Key Points:
- Google Search’s “Notes” experiment, designed for user-generated content, has ended without a full launch.
- Pixel Watch users in Germany have lost the “At a Glance” complication due to undisclosed regulatory reasons.
- Google is committed to exploring user connection and knowledge sharing in future Search features.
Google Search Labs, a platform for testing innovative search experiences, has concluded its experiment with “Notes.” Launched in November 2023, this feature aimed to create a space for users to share “helpful tips about an article” directly within search results. Drawing inspiration from Reddit, community forums, and comment sections, Notes envisioned a story-like format for user-generated content.
Participants in the experiment encountered “Add note” and “Notes” buttons throughout their search journeys. Clicking “Notes” revealed a grid of user-submitted content, allowing users to engage with the information through likes, shares, and saves. To ensure quality and safety, Google implemented a combination of algorithmic filters and human review.
While Google acknowledges the user desire for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, expressed through the “Notes” experiment, the feature has reached its endpoint without a full-fledged launch. Google emphasizes that not every Search Labs experiment is destined for widespread adoption. Notably, Google initially placed significant emphasis on “Notes” and actively encouraged user participation.
Looking forward, Google remains committed to exploring avenues that connect users with “authentic, relatable voices.” The company plans to leverage insights gained from “Notes” to shape future search experiences. Users who participated in the experiment can download their contributed notes until the end of August via takeout.google.com.
In a separate development, Pixel Watch users in Germany have encountered a surprising change. Google has quietly disabled the “At a Glance” complication on their devices. This versatile complication, similar to the widget found on Pixel phones, displays weather forecasts, upcoming calendar appointments, and other contextual information.
The reason behind this removal remains unclear. While confirmed on Google’s Issue Tracker platform, the specific regulatory compliance concern prompting the action is undisclosed. Interestingly, the “At a Glance” widget on smartphones remains unaffected.
The deactivation of “At a Glance” occurred in early May, and Google has yet to communicate a potential timeline for its reinstatement.
