Google Search tricks

Did you know Google can do more than just search?

Google now has a well-deserved place as the most popular search engine around. Figure out what you’re actually looking for, type in a few words and Google will probably show you some perfectly good answers in the first dozen results. But did you know Google can do more than just search?

Work out currency

Have NZ$25 you want to send to a friend in the US? Type this into the Google search box and press Enter / Return: 25NZD in USD .

Here’s what Google returns: 25 New Zealand dollars = 18.5175 U.S. dollars.

Also try AUD (Australian dollars), GBP (British pounds), Euro.

Calculate

Trying to convert from pounds and ounces to kilos, or just multiple 137 by 49?

Enter: 16 pounds 7 ounces in kilos

Result: 16 pounds 7 ounces = 7.45592458 kilograms .

Enter: 137*49

Result: 137 * 49 = 6713 .

Define words

Enter: define copacetic
or enter: define:copacetic

Each returns slightly different results, but both explain that it means: completely satisfactory.

Answer factual questions

Enter: population of tokelau

Result: Tokelau — Population: 1,392 (July 2006 Est.).

Quickly search CommunityNet Aotearoa

Enter: conference site:community.net.nz

A search like that brings back a list of possible hits on CommunityNet Aotearoa. Use the site: search for any website, especially those with no search or a poor search of their own.

Google features help

This is just a small sample of the specialised searches you can do within Google. It’s worth looking at the Help page for Google’s features to see explanations and tips for all you can do.

Written for and reproduced from CommunityNet Aotearoa Panui, May 2007, and may have been modified from the original.

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