New offerings should make it easier for firms to find the information they need

Google has announced three new products, and released a new feature in beta, in a bid to consolidate its position as the search system of choice.

This week Google announced an update to its desktop search tool to make it easier for IT administrators to dictate which types of material can be searched and by whom. This capability can be applied to consumer and enterprise versions and is, according to Google, as simple as blocking a URL.

Another new release, Google Notebook, is bookmark tool that helps users organise search results and research as they go along. Items are saved into a personal online “notebook” which can be accessed from any computer. This information can also be shared among colleagues and working groups.

Another new service is Google Trends, which builds on the Google Zeitgeist tool to track and analyse search trends. It lets users see what people in particular geographical regions are searching for under particular topics. In a statement, Marissa Mayer, vice-president of search products and user experience, said, “Google is making it possible to search through billions of search queries throughout the world to see what people are thinking about.”

Finally, Google Co-op, which is in beta, lets searchers contribute their own specialist knowledge to Google’s search database. Co-op lets individuals, businesses, and organisations set up their own pages in any relevant area, and apply tags and labels to web pages. Subscribers to these pages can then benefit from the experience of others in that field. Jonathan Rosenberg, senior vice-president product management, said, “Users can find the information they are looking for – no matter how specialised or specific – faster than ever.”