Google Inc. said on Wednesday it was unifying its approach to Web search, combining its classic service with specialized searches ranging from news and images to videos.
Marissa Mayer, Google vice president of search and user experience, said “Universal Search” would be available from Wednesday and improved over time.
Universal Search means that standard Google searches will draw results from separate Google properties that target information about books, local information, images, news, and video, Mayer said.
The combined search includes any site indexed by Google’s services. For example, it will include YouTube, Google Video and an independent video site, Metacafe.com.
Mayer said other bodies of information Google is working on making searchable on the Web will be included over time.
“It’s breaking down the silos of information that have been built up. It’s a broad, long-term vision that will unfold over the next few years,” Mayer said.
“We are really excited about what Universal Search could evolve to in the future.”
In addition, the world’s largest provider of Web search is introducing new navigation features at the top of every Google page that allows users to quickly hop between Google properties.
Users of Google’s e-mail service, Gmail, can jump instantly to Google search, calendar, documents, Reader or other services, according to a demonstration at the press briefing.
