Google Instant Previews: Search Results Made Visual
In September, Google Instant took search a step further by displaying results dynamically, as you type. Today, it takes the next logical step by showing thumbnail previews of your search results, so you can see exactly where you're headed before you click a link.
It's called, aptly enough, Instant Previews. To enable it, just click the little magnifying glass next to any search result, then mouse over any link. You'll see something just like this:
"Thumbnail" doesn't quite do it justice, because the preview image is fairly large. You see something akin to two screens' worth of the destination page -- enough to really gauge if that's the result you were after.
If this seems a bit familiar, you might be thinking of Cooliris CoolPreviews, a Firefox add-on that's been around forever and does more or less the same thing (but with a preview that's actually interactive).
Even so, after using Instant Previews for a bit, you're left with this inescapable thought: what the hell took you so long, Google? Why wasn't this implemented five years ago? (That's how incredibly useful I find this.)
The feature is rolling out over the next few days, so don't be surprised if you don't see that little magnifying glass just yet. But you can test-drive Instant Previews immediately if you don't want to wait.
What do you think? Coolest thing since, well, Google, or just "meh"? [via The Official Google Blog]
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