Did You Know Google Search Is More Than An Internet Search Engine?

Quite a few of us, including some of my clients, have Google as their homepage on their internet browser. Whether you do or not, most people know the benefits of searching for things on the internet using Google as a search engine.

But what many do not realize is that Google's search engine is more than just that. Below are just a few things that you can do from Google’s search engine that are more than just the typical search of which we are all aware. 

If you need an answer and cannot find a calculator, Google provides basic calculator functions. This includes your basic (+, -, *, /) as well as percentages and raising a number to a power. You can even do an equation. 

Are you planning a trip out of the country and wish to purchase currency in the denomination of the country you are visiting? First, you can enter the amount you wish to convert from to the currency you wish to convert to. Say you are going to Canada and need to convert to Canadian Dollars from U.S. dollars. Type "convert" and then the amount you wish to convert from to the currency you wish to convert to as shown. Some friends of mine recently found this handy when they converted some of their money before they left. They knew beforehand how many Euros to expect.

You can also find the stock price of your favorite stocks. By typing “stocks:?” - in which “?” represents the name of the listed company or its code on the exchange - you can obtain an up to the minute stock price of the stock in which you are interested.

If you wish to convert from quarts to gallons - from English measurements to Metric, such as miles to kilometers,  you can do that as well. Also, another great feature is converting from Fahrenheit to Celsius when you are away and need to know the temperature.

If you type in the following from the Google search bar; “Movie:11361,” you will be able to bring up movie times and locations for your zip code. On the left side of the screen, you have the ability to change days for up to three days in advance. If you are wondering which movie you should see, Google is a great source for that as well. Type in “Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man 11361,” for example, to see where a current film is playing in your vicinity.

More and more of us are ordering merchandise online. Many vendors will email you with a tracking number of your shipment. You can track the shipment using Google. In the search bar, enter the package tracking number. Google determines which carrier has the package and provides you with a link to the carrier status page for the shipment you are expecting. I have used this to track letters that I sent requesting a return receipt as well. 

As I mentioned earlier, quite a few of us have Google set as our homepage. If you do, these queries can be done right from there. I am not suggesting that you set your homepage to Google. That is a personal choice.

These are just a few ways that you can use Google search for more than the typical internet search. If you wish to learn more about Google search or have other questions related to technology, I am available at 917-572-3468.