Google's Newest Game-Changer

After an interesting animated, pseudo-interactive logo (source), Google dropped another bomb on the Internet world. On Sept. 8, 2010, Google announced and released Google Instant, taking the already fastest search engine and turning it into... THE ...fastest search engine (source).

Having played around with Google Instant for most of the day, I have to say it's cool, but its not done yet. Here's what I mean.

Google in an Instant

If you're a huge tech geek, you probably already use Google's browser Chrome. If you use Google Chrome, you have not seen Google.com since you gave up Firefox. I had to go out of my way to use Google Instant.

Once I went out of my way to get to Google.com just to try Instant, I tried typing in random searches.

Its starts kinda slow. Let it get going and, I have to admit, it's pretty cool. Google's recent addition of suggesting searches based on what you are typing prepares you for this nifty little change. The search results are the same, they just pop up faster. Sort of. If you're using Google Chrome, you're wasting your time with Google Instant.

Google Wave Gets it's Day in the Sun

Don't believe me? Think about it this way. Google Wave was a huge flop. Why? Because no one knew what in the world it was good for! Besides, the only reason I could conjure up for using Wave was for super-cool, super-fast instant messaging. Problem was, it wasn't even good for that. You still had to keep clicking in the Message bubble like some ancient AOL chat room.

Judging by the way Google Instant works (not being an "under the hood" Internet geek, just your basic tech nerd), Instant uses the same technology as Google Wave. Kudos to Google for finding use for that awesome idea but stupid invention. Like E-books and iPads, Google just needed to find a useful application for its brainchild.

What Now?

Honestly? Probably not much. This new gadget turns a 20-second search-and-find into a 15-second search-and-find? Big whoop.

What Google Instant will do is be part of the progressive stepping stone for consumers. Google Chrome sped up our browsing by slimming down the browser; Google Chrome OS and Google Docs will likely show Microsoft how to do what consumers have been begging for: slim, fast, reliable software. Google Instant will bridge more gaps. Google's upper management is still young and still gets the average Internet user, even if they stumble along the way.