Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Google Mobile Friendly Test Not Using Latest Chromium Yet
With the big news around Googlebot now being evergreen and running the latest version of Chromium and thus being able to access 1000+ new features on web pages, you’d think we’d see it. But no, we don’t see it yet and no – the mobile-friendly test and probably the other testing tools do not support it yet.

GoogleBot Runs Latest Chrome – This Is Big News
Probably the biggest news for the SEO industry out of Google I/O yesterday was that Google said Googlebot is now evergreen, meaning it will stay up-to-date with the latest version of Chromium, their popular Chrome browser. This brings thousands of new features to Googlebot for crawling purposes.

Google Code Lab Supports Structured Data, Single Page Apps & Dynamic Rendering
Martin Splitt from Google announced while at Google I/O yesterday that they have updated the Google Code lab not to just support structured data but also single page apps (SPAs) and dynamic rendering. Code lab is a solution that walks you through step-by-step to create either structured data, SPAs or dynamic rendering that works with Google search.

Google Search Adds 3D Objects With AR Support
Google demonstrated at I/O yesterday a search feature where you can bring up 3D objects and then place them in your location using AR, augmented reality. I am not too sure about this feature sticking but hey – it is pretty cool to demo on stage – don’t you think?

Google Top Stories To Add News Timelines, Search & Play Podcasts & More
At Google I/O yesterday, Google first announced updates to how they will handle top stories in the search results. Google showed how the top stories has a new top filter bar to let you learn more about a topic, see that stories timeline, and even hear podcasts that you can play about that topic.

Google I/O Digital Detox Area Was Empty
Brian Ussery snapped a photo of an area at the Google I/O event named Digital Detox, a place you go to turn off your phone and connect with yourself or others. Just look, the place is empty.

Other Great Search Forum Threads:

Google has pushed the suggested search waterfall (on desktop) to the right, my guess is to make sure the ads are seen.… https://t.co/YpDFrBTU2Q, Joe Youngblood on Twitter
It works for me :). It’s a bit unique (aka awkward) since it doesn’t show the preview when you submit, but rather shows a link to the preview to try out directly (when you use a mobile device / emulation or scan the QR code wi, John Mueller on Twitter
Google Changes the way Cookies Work on Chrome, WebmasterWorld
Google Testing Very Light Blue Title In Search Results Here is before vs after title color screenshot attached. @rustybrick @JohnMu #SERP… https://t.co/vOuJtTimPK, Sunny Deval on Twitter
Today’s special: Google Lens. highlighting what’s popular on a menu, when you tap on a dish you can see what it looks like and what people are saying about it, thanks to photos and reviews from @googlemaps. #io19, Google on Twitter
Twitter Now Lets You Re-tweet with GIF, Photos and Video, WebmasterWorld
Yes, it’s an XML file, where these things still matter :)…, John Mueller on Twitter

Search Engine Land Stories:

Google search bug has search suggestions crawling off the page
Google Assistant moves from the cloud to the phone, now 10X faster
Google’s web crawler Googlebot now runs on the latest version of Chromium: Why that’s a good thing
IAB: U.S. search spend grew 19% in 2018, but its share of digital ad spend ticked down, again
Google announced updates to news in search, adds 3D support to search results and more
The future of search: Capturing the hearts and minds of Generation Z
Google Search experiments with showing less relevant search results when requested

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

In-Depth Guide on Direct Traffic in Google Analytics, Online Metrics
The Google Tag Manager Tips You Need in Your Life (Especially if You Want to Increase Conversions), GetUplift

Industry & Business

Google Says It Has Found Religion on Privacy, New York Times
Privacy that works for everyone, Google Blog
Protesters fly banner-towing plane over Google I/O, TechCrunch

Links & Promotion Building

3 Ways to Measure Link Quality, Search Engine Journal

Local & Maps

Google Maps and Google Search will get incognito modes to hide your navigation and search data, XDA Developers
Google Maps AR navigation rolls out to Pixel users, VentureBeat
Microsoft announces new Bing Maps SDK for iOS, Android and Mixed-Reality apps, MSPoweruser

Mobile & Voice

Bringing you the next-generation Google Assistant, Google Blog
More help is on the way with Nest Hub Max, Google Blog
Pixel 3a: the helpful (and more affordable) phone by Google, Google Blog
Sharing what’s new in Android Q, Google Blog

SEO

I Want To Rank Beyond My Location: A Guide to How This Works, Moz
Is Relevance the Most Important Google Factor? Gerry White Interview, Cognitive SEO
SEO Specialists: What They Do + Steps on How to Become One, HigherVisibility
Conductor Orchestra Adds SEO Experts to Your Team, Conductor
Digital Marketing in Healthcare: A Guide to Local SEO, Hallam Internet
How to use Google advanced search operators to find indexation and technical SEO issues, Builtvisible
Is SEO Writing a Dying Art?, SuccessWorks

PPC

Estimating the Impact of Apple’s ITP 2.1 Using Google Analytics, Metric Theory
Google attribution models explained (part 1), Vertical Leap
How to Use Google Ads Campaign Experiments, Seer Interactive
Google is pushing back against ad tracking in Chrome, The Verge
Raising the bar on transparency, choice and control in digital advertising, Google Blog

Search Features

At I/O ’19: Building a more helpful Google for everyone, Google Blog
Helpful new visual features in Search and Lens, Google Blog