Google
* Download and install the Google toolbar. Not only
does it put the Google search box into your browser
full-time, but it also blocks pop-up ads and fills in
forms for you. For Windows at
http://toolbar.google.com. (Ad block
ing, form-filling, and Google's search box are already
built into the Apple's Web browser, Safari.)
* Phrase your question in the form of an answer.
"After all, you're not looking for Web pages that ask
your question," explains director of technology Craig
Silverstein. "You're looking for pages that answer
it." So instead of typing, "What is the average
rainfall in the Amazon basin?", you might get better
results by typing "The average rainfall in the Amazon
basin is."
*Put quotes around phrases that must be searched
together. If you put quotes around "electric
curtains," Google won't waste your time finding one
set of Web pages containing the word "electric" and
another set containing the word "curtains."
*put a hyphen right before any word you want screened
out. If you're looking up dolphins, for example,
you'll have to wade through a million Miami Dolphins
pages unless you search for "dolphins -Miami."
* Google is a global White Pages and Yellow Pages. Search for "phonebook: home depot norwalk, ct," Google
instantly produces the address and phone number of the
Norwalk Home Depot. This works with names
("phonebook:robert jones las vegas, NV") as well as
businesses.
Don't put any space after "phonebook." And in all of
the following examples, don't type the quotes I'm
showing you here.
* Google is a package tracker. Type a FedEx or UPS
package number (just the digits); when you click
Search, Google offers a link to its tracking
information.
* Google is a calculator. Type in an equation
("32+2345*3-234="). Click Search to see the answer.
* Google is a units-of-measurement converter. Type
"teaspoons in a gallon," for example, or "centimeters
in a foot." Click Search to see the answer.
* Google is a stock ticker. Type in AAPL or MSFT, for
example, to see a link to the current Apple or
Microsoft stock price, graphs, financial news, and so
on.
*Type in an area code, like 212, to see a Mapquest map
of the area.
* Google is Wal-Mart's computer. Type in a UPC bar
code number, such as "036000250015," to see the
description of the product you've just "scanned in."
(Thanks to the Google Blog,
http://google.blogspace.com, for this tip and the next
couple.)
*Type in a flight number like "United 22" for a link
to a map of that flight's progress in the air. Or type
in the tail number you see on an airplane for the full
registration form for that plane.
*Type in a VIN (vehicle identification number, which
is etched onto a plate, usually on the door frame, of
every car), like "JH4NA1157MT001832," to find out the
car's year, make, and model.
* Poke around the "Services & Tools" link on the
Google.com home page.
There's Froogle (product search), News, Groups
(Internet discussion boards), Google Catalogs
(hundreds of scanned-in product catalogs), Images
(find graphics and photos from other people's Web
sites), Blogger (publish your own online journal),
Google language translation.""