Google has released two new features called ‘Similar Images’ and ‘Google News Timeline’ courtesy of the boffins hard at work in the labs
According to reports on the BBC website, Google now holds 64% of the US search market with its closest competitor, Yahoo, holding just over 20%. It comes as no surprise then that Google are hard at work on new features to help maintain and grow that market share.
The most recent developments to come out of the experimental Google Labs reach us in the form of ‘Similar Images’ and ‘News Timeline’ functionality.
The ‘Similar Images’ option allows users to refine image searches according to matches they’ve already found, for example, if you’re looking for images of Paris you’ll get a mix of pictures of both the place and the person. Below each image result is a little link called ‘Similar Images’, so if you’d only like to show pictures of the place (we can’t imagine why you’d be searching for pictures of Paris Hilton) simply click the link below the picture you like and you’ll only see other images that are similar to that one.
You can refine the search further through the use of the Color (sic) and Content drop down tabs which means you can search for images that largely consist of your chosen colour, or using the Content option – pictures that contain only photos, clip-art, line drawings, faces, or news content - in your chosen colour.
The other new feature offered up by the lab boys comes to us as a ‘Google News Timeline’, which although isn’t as cool as the ‘Similar Images’ search is still a nifty new way to keep abreast of the news.
All you need to do to use this feature is point your browser at ‘News Timeline’ Google Labs page and then select which news vendors you’d like to keep up with. The page displays seven days at a time with the headline features from each individual day on screen for easy access.
If you’d like to find out about the new features for yourself you can do so now over at the Labs, or you can check out a very-odd demo video of the Similar Image functionality below, just remember that we warned you that it was cringe worthy!