101 Google Tips and Secrets           www.google.com


It built the best engine, and the people came. Despite its many services, Google is a household name because of Search. With its incredibly fast algorithms and thousands of servers, Google delivers relevant results in what seems like nanoseconds. 

#1
Fill in the blank with wild cards
Google will finish the sentence for you. Instead of asking "who invented the parachute?" enter "the parachute was invented by." 

#2
Get the weather forecast any time
Typing "weather New York" gets you the five-day forecast complete with graphics. 

#3 
Just the facts, ma'am
Type a fact-based question or query (such as "population of Japan") into the Google search box. You'll see the answer at the top of your search results.  

#4
What's it mean?
To see a definition for a word or phrase, simply type the word "define," then a space, and then the word or words you want to know in the Google search box: "define Quagmire." 

#5
Check the airports
To see delays and weather conditions at a U.S. airport, type its three letter code plus the word "airport." 

#6 
Flight status
Check the status of a U.S. flight by typing the name of the airline followed by the flight number. For example, to see the status for United Airlines flight 134, search for "United 134." 

#7 
Movie showtimes
Find reviews and showtimes for movies near you by typing "movies" or the name of a current film, along with your location (e.g., "Borat atlanta ga"). 

#8
Find your package
In the Google search box, enter the tracking number from the FedEx, UPS, or USPS package you just ordered or sent to see its progress. 

#9
Restrict domains
Use Site Search to narrow searches to a top-level domain-choose among .org, .edu, .mil, .com, and .net. Here's one: "admissions site:www.mit.edu." 

#10
For Douglas Adams fans
Google knows "the answer to life, the universe, and everything." Key it in and see.

Google Images Shortcuts

A picture is worth a thousand search results. So why not head straight to image.google.com and narrow your searches right from the start?

#11
Enlarge your view
Click the drop-down box at the top left of your screen to select the image sizes you want. "Large images" is the best default choice, but try Medium if you don't see enough of what you're looking for.

#12
Learn about photography
Search the name of a photographer and get an education.

#13
Research with visuals
Plug search terms into Google Images rather than Search; the pictures could be more useful than the Web page results. 

#14
Label with abandon
The Google Image Labeler (images.google.com/imagelabeler/) lets you tag images to improve future search results for everyone.

#15
Team up full-size images with Web pages
When running image searches, click any image result. This brings up an option to view a full-size image, as well as the Web page it's found on.

Searching Shortcuts

EINet Galaxy and Yahoo may have pioneered the concept, but Google Directory (directory.google.com) brings it up to date with a comprehensive directory of Web sites sorted by topic.

#16
Power up your research
Skip regular Google Search; for example, click Science/Social Sciences/Economics and browse the list of subtopics (conferences, education), as well as topic-specific Web sites.

#17
Target your searches
Navigate to a particular category (such as Recreation/Radio) and then run a Google search at the top of the screen. This limits your results to within that category.

#18
Alphabetize pages
Alphabetical Web site lists help with research. Example:
Arts/Antiques/Auctions, alphabetized, gives you a list of prominent sites, regardless of their page ranking.

#19
Go Home
Click Go To Directory Home at any point to start over.

#20
Travel the World
Use the World category to find content in other languages besides English, such as World/Français.

Google Earth

Google Maps has its own satellite view option, but for real interactivity, install Google Earth and soar over the world. 

#21
Layer it on
To add 3D buildings to your view, place a checkmark in the 3D Buildings box. To view hotels and restaurants, check the Dining and Lodging boxes. 

#22
Easy tilt
Use the horizontal slider at the top right-hand corner of the view to adjust your viewing angle. Better yet, press your mouse's wheel button (or center button) and move the mouse around. 

#23
Improve the view
Under Tools/Options, the 3D View tab adjusts graphics quality, resolution, and texture detail; pump these up if you have a fast notebook.  

#24
Check out the eye candy
Visit www.googleearthcoolplaces.com for tips on the best Google Earth spots, complete with links that send you straight there. 

#25
Now Featured: In the Layers menu, browse the Featured Content category
European Space Agency, National Geographic, Discovery Networks, and more. Some include video tours.

Google Local

Google's search results are second to none, but why clutter them up if you're looking for things close to home? Use Google Local and narrow your results to those within walking (or driving) distance.  

#26
Beyond business listings
Include a city or ZIP code in your search and Google displays relevant results from that area at the top of your search results (such as "Outback Steakhouse 53704"). 

#27
Get traffic reports
Head to traffic.poly9.com for clickable traffic results based on your ZIP code. 

#28
Add your business
Click Add/Edit Your Business on the local.google.com home page; if you own a business, you want to be listed. 

#29
Find restaurants by type
For example, type "Indian 10011" for a list of Indian restaurants in downtown Manhattan. 

#30
Get directions
Type out a quick query, by place or ZIP code (such as 10023 to 11103), for instant driving directions.

Google Maps

Google Maps provides some of the most accurate, detailed maps on the Web. With its recent infusion of AJAX technology, you can fly around any map without having to click and wait for page reloads.  

#31
Click and Drag
Your mouse is key for navigation. Click and hold the left mouse button anywhere on the map. Drag the mouse around to adjust the view. 

#32
Zoom with the scroll wheel
Roll the scroll wheel up and down to adjust the zoom without taking your cursor off the map. 

#33
Visit other worlds
Head to moon.google.com or mars.google.com for stunning maps of other worlds. Zoom all the way in on the moon map for a special surprise. 

#34
Take the satellite view
Run a Google Maps search and then click the Satellite button. 

#35
Get the weather in style
Head to www.weatherbonk.com for live weather maps of your area using the Google Maps engine.

Froogle

Froogle takes the online shopping experience a step further by aggregating thousands of online Web stores into one neat, searchable interface.

#36
Control your Froogle results
Filtering is key to Froogle. Input your desired product, then sort by price range, brand name, or available location.

 #37
Make a Shopping List
The Add To List feature keeps track of all the products you're interested in, not just those tied to one store (like Amazon Wish Lists).

 #38
Check Local Shopping
Choose Local Shopping to price-check and compare items even from sites without e-commerce. Visit the store in person to complete your purchase.

 #39
Search rather than browse
Froogle doesn't offer top-down browsing. Once you know what you want, search for it in Froogle for price and product comparisons.

 #40
Use a Submit Tool (merchants only)
Programs like Froogie Froogle Submit 1.0 or Froogle Feeder 2.0 let you quickly upload content and data feeds.

Google Checkout

Earlier this year, Google took on PayPal by launching Google Checkout, which enables buyers to shop at thousands of stores without having to worry about security or spam.

#41
Get $10 free
Save ten bucks on your first Google Checkout purchase; it's worth signing up just for the bonus alone. It works with Buy.com, Starbucks, and other stores.

 #42
Look for the Checkout icon
Keep an eye on the sponsored links in Google search result pages. A Google Checkout shopping-cart badge means that vendor supports Google Checkout.

 #43
Start a business
It's a little more expensive than PayPal, at two percent and 20 cents per transaction, but Checkout lets you sell items directly from your Web site. Visit checkout.google.com/seller/why.html for details.

 #44
Combine Checkout and AdWords (merchants only)
Receive ten times your AdWords purchases in free Checkout transaction processing.

 #45
Get paid faster
Click the Send an Invoice page link, enter in the amount, fill in the message field, and send it off to your customer's e-mail address. They can pay the invoice with Google Checkout.

Gmail

Many people prefer Gmail for its threaded conversation mode of organizing messages. Here's how to get the most out of this service. 

#46
Consolidate your e-mail
In Settings, go to Accounts to receive mail from other accounts and send mail from different addresses. 

#47
Use Labels to replace folders
Labels let you sort e-mails and get them out of your Inbox, but unlike folders, an e-mail can have more than one label. Delete a label if it's no longer needed, but never lose the e-mail itself. 

#48
Filter your Inbox
You can create filters to add a label onto your mail automatically-you can even have it skip the Inbox. 

#49
Control spam
Use username+service@gmail.com when signing up for new sites. Any mail sent to username+service@gmail will come to your Inbox. Create a filter to send it straight to a labeled category and see if that service passed your e-mail address on to others. 

#50
Use Smart Replying
Under Settings/Accounts, check Reply From the Same Address My Message was Sent To. This makes quick work of keeping your e-mail flowing to and from the correct addresses. 

#51
Open a new window
Click New Window when responding to a message. Use the original window to pull up information from the related e-mail while replying in the second window.

Google Calendar

The Web is full of online calendar utilities, but Google's version combines the drag-and-drop capabilities of desktop software with the portability of the Web. 

#52
Add entries in plain English
Click "Quick add" and type in "Breakfast with Jim next Friday" or any other plain English line and watch it pop up automatically next Friday. 

#53
Customize the Next 4 Days view
To change the "Next 4 Days" option, click Settings, and then click the drop-down box next to Custom View. You can choose "Next two to seven days," or "Next two to four weeks." 

#54
Share your calendars with friends
Click on the down arrow next to the calendar you want to share and select Share this calendar. 

#55
Publish a calendar on your Web site
Click the down arrow next to the calendar you'd like to publish and click the HTML button at the bottom. 

#56
Add public events
Type "music in San Francisco" into the search box and click the "Search Public Events" button.

Google Picasa

Google's answer to iPhoto, this easy-to-use imaging application helps you organize your photos and perform light edits for free. 

#57
Photo sharing, unplugged
Choose the pictures you want (hold down the CTRL key to select more than one) and click the "Order" button to send your photos to some of the most popular online finishers. 

#58
Photo sharing, plugged
Share your pictures online with Picasa Web Albums (picasaweb.google.com), a free service that gives you 250MB of storage space. 

#59
Eliminate spooky red eyes
Unless your photo is of a rabbit, double-click to open a large view. Click the Redeye button. Click, hold, and drag your mouse around each eye, then release it and apply. 

#60
Now your photos can really say something
Add searchable captions by double-clicking on the image and clicking Make A Caption. 

#61
Fix many pictures at once
Highlight one or more pictures using the CTRL key. Click Picture/Batch Edit and choose the tool you want, such as Black and White, or Sharpen.

Google Video

In a stunning, $1.65-billion move, Google purchased YouTube, the Web's preeminent video-streaming site. It remains to be seen how Google will wrap this technology into its current video offerings, but Google Video has lots to offer in the meantime.
#62
Improve your uploaded video quality
Use 640 x 480-pixel resolution, 30 frames per second, and a 4:3 ratio for best results. 

#63
Keep it among friends
Restrict access to your video by marking it as "unlisted." Unlisted videos are not accessible through Google Video search results. Instead, e-mail the link to your family and friends.  

#64
Captions and subtitles
Add captions and subtitles to your video by logging into your Video Status page. Click "Add Captions/Subtitles" in the Actions column for the selected video. 

#65
Spice up your blog or Web site
Find the video you want and click on the "Email-Blog-Post to MySpace" button and follow the instructions. 

#66
Watch videos on the go
Downlaod videos to your iPod or PSP using iTunes version 7.0. Visit the Google Video help center at for details.

Google Book Search

It may have the Authors Guild in a tizzy, but Google Books (books.google.com) represents the wave of the future: the virtual public library.
#67
Download a classic novel or an obscure gem for free
Download, print, and save out-of-copyright titles like Aesop's fables or Shakespeare's Hamlet. Select the Full View radio button and click Download. 

#68
Find it in your library
Click the "Find this book in a library" link next to a title of interest. You'll be directed to OCLC's Open WorldCat to find a local library where you can borrow the book. 

#69
Add Book Search to your Web site
The search box lets users search books of every type and genre directly from your Web pages. Visit services.google.com/inquiry/books_email?hl=en. 

#70
Target public domain books
Steer clear of clips from books you'd have to purchase. Click Advanced Book Search, and search by Author, Title, Publisher, or Date Range.  

#71
Find a page from your past
Genealogists' toolkits are already large and varied, but try searching your family's surname in Book Search. You never know what you might find in older historical works.

Google News

One of Google's earliest experiments, Google News has turned out to be a useful, targeted look at the day's headlines from a variety of trusted sources.
#72
Personalize and share news
Set up a personalized page to show you the stories that best represent your interests. To share it, scroll to the bottom and click the "share with a friend" link. 

#73
News archive search
Search and explore information from historical archives dating back more than 200 years. Look for information from a particular publication (like Time magazine) with the source operator. 

#74
Restrict the date range
Enter the date as a year (e.g., 1989), month and year (e.g., 10/1999) or a particular day (2/14/2002).  

#75
Set up feeds
Receive updates of various sections by subscribing to RSS or Atom feeds in your favorite reader.  

#76
Configure alerts
Receive new alerts on any (or multiple) topics. When reading an article, click News Alerts to begin setup, then confirm the alert via e-mail.

Google Finance

Google's financial news page gives you an overview of the entire market at a glance, but not all of its features are obvious on the surface.

#77
Compare stocks
When viewing a chart of your favorite stock or fund, just click the Compare tab to easily compare stocks, funds and indices. 

#78
Off-hour quotes
Prior to the market's opening and after the market closes, you will see a delayed quote in the Market Summary box, above the chart. 

#79
Personalize your chart settings
Adjust the News Flags, Dividends, Splits, or Volume settings on your chart. In addition, choose the default zoom level and whether you want your vertical scale maximized or fixed. 

#80
Create a portfolio
Click Portfolios on the top right and check stocks, buy prices, and number of shares. Monitor their current value, along with relevant news feeds for those symbols. 

#81
Import a portfolio
On the portfolio page, click the Import link (next to Basics), cut and paste your portfolio from another site, and click Preview Import to double-check it.

Google Desktop

Put all those wasted CPU cycles to work. Why wait for Vista when you can turbo-charge Windows XP now? So goes the reasoning behind Google Desktop, an innovative Windows shell that gives you fast desktop search and a slew of useful gadgets.

#82
Take CTRL of your desktop
Press the CTRL button twice to bring up the Quick Search box to find what you're looking for on the Web, your local computer, or e-mail as you type. 

#83
Recover deleted files
Desktop defaults to including deleted items in your index.  If you'd rather not see deleted items, just enable the "Remove Deleted Items" option in your desktop preferences. 

#84
Save time with Gadgets
Our favorites include E-mail, News, Calendar, To-do list, Stocks, and Quick View (frequently-accessed Web pages and files). 

#85
Reach into the past
Double-click the Google Desktop icon, and then choose Browse Timeline. You'll see every page you've visited, every file you've opened, and more, arranged chronologically. 

#86
Remove panels
On each panel you want to remove, click the down arrow on the right side and choose Remove, leaving more space for the ones you really want.

Google Toolbar

There's a lot more to Google Toolbar than its search box.

#87
Create custom search buttons
Right-click the search box on any Web site and select "Generate Custom Search." 

#88
Become multilingual
Select Enable WordTranslator from the Toolbar's Translate menu, then hover your mouse cursor over an English word to view its translation into various languages. Select "Translate this page" to do it all in one shot. 

#89
Eliminate aimless Web page scrolling
Click the Highlight button to instantly light up your search terms on the Web page. 

#90
Bring your bookmarks with you
Create and access your bookmarks on any computer with Toolbar installed by clicking the Toolbar's star icon (note: requires Google account). 

#91
Add new buttons
Check out toolbar.google.com/buttons/gallery for a host of useful buttons you can install.

Google to Go

Get the Google experience on your cell. Mobile versions of Google products are designed for tiny phone screens. Use bookmarks so you hit the right page every time from your phone.

#92
Respond to Gmail with a phone call
Add a number in someone's contact information from your PC; it will automatically show up on your mobile device. 

#93
Go to the movies
Type "movies" or a specific movie title and your local info (city and state, or ZIP code) into google.com, or as a text sent to 46645 (G-O-O-G-L); you'll receive movie times in your local area. Purchase tickets in advance from Fandango.com. 

#94
Check sports scores
SMS the city and team name (i.e., "NY Jets") to 46645. 

#95
Caller ID listing search
Key the number (area code first) into a text message, and send to 46645 to receive that number's listing information. 

#96
Get traffic reports
Get it all from your mobile device by installing the Google Maps for Mobile program.  

#97
Look up driving directions
Via SMS, type your starting location, the word "to," and your destination (e.g., "Pasadena, CA to Dallas, TX"). On the mobile Web, type a similar entry into the search box, select Local Listings, and click Search. 

#98
Share your photos on the go
Take a picture, send it to go@blogger.com, and Google will create a brand new blog just for you. You'll receive a claim token to access your blog on the PC. 

#99
Look up images
Type a query into Google, select Image Search below, and click Search. 

#100
Restaurants on the go
Key the word "Thai" and your location (thai, sf) into Google Maps for Mobile; up pops a list of local Thai places. 

#101
Organize your Google experience
Get the latest messages from your Gmail Inbox, weather updates, stock quotes, and more with Personalized Home for Mobile.