Years ago (not that many), there were only 1 or 2 places that you might find yourself searching the web, home or work. Now, thanks to laptops, iPhones, iPads, portable game systems and a myriad of high-speed internet connections (Wi-Fi, WiMax, 3G, 4G, etc.) you can surf the web from just about anywhere you can imagine.
The freedom to surf on-the-go is still fairly new and so are the challenges associated with doing so. One problem that crops up occasionally is finding a site that you have already visited. Maybe you were out gymnastics practice with the kids, surfing the web with your CLEAR USB modem, or sitting in a movie theater playing on your iPhone (before the show started of course), when you went to Google and searched for something that caught your eye. Three days later, you realize that you want to revisit that site, but you can’t remember the URL or enough information to locate it again via a Google search. You also find yourself lost in the “where was I and which device was I using when I looked at….” struggle.
Mobile
Thanks to some incredibly smart minds at Google, this battle can come to an end. The new Search History link (announced via the Google Mobile blog) “helps you quickly get back to sites you’ve been to and see items you have starred from your Android, iPhone, or desktop searches.” Using this feature could not be easier. Simply log into Google on your mobile device and the new History link will be there. The one prerequisite is that you must have enabled “Search History” from the Settings area.
Google Mobile Search History
The History link will take you to a page that details the sites you have visited as well as Starred Items. Starred Items are web sites or pages that you have specifically chosen as “your favorites” while surfing at home or on-the-go. If you see a site that you simply must research later, tag it by clicking on the star icon (in Google search) and it will be waiting for you the next time you visit your history page.
Note: The Google mobile experience is available on the iPhone and for Android users. However, if you are one of the daring few that have switched to Opera on your Android device (61 million people and counting), you may see limited functionality. I’m sure this will be taken care of in an update, but for now you’ll have to use the default browser to take full advantage of the History link.
From Your Computer
The new History link on your mobile device is not the only area you can use to view your search history. It simply “completes the circle” for your browsing experience. The idea of capturing your search history has been around for some time in the PC world and Google has another set of tools for those who want to use the Search History feature at their PC, laptop or other non-mobile device.
Search History is Available for Non-Mobile Devices As Well
Web History is available to everyone and you don’t need a mobile device to benefit from this wonderful tool. Even if you only surf the web from your home computer, you’ll find the History page helpful and easy to use. Your past searches and followed links are presented by day and time. In addition to what you would expect to find, Web History provides some additional functionality:
- Manage your history and delete if necessary
- Get search results relevant to you (based on your history)
- See trends in your surfing habits
To view or enable your Google search history on a PC, simply visit http://www.google.com/psearch
Tags: Clear, desktop, Google, History, internet, iPad, iPhone, Laptop, Link, Mac, Mobile, PC, Search, smartphone, surf, URL, web, Wi-Fi, WiMAX
