Google knows where you are, offers localized search results
Google has been throwing some mapped results into general searches for a while. But now they're a whole lot more likely to be relevant, because Google is triangulating your geographic location based on your IP address and other information to give you search results in your area.
The end result is pretty useful. If you search for restaurants, post offices, libraries, or chain stores like Starbucks or Best Buy, there's a good chance Google will show you local results from your area complete with links, phone numbers, and a position on a map.
On the other hand, there's something a bit creepy about this new feature. I'm sure I'll get over it just like I got over the creepy, "wait, Google must be reading my email if the service can offer contextually relevant ads" jitters. But you can certainly file this under the category of "how much information do you really want any one company to have about you?"
The end result is pretty useful. If you search for restaurants, post offices, libraries, or chain stores like Starbucks or Best Buy, there's a good chance Google will show you local results from your area complete with links, phone numbers, and a position on a map.
On the other hand, there's something a bit creepy about this new feature. I'm sure I'll get over it just like I got over the creepy, "wait, Google must be reading my email if the service can offer contextually relevant ads" jitters. But you can certainly file this under the category of "how much information do you really want any one company to have about you?"
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
benson said 4:12PM on 4-07-2009
That's ok, as it's got my location completely wrong so far. I am in MN, and it thinks I am in Virginia...
Reply
purplecomet84 said 4:22PM on 4-07-2009
It's helpful from home, but at work my IP is based in Chicago and I'm in Seattle. I've already noticed it in my gmail inbox ads. No, I don't so much care about luxury rooftops overlooking Wrigley Field.
Reply
Steve G said 9:31PM on 4-07-2009
Surely for most private customers, the IP will lead to the location of their ISP.
That's what seems to be happening for me.
Reply
Quikboy said 7:41AM on 4-09-2009
Live Search, has been doing localized search for quite a long time...
Reply