Google just rolled out a handy new update to its Search feature, allowing users to see when their favorite locations are busiest.
Spending your lunch break trying to find a good restaurant or coffee shop because your favorite one is too full can be quite frustrating, but Google aims to help you out.
Google Search now has a new feature with great potential, as it can help users save time in such situations. This small new feature will show users when a gym, restaurant, coffee shop, diner or the likes is at full capacity, to save them from the trouble of going there for nothing.
"Do you ever find yourself trying to avoid long lines or wondering when is the best time to go grocery shopping, pick up coffee, or hit the gym (hint: avoid Monday after work)? You're in luck!" Google touts in a new post on its social network, announcing the update.
The post goes on to exemplify how users can simply search for a business such as "Blue Bottle Williamsburg" and when they find the coffee shop, tap on the title to see more information. In addition to the business's phone number, users will now see a small bar graph as well, which shows how busy the establishment is throughout the day (see image above).
With this handy little feature, users can see if the respective business is extremely busy at a given time so they can either start looking for another place, or get ready to stand in line to wait for a spot to open up.
This feature should cover a significant number of business establishments worldwide and users will be able to enjoy it directly from Search, without needing additional apps or anything else. The feature should work on both mobile and the Web.
The new Google Search feature may not be readily available for everyone at the same time, as it's just rolling out, but it shouldn't take too long until all users can give it a shot. For now, many users commenting on Google's announcement on Google+ note that the feature has yet to become available, and it remains unclear whether it will be available worldwide from the beginning, or extend its availability later on.
Either way, while this new Google Search feature may seem minor, it could be of great help when trying to avoid busy establishments and long lines.
