Google Plus

Google unleashes a new social network - Google+.

Google has revealed what they call 'The Plus project', an ambitious venture aimed at reducing the popularity of Facebook. Access to the social network is by invite only, and Internet Simplified suggests you leave your email address in the comments below so we can invite you to give Plus a try, as soon as Google opens up invitations.

The idea behind Plus revolves around three major zones - Circles, Sparks and Hangouts. While circles are simply various kinds of categorizations of people you add or follow on Google Plus, Sparks involves obtaining and sharing links of topics that interest you and are doing the rounds of the web. Hangouts is, simply put, video conferencing.

[More on Google Blog]

Google Voice Search

Google Voice Search, an option already available on mobile apps, is now being rolled out for computers. You just need a microphone to speak what you are searching.



Click the microphone symbol in the search bar to speak your search words.

GMail Introduces People Widget

Get more information about contacts, with the GMail People Widget.


Google is introducing a new widget in your GMail account, called the People Widget. You will now see relevant information about the contacts that have emailed you.

When the email is opened, a widget on the right-hand side of the email will offer information like recent email conversations, Google Buzz updates and even the option to start a conversation in GMail Chat (even group conversations, involving all the people in that particular email).

[Via GMail Blog]

Do read Internet Simplified's extensive guide on GMail

3 Alternative Search Engines

Three search engines, that aren't Google.

The word 'Google' has become completely synonymous with searching on the web. Here are three alternative search engines worth giving a try.

Duck Duck Go


Duck Duck Go is one of the finest alternatives to Google search. It has several features different from Google. It offers specific information much faster, is completely spam and ad-free and does not track users. [More features]

Blekko


Blekko is a search engine that claims to reduce spam, by pioneering a slashtag search. The intention of slashtag search is to offer better results by searching the websites that the user is interested in. The idea is to eliminate what isn't needed and search specifically through slashtags. [More details]

Yebol



Yebol is a unique search engine that offers several forms of search results (actual web results, images, videos, social search, news on your search item) in a single search. It basically branches out your search in these categories.

[If these alternatives don't interest you, do check out our extensive guide to Google Search] 

Discover RSS Feeds With ctrlQ

A search engine for popular RSS feeds.


ctrlQ is a unique search engine. The service finds you the best RSS feeds covering an area of your interest.

Simply type in a topic of your interest, and ctrlQ will show the best RSS feeds along with the website link in the search results.

You can even use advanced Google Search operators.

[Via Digital Inspiration]

(Related: No idea what RSS is? Read the Internet Simplified post on Google Reader)