Using Google for more than Searching

Sometimes it is hard to move from set ways. I often find myself using Google to research new things to try in SharePoint or to search for other people that may be having an issue I came across.

Google is valuable for many other things you may want to know. From the main Google search box you can get weather, stock quotes, time, do mathematical calculations, convert units, get dictionary definitions, get movie showtimes, find houses and real estate, flight status for planes, package tracking, patent numbers, and area codes.

To get the weather, type in the search box "weather (city name)".

To get a stock quote type in the ticker symbol.

To get the time in a city, type in "time (city name)".

To do mathematical calculations, type in the calucation.

To convert between units type in something similar to "convert 10 inches to cm".

To get a dictionary definition type in "define (word to define)".

To get movie showtimes type in "movies (ZIP code)".

To get housing and real estate type in "homes (city name)".

To get flight status type in the name of the airline name and the flight number.

To track a package just type in the tracking number.

To find a patent, type in "Patent (patent number)".

To see the geographical location for an area code type in the area code.

Another Google service I have been using lately is the Web History. I turned it on for Google search page only and it helps to be able to go back in time and find the pages I visited based on a certain search. It has definitely reduced the number of bookmarks I have in my browsers.