If there is one single app that we would miss most if it ever vanished, there is no question that it would be the Google app on either Android or the iPhone. Beyond being a portal into the amazing world of Google Now on both platforms, it provides fast and easy access to a Google search box, which you can either type in to perform a search or use voice dictation.
But as many people know, Google search is about much more than just hunting down answers to your questions or finding the right webpage to explain how something works. Google can perform all sorts of functions for you — in fact, Google can probably replace more apps and services than you realize.
Here are five great Google tricks you can use on your smartphone, tablet or computer, and you might not know how you ever lived without them.
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Convert
Do you have a dedicated app on your phone just to convert inches to millimeters and U.S. dollars to Japanese Yen? Well, delete it. Just about any conversion you can perform in an app can also be done right from within a Google search box on your phone or PC.
And the best part, perhaps, is the fact that you can perform conversions using natural language. So for example, search Google for “$2,500 in GBP,” and Google will tell you that it works out to £1,607.12 at today’s exchange rate.
Define
Dictionary apps are gigantic and they can also be annoying to navigate. Forget about them…
Simply type your query into a Google search on your phone, tablet or PC, and a card at the top of the results page will tell you everything you need to know.
Here’s the card that popped up when I typed “define googol” into a Google search:
Stock quotes
There are a million great tools out there for researching, following and analyzing stocks. If you’re just looking for a quick quote though, simply type a ticker symbol into the Google search field.
Here’s the result for GOOG:
Calculate
We told you about Google’s ability to quickly convert units for you, but you can also do quick calculations with Google. Don’t bother with that dedicated calculator app, just type 5,243 times 312 into the Google search box.
The result will even be shown in a calculator right on the results page, so you can make additional calculations quickly and easily if you need to.
Time zones
Not sure if it’s too late to call your cousin in Kuala Lumpur? Don’t just guess and don’t bother trying to do the math in your head — just ask Google “what time is it in Kuala Lumpur?”
