ReadWriteWeb

Google just announced that it has started to include some results from its universal search feature right into the list of suggested search terms beneath the search box. When you search for "weather in San Francisco", for example, the current weather will appear right at the bottom of the suggested search terms without having to hit the enter key. This new feature currently works for 10 universal search features, including weather, flight status, local time, area codes, package tracking, answers, definitions, calculator, currency and unit conversions.

Yesterday at Google's Searchology event, which we live-blogged, the search market leader announced two significant features to its search product: Search Options and Rich Snippets. It also previewed a new fact-finding search product called Google Squared. The first two features are already live on google.com and they've notably extended Google's core search product. As we sit back and reflect on the meaning of this, one thing is starkly clear: the core Google search experience is now much more than a simple search box on a plain white background, which it was for so long. Just how far has Google evolved its search experience over recent years? And has it become too much of a shift from its core focus? Let's explore that.