Google introduces Hummingbird update for its search engine on its 15th Birthday.
Google has added an interactive piñata doodle that releases virtual sweets when wacked for its 15th Birthday. Along with the Doodle, Google has also introduced a major update to its core search engine, the update has been branded Hummingbird.
According to Google, this change to the core algorithm is its biggest since the launch of Caffeine in 2010. To celebrate its birthday, the company invited a small number of reporters to the Menlo Park garage where the company started out and revealed out some new search features of the Hummingbird update.
According to the company, in the new update, Google’s Knowledge Graph will play a larger role. That means users will be able to do more personalized searches using more natural sounding sentences instead of key words.
Amit Singhal, senior vice president of search, stated that the latest “Hummingbird” algorithm was introduced about a month ago and affects about 90 percent of worldwide searches via Google. He added, that the change includes “a simpler, more unified design on mobile devices. You can explore the world with the Knowledge Graph, ask questions aloud with voice search, and get info before you even need to ask with Google Now.”
“You’ll also notice a new look and feel for Google Search and ads on your phones and tablets. It’s cleaner and simpler, optimized for touch, with results clustered on cards so you can focus on the answers you’re looking for,” he stated.
For fun, Google has added a simple Easter egg on Google.com where users can type “Google in 1998” into the search field and the website will transform into the retro design it had 15 years ago when it first launched. Users can click on the “take me back to 2013” to get the modern-day Google.
Google has recently introduced a flatter new logo. The revamped logo has a flatter look with cleaner line and comes with a new navigation bar. Google has also added a new ‘app launcher bar’ that allows users to quickly access Google services like Gmail and Google .
Source: ZDNET, Hindu Business Line