Google Instant promises to save you up to 5 seconds every time you search the Web, but you'll only see those savings if you know how to take advantage of its new real-time mind-reading. Here are the must-know keyboard shortcuts for zipping your way around Google Instant predictions and results.
Google Instant is rolling out to Google.com now, but it's not available in your browser's search box--yet. (Executives confirm Google is working on that, as well as making Google Instant available on your mobile phone.) So, to get started using Instant, you must visit Google.com in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or IE 8. Begin typing your search term into the text box as usual, and then:
Tab to auto-complete: As you type your search term, Google Instant fills in text predictions in grey following what you've entered. Press Tab to accept the next word and add it to your search automatically. For example, when you enter fast c, and Google Instant suggests fast company, press Tab to accept the second word. The Tab key in this example saves you 5 keystrokes. (Hit escape to pull back the drop-down.)
I used to use an Automator action for this, but Mac OS X Hints unearthed a sweet Snow Leopard shortcut for geeks: the ability to show or hide hidden "dot" files in any Open or Save As dialog. The magic combination to start imprinting into your fingers' muscle memory is Cmd+Shift+Period. Press it again to toggle the visibility. Hit the play button above to see what it does in my Mac's home directory.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for Mac users who try out my Todo.txt CLI is finding and opening hidden "dot" configuration file (which is the standard Linux naming convention), so this will help me help them. Sadly this shortcut does not work when you're just browsing in Finder. [via DF]
On each new episode of This Week in Google (details) I'll highlight a tip for using cloud/Google apps smarter, faster, and better. I'll document those tips here.
The J and K keys navigate through lists of items in Gmail, Google Reader, and even Google search results--without getting the mouse involved, which saves you point-and-click time. J goes to the next item down the list, and K the previous. J and K aren't easy for your brain to remember, but they are for your fingers: most keyboards have a little nubbin on the J key, and if you're a touch typist, your right hand's forefinger rests on the J key. The J and K shortcuts move the cursor up and down in other (some old school) software too, like vim. Here's how to give your J and K keys a workout in Gmail, Google Reader, and even Google search results.
Google Instant promises to save you up to 5 seconds every time you search the Web, but you'll only see those savings if you know how to take advantage of its new real-time mind-reading. Here are the must-know keyboard shortcuts for zipping your way around Google Instant predictions and results.
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