Google Search Confuses 'Googlebooks' With Google Books
Searching 'Googlebooks' on Google redirects to a 'Did you mean?' for Google Books, while 'Googlebook' does not, The Verge reports.
Google's new Android-based laptop platform is called Googlebook, but Google Search does not always treat it that way. Searching for "Googlebooks" redirects to a "Did you mean?" result for Google Books, the company's long-running index of books.
The redirect was reported by The Verge and was still occurring as of the article's publication. Searching for "Googlebook" does not trigger the same redirect, and users who want laptop results have to click a link manually.
The naming overlap puts two very different Google products on a collision course in search results: a book index that predates the laptop platform, and a new line of Android laptops.
Hardware is already arriving. Lenovo's first Googlebook costs $200 less than announced, and Google says Chromebook updates end in 2034, with many models moving to Googlebook OS.
Quick answers
What is Googlebook?
Googlebook is the name of Google's new Android-based laptop platform.
Why does searching 'Googlebooks' show Google Books?
Google Search redirects 'Googlebooks' to a 'Did you mean?' search for Google Books. Searching 'Googlebook' does not return the same redirect.
What happens to Chromebooks?
Google says Chromebook updates end in 2034, with many models moving to Googlebook OS.