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Google Goings-On: Reader, Maps, Picasa, Search Updates

Google has been busy this week. Beyond announcing a search deal with Twitter, it also brought more options to its RSS Reader, layers to Maps for Mobile, support for Windows 7, and customized mobile search.

Reader Updates

Google introduced a new feature to Reader today. Reader now has personalized search and the ability to display trends in your reading based on your searches. Reader will recommend new sources and feeds, too, and make sure whatever items are being viewed the most by others show up in your feed.

It also has a "sort by magic" option. When you press the magic button, Google says it will "re-order items in the feed based on your personal usage, and overall activity in Reader, instead of default chronological order." Neat.

Maps for Mobile

Earlier this week, Google made Maps for Mobile 3.2 available to BlackBerry devices. The new version of Maps brings one new important feature: support for layers. Layers can include information such as Wikipedia entries, local transit system data, as well as pre-planned routes and points of interest. The new version of Maps is a free download.

Picasa for Win7

With the launch of Windows 7 this week, users might think they'd be out of luck with software compatibility. Google has your back, though.

Coinciding with WIndows 7's availability, Google is offering a compatible version of Picasa 3.5. What's better, Google provides directions to users upgrading from Vista or XP to Win7 with the directions necessary to make sure your photos aren't lost.

That's mighty thoughtful of you, Google.

Custom Search

Last in this round up of new Google features is the ability for operators of iPhone and Android-compatible Web sites to customize the appearance of search.

Google explains, "If you own a web site and add a Google Custom Search box to it, when your users access the site on an Android-powered phone, iPhone, iPod Touch, or Palm Pre, they will can see optimized search results formatted for these devices. When they search on your web site, they are can be redirected to a Google-hosted Custom Search mobile results page created specifically for your Custom Search engine. If you'd like to serve these mobile results from your own web site, you can host your own version of the mobile Custom Search home page."

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