy movie tickets or play podcasts, to the results page.
This week in tech history: Google Assistant is born
At Engadget, we spend every day looking at how technology will shape the future. But it's also important to look back at how far we've come. That's what This Week in Tech History does. Join us every weekend for a recap of historical tech news, anniversaries and advances from the recent and not-so-recent past. This week, we're looking at the Google Assistant, which was announced three years ago today.
Twitter will direct vaccine-related searches to 'a credible' source
Nearly every social media platform has introduced tools to stop the spread of misinformation around vaccines. The latest change comes from Twitter. Now, when users search for vaccine-related content, they'll first see a link to vaccines.gov, which is run by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Twitter announced the change in a blog post late last week.
Watch Google's I/O 2019 keynote in 13 minutes
To say that Google had a busy I/O keynote would be an understatement. There were new Pixel phones and a Nest smart display, but those were really just the start. Google also had an avalanche of AI and software updates, including a next-gen Assistant, AR search and of course Android Q. That's a lot to digest, but don't fret about catching up. We've assembled the highlights of the keynote in a 13-minute clip that will get you up to speed on Google's many plans.
Google Search adds AR and big Lens upgrades
Google is going to start displaying search results in augmented reality, the company announced today at its I/O 2019 developers conference. "Sometimes what's most helpful in understanding the world," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on stage, "is being able to see it visually." The idea, he added, is to bring visual information directly into search by letting users take advantage of their smartphone's camera. Google said it will use a combination of computer vision and augmented reality to turn your phone into a powerful search tool, whether you're looking to shop or wanting to learn more about the Solar System.
Chrome OS unifies Google Assistant and device searches
You don't have to be quite so picky when you start a search on your Chromebook. Google has released Chrome OS 74, whose cornerstone is a reworked search experience that unifies Google Assistant, on-device and web search. Tap the search box and you just have to enter whatever you're looking for, whether it's an app or tomorrow's forecast. Suffice it to say this could be less confusing if you're a newcomer, or just don't want to switch search methods.
Warrantless searches of Americans’ data spiked 28 percent in 2018
An annual transparency report published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence shows warrantless searches of Americans' data jumped 28 percent in 2018. According to the report, the National Security Agency (NSA) conducted 9,637 warrantless search queries of Americans' calls, texts, and emails in 2018. That's up from 7,512 searches in 2017, and it's more than double the 4,672 warrantless searches the NSA made in 2015.
Action Launcher revamp comes with ad-supported searches
Action Launcher has received a tune-up for the spring, but its biggest change may be how it makes money. Version 40 of the Android launcher has introduced an Action Search feature that looks across apps, contacts, settings and the web, but also displays ads whenever you hunt for something that isn't on-device. If you want Action Search to query Google for web results, you have to both purchase a one-time $7 Plus upgrade and the once-a-year $5 Supporter Pack.
Google Lens may add translation and restaurant 'filters'
As clever as Google Lens can be, it's still quite limited in what it can do before it points you to another app. You might not have to lean on those other apps quite so often n the near future. In the wake of an initial discovery earlier in April, the 9to5Google team has spotted evidence that Lens could soon include a host of "filters" aimed at fulfilling specific augmented reality tasks. A "translate" filter, for instance, might auto-detect one language and offer to convert it to another instead of simply copying text and asking to launch Google Translate.
Google Assistant offers livelier search results on Android
The next time you ask Google Assistant a question, you'll be more likely to get something beyond a flurry of web links. Google is rolling out an update to Assistant on Android that provides more detailed (not to mention more vivid) info cards when you ask certain questions. Search for local events and you'll get cards that include associated visuals and bookmark buttons. Look for cute cats, meanwhile, and you'll see pictures for adorable breeds on top of the actual rankings.
Pinterest blocks some searches to curb anti-vaccination myths
Social networks have made a number of efforts to halt the spread of anti-vaccination myths, but Pinterest recently took things a step further: it's curbing all talk about vaccination. The site has revealed to the Wall Street Journal that it blocked vaccination-related search terms late in 2018 to limit misinformation until it had a more effective way of filtering content. The company tried to pull the misleading material, but found that it couldn't remove all of it.
Facebook may take extra steps to remove anti-vaccine misinformation
Facebook is "exploring additional measures" to fight anti-vaccine disinformation, according to Bloomberg. Content discouraging parents from vaccinating their children has been rampant on the site, particularly in Facebook Groups, and may have contributed to a measles outbreak in Washington State. That caught the attention of US Representative Adam Schiff, who wrote a letter to Facebook and Google asking them to address the problem.
Microsoft confirms Bing is 'inaccessible' in China (update)
While China blocked Google's and Facebook's services long ago, Microsoft's search engine remained available in the country. That is, until Bing became inaccessible on Wednesday in what appears to be a DNS corruption issue -- one of the most common methods the Chinese government uses to censor websites. Microsoft says it's aware that the search engine is having issues in China, and it's now exploring its next steps.
Google shows its bleak vision of search under new EU copyright laws
Google hasn't been shy about decrying the consequences of the EU's proposed Copyright Directive. Now, however, it's using stark visuals to illustrate its point. The company recently told Search Engine Land that it was experimenting with a version of its search engine to gauge the "impact" the Directive would have on both users and publishers, and provided screenshots to illustrate this test. The result, according to Google would be rather... empty. As publishers would have the right to demand payment for use of tiny snippets of content under the Directive's Article 11, Google believes it would have to avoid using the content altogether -- that means blank thumbnails and missing preview text.
Microsoft splits Cortana from search in Windows 10
Microsoft is splitting up search and voice assistant Cortana in Windows 10, giving each their own spot on the taskbar in the latest build for Windows Insiders testers. The change should go live for everyone in the next major update to Windows 10, which is planned for April. The move, according to Microsoft, should improve both functions as it "will enable each experience to innovate independently to best serve their target audiences and use cases."
Pandora's new voice search feature knows what you want to hear
It's been almost two years since Pandora launched its on-demand music streaming service. In that time, the company has done a solid job of fixing some of the issues that cropped up at launch and even adding some features the competition hasn't got to yet (like downloading songs to an Apple Watch for offline playback). Today, Pandora's adding another feature that some of its competitors have: Voice Mode. But, as usual, Pandora believes that the amount of information it has on both the music in its catalog as well as its users will set its voice features apart.
Google activity cards now help you find previous searches
After months of teasing, Google is making it easier to resume your past searches. The internet pioneer is rolling out activity cards that will show what you've looked for based on various topics, whether it's a new workout regimen or a recipe. So long as you're logged in, you can tap a "your related activity" option to see links you've already visited as well as past queries. There's even a dash of Pinterest to it -- you can save pages to a collection if you need to look at them later.
Google's 'Game of the Year' reminds you 2018 wasn't complete trash
It's safe to say that 2018 has been... a year, and while there's no end of untold horrors to reflect upon, Google has softened the blow with a look-back game that's altogether more pleasant. In its Game of the Year 2018 you can test your knowledge of the year's search trends in a simple click-to-choose format. Who appeared in search results more frequently, Justin Trudeau or Justin Bieber? Were craft cocktails searched more or less than last year? What do the people want more of, puppies or kittens? This is the first time Google's gamified its search results like this, and while it's not mind-blowing gaming, it's an interesting way to pass the time. You'll almost certainly come away with a few bits of curious trivia, and maybe even a deep-seated sense of vindication that "Laurel" was searched for more frequently than "Yanny." A reassuring reminder, then, that this year's not been all bad.
Congress grills Google CEO over Chinese search engine plans
If you were hoping that Google chief Sundar Pichai would shed more light on his company's potential censored search engine for China... well, you'll mostly be disappointed. Rhode Island Representative David Cicilline grilled Pichai on the recently acknowledged Dragonfly project and mostly encountered attempts to downplay the significance of the engine. The Google exec stressed there were "no plans" to launch a search engine for China, and that Dragonfly was an "internal effort" and "limited" in scope.
Google adds Lens to its iOS search app
You no longer have to fire up Google Photos if you want to use Lens searches on your iPhone. Google has rolled the AI-based feature into its iOS search app, putting it in a more logical place than your image library. Tap the Lens icon in the search bar and you can point your device camera at books, bottles, pets and various other objects to get more answers about what you see. You can tell Lens to look at your existing images or turn on the flash when it's too dark.
