Google has quietly begun testing a new service that allows you to search inside a book.
The service is still in Beta, but if it takes off it could revolutionize the way people search for information. According to an article in NewScientist.com:
- "Google Print Beta lets searchers view excerpts from books, as well as author's notes, reviews and cover artwork. It also provides links to online book sellers and related advertising. The service works when a user types the phrase "print.google.com" and search words into Google's search box."
So far Google has content from 60,000 books to search. Check it out at Google Search.
Article comments
1 - TDavid
Sounds like Google liked Amazon's idea.
2 - John Mudd
Smart move for Google. It's one more step to ensure that the service it provides is a step ahead of its competitors.
3 - Claumann
That's a great feature!
4 - Eric Olsen
Cool, thanks Anita!
5 - BB
Did some investigating and this is the proper syntax to use:
Fellowship of the Ring site:print.google.com
** "Fellowship of the Ring" being your search string (sans quotes).
6 - Anita Campbell
Thanks for the clarification, BB!
7 - Cati
Good news. How exactly they do so?
8 - Anita Campbell
Hi Cati,
Google must first have an agreement with the book publisher to load the text of the book into the Google search files. Then, once the book text is in the Google databases, a user can search the text of the book. But you can only search the text of books that Google has an agreement to submit to the search files.
9 - Pussy Cat
Google is still trying to be innovative :) Well, be my guest, as long as the basic search is available...