Google just last week introduced a new function that is built-in to their search engine - an audio preview. This is a fun tool but also very, very useful for those of us who embellish our video projects with appropriate music.
Here's what it is and how to use it. Simply go to the regular search page for Google with the search function set to 'Web' (which is the default/regular setting when you visit the page).
Enter the name or a song -- for example, I entered 'Sometimes' which is a great song for tribute and family memory videos (recorded by the Carpenters). My initial search result turned up too much other info but when I added 'Carpenters' to the search it brought up just what I wanted
So what you may say, I have used Google for years and get search results like this... but this IS different. The little blue icon (play triangle) when clicked instantly opens a small new window in your browser and begins playing back the song. And you can listen to the entire song! You can click on that same window a link where you can buy the MP3 version of that song or the album it comes from as well.
This is very cool! I have listened to many a song in the past week that I have barely remembered... until I heard them again. I should note that after you listen to the song one time, you can then only listen to a 30-second sample.
And, if you enter a search term that is the name of an album and you'll get several songs to listen to from that album. For example, I entered 'Pet Sounds' (a 1966 album from the Beach Boys) and got this:
And this search works when you enter an artist (singer or band) as well!
Google developed this new function due to the popularity of music searches... apparently some 20% of all online searches are music related. And Google, being the clever business people they are, partnered with MySpace (which just acquired the music web service iLike) and another (new) online music site Lala.
Google also partnered with Pandora, imeem and Rhapsody to include links to their respective web sites where you can discover music related to your queries as well.
You can read more about this new Google search feature in the official Google Blog
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