Twitter and Google Real Time Search: Only The Latest Stuff Online

Recently, I came across the Twitter search engine over at http://search.twitter.com. It's an okay alternative to doing an online search and getting the most recent postings, in this case tweets, about something you're looking for in the Web. It would return search results for posts no older than a few days only. In this way, it's a trending tool more than anything else.

To see the latest trends, Twitter Search would be a good starting point. But there are other search engines for Twitter posts out there. Two of the more popular ones are Topsy and CrowdEye. If you want to check out other similar search services visit David Lee King's blog post here.

In what is probably an attempt to duplicate this service and to boost its own Google Buzz product, the Web's top search firm also came up with Google Real Time Search last December 2009 which is now housed at its own website. Apart from Twitter postings, the real-time search results will also list the latest Google Buzz entries as well as an abbreviated list of "mentions" from top websites. Status messages from other social networks also come out i.e. FriendFeed, MySpace and Facebook.

How do you know if you are on Real Time Search or just on plain-old search? Google's Real Time Search has a "Pause" link in case you want to temporarily deactivate the stream of latest tweets and buzzes. By the way, you may also access Real Time Search from any search results page. Just click "More" on the left menu and then "Updates".

Twitter Search Engines and Google Real Time Search will give you only the latest, most up-to-date resources for your searches. It doesn't mean that the content will be relevant but it sure beats getting dead links and outdated content. Go give it a try.

What? My Search Engine is a Calculator?!?

Most major search engines effectively double as online calculators.

That's right! Not only is your search engine a calculator, it also converts units of measurements as well as the value of one currency to another. I bet many people still don't know this feature as I see folks still scrambling for a calculator even when they are already online and browsing on the Web. Even I am guilty of firing up the old Windows calc program once in a while.

Of the four major search engines - Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask - all of them are able to compute arithmetic equations just like a calculator. As for converting units of measurement, like finding how many centimeters in an inch, Ask does not seem to do this without completely spelling out the words while Bing does not seem to convert units at all (as far as my initial tests go).

Unit conversions can be done easily with Yahoo and Google. These are able to distinguish abbreviations and contractions of the measurement units - e.g. "inches" and "in" will both be accepted. You can even compute for the value of pi! (Well, 2 out of 4 search engines anyway - only Google and Bing loves pi.)

With regards to currency conversions, Google, Yahoo and Ask have no problems doing this. Bing on the other hand will only spit out links to websites offering currency conversion. So if you want to know how far your dollar will go in Japan, all you have to do is fire up your browser and start typing on the address bar.

I'm not kidding. Just type in that same space where you put "www.somewebaddress.com". Try it now. Enter something like "1 dollar to yen" and, unless your default search engine is Bing, you'll get the most current exchange rate.

So next time you're stumped with a number problem, don't fret. Remember, you can simply search for the answer online.

How To Keep Your Google Buzz List Private

A few days ago, Google unceremoniously launched its social networking application Buzz. Not only was it a surprising move from the Internet search giant but the new service was wittingly (or unwittingly, depending on how you look at it) integrated with its Gmail service.

I couldn't make heads or tails of it at the start and I know that some of you may be in the same boat. Thus, Sandbox Central is giving this latest Google puppy a test drive.

Get to Choose Who to Follow

One major annoyance with Buzz when it was launched was the default way in which you were automatically connected to your Gmail contacts who have existing Google profiles and who also chose to enable Buzz. The obvious point against this is that most people do not care to regularly connect with all their Gmail contacts.

To tell Buzz that you wish not to be a follower of a particular person, you need to perform the following:

1. From your Gmail interface, click on "Buzz". It should be below your Inbox link located at the left sidebar.
2. In the Buzz panel, click on "Following # people".
3. A dialog box will appear where you can choose to "Unfollow", "Follow" or "Ignore" the people on your list.

You may also choose to add people using their email address on your follow list.

Keeping Your Buzz List Private

As of writing, the default setting with Buzz is to showcase the list of Followers and the list of people you are following on your Google profile. Luckily, not all profiles are searchable as per Google's eligibility policy. As long as you have a Google account, your profile exists but it won't show up in search if you don't fill it out. So a shortcut way of keeping under the radar, keep your profile blank.

At this point there is no way to select who makes it to the list and those who won't. Imagine the problem this causes if for example you are applying for a job and you have on your follow list the HR managers from two rival companies; you may just end up losing both opportunities.

The easy solution to keep your Buzz list private is to choose not to show it on your profile. Do it this way:

1. In Gmail, go to "Settings".
2. Click the "Buzz" tab.
3. Under "Display following lists" select the option "Do not show these lists on my public Google profile".

On the other hand, if you find that Buzz isn't much of a channel for you on the Web. You can always turn it off completely by going to "Settings">"Buzz">"Buzz Choices" and clicking on "Disable Google Buzz".

Works like a charm.