Google Tips

Is this a new feature?

[michael heraghty]

Maybe I've never noticed this before, but I just did a search and hit the search button. In the results page, I saw this message:

"Tip: In most browsers you can just hit the return key instead of clicking on the search button."

Is "tips" a new feature? Is this the only tip? Is this evidence -- along with ad blocker, from filler etc. on the toolbar -- of the folks at Google introducing gimmicky features, when (I would argue) they should be concentrating on improving functionality?

[takagi]

That 'tip' is not really a new feature. As this page [groups.yahoo.com] proves, it was there in February 22, 1999 (i.e. 8 days after they went from Alpha to Beta version; official launch was September 21, 1999).

Every now and then there is some extra text/link on the SERP or Google's home page, like:

• Make Google Your Homepage! [webmasterworld.com]

• Free - Get the Google Toolbar for your browser:

• New! Take your search further. Take a Google Tour [webmasterworld.com].
  

Some tips/remarks however are more related to the query like:

• Tip: Find maps by entering a street address with city/state or zip (e.g. 165 University Palo Alto CA) into the Google search box.

• "in" is a very common word and was not included in your search.

• "kk" (and any subsequent words) was ignored because we limit queries to 10 words.
  

[michael heraghty]

Thanks for satisfying my curiousity Tagaki.

You folks should get together and write an "all about Google" book!

[mil2k]

ROTFL

Very good Post Takagi ;)