Google Pushing More Search Options On Searchers?

Mar 25, 2009 - 6:33 am 1 by
Filed Under Google

Marty from the aimClear blog emailed me a screen shot yesterday morning, which looked like Google experimental search results. I then spotted a WebmasterWorld thread that discusses the same thing Marty emailed me.

There is a new link in the Google results that says "Show Options." When clicked, it opens up other grouping options. Robert, a WebmasterWorld admin also sees it and he describes the options as:

The main groupings select among...

- types of results (All results, Recent, Videos, Forums, Reviews)... - time of results (with options between Anytime and the past year)... - different types of what I'd call snippet displays (with options including standard or longer snippets, and snippets including image thumbnails)... - and different views (including Standard, Wonder wheel, Timeline, and Search Suggestions)

Here is a screen capture:

Google Search Options

When I try to search for the query that they spotted this with, I get a message from Google that reads:

The option you have selected is currently unavailable.

Is this a form of experimental search being forced on searchers?

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

 

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