Help me, Google, you're my only hope

[xthread]

Here's a feature request for all of my readers in Googleland.
Please extend the default behavior of the search field so that the following queries work:

    map: <some address>
    translate: <some text> to german
    froogle: <some item>

You get the idea. I'm sure that you can see some other obvious examples. But in general, having the default query allow you to specify a query be directed to one of the other standard features would make all of the browsers that have a built-in search bar much more powerful.

Thanks.

Comments

[trom.livejournal.com]

Well the first item already effectively exists. The first return on things that look like addreses is always a link to google maps of the address.

[xthread.livejournal.com]

Well, almost - there are search terms that maps.google.com will do something smart with that the deafult search tool won't figure out are locations/addresses - eg, maps knows that 'san pedro and market, san jose' is a location and will map it correctly, but the default search bar doesn't identify that as a location, so it doesn't offer the map.

[d3l1r1um.livejournal.com]

Actually, maps doesn't seem to know that "san pedro and market san jose" is a location... It wants to look for businesses.

[xthread.livejournal.com]

Drat, you're right. I'd seen it mapping and thought it was doing something smarter. Grumph.

[(Anonymous)]

Can we substitute something even better?

[xthread.livejournal.com]

Mmm, possibly. Although if your proposal is 'so we have this hoopy Google browser,' then we need to discuss your definition of 'better.' Ditto if your answer is 'so we have this hoopy Firefox or IE plug-in.'

[(Anonymous)]

So, computers are supposed to be programable. How hard can it be to run an arbitrary set of substitution commands on your URL before it gets parsed by the usual browser? What browser are you using, anyway?

[xthread.livejournal.com]

Usually Safari. But the point is that injecting this actually at the Google site makes it better for *everyone.* Doing it at the browser makes it better for, well, anyone who's put the feature into their own environment.

[seathan.livejournal.com]

You can mimic this type of behavior in alternate browsers; Maxthon (formerly MyIE2) allows for keyword redirection and it works moderately well.