Google is testing an option to let the searcher select which area they want the local pack finder results to zone into. Valentin Pletzer shared screen shots on Twitter of Google asking him to "Choose Area" at the top right, which brings up a numerous cities/towns in the area that he was able to choose from and select.
Here is the example:
You can see the "choose area" button at the top. Google thinks he is in the eastern San Jose area but asks him to choose the area anyway.
Then when he clicks that, it gives him options to select places nearby, like Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale and so on:
I have not been able to replicate this but it is interesting to see Google testing this. I assume here, Google was not confident that the location was accurate enough and if I remember correctly, Valentin is probably not in this area and using some simulation tool to test.
Forum discussion at Twitter.
