Check out this new version of Google - Google Suggestions

[scottxyz]

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en

As you type, it gives you a drop-down list of searches that start with what you've typed so far.

For example, you start typing "jam" and the menu includes:

james bond
jamaica
jamie lee curtis
james madison
james dean
...

Type in "de" and you get:

dell
desperate housewives
delta airlines
destinys child
depression

Then add an "m" to get "dem" and the list shows:

democratic party
democracy now
democratic underground (woohoo!)
demi moore
democratic national convention
democracy
dementia
demon

= = =

I did another little test and found out something interesting:

I typed in "sex" and there was NO menu. You mean to tell me, NOBODY on google ever typed in the word "sex"?? (I also shut off "Family Filter" in Preferences.)

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Heh, thats your BROSWER... and those are YOUR searches.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. I stand corrected. Must be some cool java script!

Guess they edit the suggestions for content

[scottxyz]

5. I think they're using PHP to show the menu

I saw something about PHP in the URL (the web-address) for Google Suggest.

[scottxyz]

3. Not sure what you mean...

They weren't my searches. (I've never searched for "demi moore".)

I think it's based on a giant collection of EVERYBODY's searches. They keep a list of old searches at Google. When you type in "de", it just grabs the most popular searches other people have already typed in starting with "de".

[LimeCoke]

7. No, I've got autocomplete off

and it still suggests searches.

[scottxyz]

9. Autocomplete suggests things based on YOUR old searches

Google Suggest suggests things based on EVERYBODY's old searches.

So you're right - even with Autocomplete off, Google Suggest will still suggest things.

[Florida_Geek]

4. I do not like it

I clear my auto-complete all the time. I do not want my searches in Google's Database

[scottxyz]

8. Clearing your auto-complete won't remove them from Google's database!

Autocomplete is a feature of your browser. When it's ON, your browser stores your old searches on your hard drive - and then uses them to build that menu the next time you search.

Google Suggest isn't linked to your browser's Autocomplete feature. It's not based on YOUR old searches - it's based on EVERYONE's old searches.

Check it out. The suggestions you see in the menu won't necessarily be YOUR old searches - they'll be popular searches that OTHER PEOPLE have put into Google in the past.

[Florida_Geek]

10. Once they start that, they will start marketing YOUR searches

:(

[troubleinwinter]

6. Huh. That's sorta cool.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

11. Very cool.

Google's taking over the world, baby!