Google Updates: Google Explains Suggest Tool Updates

Google has detailed several changes it has made to its Google Suggest tool, which was first launched by Google in 2008.

Writing on its official blog, the organization explained that the aim of the feature was to lessen spelling mistakes and help users to get what they were looking for as quickly as possible.

Since its launch, a number of changes have been made, which Google noted will have an effect on SEO services in fifty languages across 170 domains.

The changes include boldface search suggestions as well as removal of result counts, which the brand claimed will "simplify your experience".

Likewise, the enterprise has also added "the Google Search and I am Feeling Lucky buttons to the box so they’re still accessible even when the Suggest box is open", it stated.

Last week, Google announced the launch of a new Favourites function which allows people to share sites they like or use frequently with friends and family.

Bing Updates UI, Improves Search Results And Adds Foursquare To Maps

Microsoft’s Bing announced feature upgrades to Bing at SES New York yesterday, if you missed it, you can read our live blog coverage of the announcement. The announcement integrated the following updates to Bing:

* Updated user interface designed to get the answer quicker

* More celebrity as well as sport answers

* Way to filter auto results

* Mobile improvements with Windows 7

* Foursquare added to Bing Maps

* and more.

Here are a few screen captures:

Updates: Google Enters Social Bookmarking With Lists Feature

You can now create and share your lists, and import bookmarks from a friend’s or public list.

Christina Chen, product manager of Google said that the new feature will improve information sharing among friends and groups.

“Lists help you discover new web content. For example, once you have created your list Google will algorithmically analyze your list to identify other potentially relevant links,” Christina Chen said in a Google blog post.

“Similarly, when we detect that a list is relevant to a specific region, we provide a map of those places and relevant info for each place, such as addresses, hours and reviews.” She added.

To create a list from Google Bookmarks, you just have to click on the nicely obvious “create new list” link, and name and portray your new creation.

Once you have started a list, you can choose the bookmarks you want to share, click on “copy to list” and select which list you desire to add the bookmark to.

For those wary of overt sharing, lists are private by default.

In the same monosyllabic vein, Google has also introduced a new Stars feature, let you to personalize your search results by highlighting sites that best meet your interests.

Stars let you to click on a star icon that appear alongside all search results. The starred items will then come into sight in a special list at the top of the results page the next time you run a search.
Being part of the Google suite, Stars will also synchronize with Google Bookmarks also the Google Toolbar.

Updates: Google improves Google Voice with faster notifications

Google has added a new feature to its Google Voice called "Inbox synchronization". This will that deliver Google Voice messages to your Android phone within seconds, instead of minutes.

To activate it, open your Google Voice settings and tap "refresh and notification," and then select "Synchronize Inbox." Google also added the choice to tap a contact and contact them through Google Voice from your address book.

Updates: Gmail to alert users to suspicious activity

Google launched a new feature in Gmail on Wednesday that will alert users as soon as the system detects suspicious activity that may indicate the account has been compromised.
Will Cathcart, a Gmail product manager, said in an interview on Wednesday, Gmail before now displays information at the bottom of the in-box showing the time of the last activity on the account and whether it is still open in another location. But people frequently don't think to check that information.

So Google is taking the further step of displaying a warning to users in the form of a big banner that says "warning your acct was accessed from..." also which specifies a geographic region where the account was accessed when odd activity was detected.

"For instance, if you always log in from the same country and all of a sudden there is a log in from halfway around the world" that is suspicious, Will Cathcart said. Or, if the system detects that one particular IP address is accessing several accounts and changing passwords for them, that would trigger warnings for affected accounts, he added.

After receiving the warning banner, users can click a "details" link to get additional information, such as where the last access points were and users can also change their password from that window.

Microsoft’s MSN Introduces New Look

Microsoft’s MSN portal has been testing a ‘new look’ on a preview page for yesteryear few months. Comments from those who have checked the new MSN out have been fairly mixed but mostly affirmative for the new simpler design.

Over the past few weeks, Microsoft has been sending some e-mails and also running a banner at the top of the MSN page announcing the future change.

The change is now live for most …. at least here in US.

One of the things you will notice right away is geo-targeting. Even if you are not signed in, the page will deliver news as well as other results based on your IP (or perceived Internet access location).

The other noteworthy inclusion is a trend chart, not based on Microsoft’s Bing xRank, but in its place items that have been trending on Twitter:

MSN is also now taking on Facebook Connect directly from the front page. Microsoft is a minority investor in privately-held Facebook.com.

For now, the new MSN mainly competes with Yahoo and AOL. Both companies launched new layouts too, and embracing social media, in the past few months.

Microsoft’s customizable portal, Live.com lately shut down and offers a page that redirects to the company’s search product Bing.com.

The query that no one seems to be asking (maybe there is no answer yet?) is what Microsoft is going to do with one of the most excellent web addresses they own …. Start.com?

Update 1 - March 22 - 12:21 AM ET: The new MSN page is apparently also now the default in Canada.

Small Version Change And Large Update On Google Maps For Android

Lately Google has accelerated the updates to its Google maps application for the Android at a ludicrous rate with 3.4 to 4.0 being launched only within a duo of days. Entering into March, they have lastly given the 4.1 version of the Google maps that is more than just a version change, but altogether new application.

The results screen redone, faster switching among results using a swipe, introduction of the Latitude widget on the home screen and multiple Google account support alternatives for following buzz in dissimilar accounts are just some of the new enhancements with this version.

To top each and every one of this is the new live map wallpaper of your area, the only catch here is that it may seriously drain up the battery for a continuous GPS connection so as to update the wallpaper if you are on the move. The application can work on Android 1.6 and Google in particular states that it works only on “Android 2.1+” directing towards a most important update.