5/21/2024: Google, de-bloated
Tip of the moment: Google, de-bloated
Hey folks! A couple quick updates:
- I’m going to try shaking up the format of Advisorator’s free edition so the paywalled content isn’t up front. We’ll see how it goes! Your support is always appreciated.
- Next week’s newsletter will go out on Wednesday, rather than Tuesday. Enjoy the long weekend, fellow U.S. folks!
For everyone who’s fed up with all the clutter in Google Search, the company has launched a “Web” filter that you can activate from the top tab bar. It’s reminiscent of what Google used to be, without any shopping items, video thumbnails, suggested questions, or AI-generated answers. Instead, you’ll just get a list of links to other pages on the web.
Google doesn’t provide a way to set the “Web” filter as the default search view, but Ernie Smith of Tedium has discovered a workaround that uses the site-specific search feature in most web browsers.
In Chrome, for instance:
- Head to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines.
- Click the “Add” button next to Site Search.
- Give the shortcut a name (like “Google Debloated”) and a keyword (like “gd”).
- In the URL field, enter the following: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
You can now either set Google Debloated as your default search engine in the same menu, or access it by typing “gd” before your search query in the address bar. Any browser with custom search engine support should allow for a similar setup.
I’ve written more about these kinds of search shortcuts—which you can use to search directly on sites like Amazon and Wikipedia—in a previous issue of the newsletter.
Too much AI news
The past week in tech news has been all about AI, with competing attempts at splashy announcements from OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft. It’s an overwhelming amount to sift through, with a lot of hype over substance, so I’m just going to focus on the handful of things that stood out to me:
OpenAI did not announce a search engine as rumored, but made some previously-paid ChatGPT features free, including PDF uploads and third-party plugins called “GPTs.” It’s also launching desktop apps that can invoke ChatGPT with a keyboard shortcut—Mac soon, Windows later.
Google will be scattering more AI features throughout its products later this year. Having Gmail summarize your emails sounds intriguing, but would you pay $20 per month for it? By contrast, using AI to make inferences about your photo library may be the kind of thing that demos well but is impractical most of the time. Meanwhile, privacy concerns abound with a forthcoming Android feature that will eavesdrop on your phone calls for the sake of scam detection. The biggest news, though, is the arrival of AI-generated overviews for all Google Search users, not just those who opt in. Hopefully it doesn’t destroy the web as we know it.
Microsoft, meanwhile, wants to record everything you do on your PC and make it all searchable with AI. The feature, called Recall, will be exclusive to a new wave of AI-friendly PCs that have Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chip inside. The activity data will be kept on-device, but it still sounds like a ticking security and privacy time bomb to me.
Do you care? I’ve struggled with how to cover generative AI in this newsletter, because while it’s clearly the most-hyped thing in tech right now, I’ve yet to find it all that useful on a day-to-day basis. My approach has been to share major developments or neat use cases, but otherwise act as a filter against the noise. Feel free to let me know whether or not that’s working for you.
Now try this
Microsoft’s PC cleanup app: PC Manager is a free app from Microsoft that can clean up temporary files, locate large files for deletion, and free up system memory, among other things. Beware, though: The app’s “Health check” section will try to make Edge your default browser unless you tell it not to. Never underestimate Microsoft’s ability to mess with a good thing.
Further reading
- Annoyed by Windows 11’s new lock screen widgets? Here’s how to turn them off.
- Here’s a rundown of all the Qualcomm-powered Windows laptops coming soon.
- You’ll be able to control an iPhone or iPad with your eyes this fall.
- Intel’s “Thunderbolt Share” app will enable fast laptop-to-laptop file transfers.
- As expected, mobile plans have gotten pricier since T-Mobile bought Sprint.
- Google’s AI demo reel gave out bad information, again.
- Apple releases, then fixes, an iOS update that brought back deleted photos.
Spend wisely
Well, I finally caved and bought 8Bitdo’s NES-themed mechanical keyboard. Woot has it for $70, which is $30 off the list price, and I’m seeing $7 in PayPal credit for Honey browser extension users. Shipping’s free for Amazon Prime members.
Retro gaming aesthetics aside, it’s a capable keyboard with clicky Kailh Box White switches, a volume knob, and—most strangely—a separate pair of huge, programmable buttons. It connects over Bluetooth, wireless USB (with an included dongle), or wired USB-C. Here’s a nice review over at PCWorld.
Thanks for reading!
As I mentioned at the top, next week’s newsletter will arrive a day later than usual to account for Memorial Day weekend. Got tech questions for me in the meantime? Just reply to this email to get in touch.
Until next week,
Jared