Learn a new Google trick

Did you know Google can be a calculator? A dictionary?

Soople - Easy Expert Search

• Soople isn't from Google tool, but it is Google -- it's a super-easy interface to all of Google's coolest features. Extra useful for the not-so-Web-savvy!

Translator

• Google's language tools include a translation feature. You can either type text to be translated, or entire a URL and translate an entire web site in many languages. Try it!

Limit by file type

• This is useful if you want to do an image search for only .jpg's, or a document search that only returns PDF's. For example to find a printable tax form, try: form 1040 filetype:PDF
• search term filetype:extension

Limit searches to a single domain (.com, .org ...)

• Create your search in this format: search SPACE "site" COLON DOT domain
• For example, to find hotels in the UK, try: hotels site:.co.uk

Google maps

• Google's map feature looks a lot like everybody else's ... at first. You can "grab & drag" the map around the screen, and see a satellite photo of any address (like your house!)

Calculator

• To use Google as a calculator, just pretend it's your old high school graphing calculator and type your equation. The search performs the calculation; the result is your answer.
• 1234 * 23 + 5 (enter)

Dictionary

• The dictionary feature is one of my favorites, because it cites multiple dictionaries and/or lets you link to sites that define the term ... the ultimate "can you use it in a sentence?"
• define:your search term (no space between the "define:" and the term)

Without the word...

• A handy trick when you want a less common version of a common term. Say I wanted to find people called Woody who aren't Woody Allen or Woodpecker or Harrelson:
• Woody -Allen -Woodpecker -Harrelson (no space between the "-" sign and the term)