Time to cache out

3 crafty workarounds for a weird web problem  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Cool Tools, by The Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [SaneBox logo](​ Heads-up: One of Google's most useful and also underappreciated features is on the brink of extinction. I'm talkin' about the cache-calling system that quietly existed within Google Search for years — usually buried within an inconspicuous menu inside your search results. That system let you access a snapshot of any website from the recent past, which was an invaluable way to peek back at a site if it had just undergone some changes or even gone offline. After some sharp-eyed internet observers noticed its absence within Search the other day, Google confirmed it was in the midst of [retiring the feature](). But fear not, my fellow web traveler, for you can still find a recently cached copy of almost any website without Google — if you know how. [JR Raphael, Author of Android Intelligence] JR Raphael​ Author of Android Intelligence --------------------------------------------------------------- Fast cache — no Google required First things first: Technically, Google's cached page system is still available as of this moment, even if it isn't linked or mentioned anywhere. You can do a Google search for cache: followed by any web address to get directly to the results for that page. But that won't work for much longer. So now's a fine time to teach yourself a new method for accomplishing the same feat without Google's help. ⌚ The good news? It'll take you a mere one to two minutes to do. And you've got a few different options. 1. Turn to Bing or the Wayback Machine This might be the first time in my life I’ve used the phrase “Bing it” without any sarcasm attached. But it’s well-deserved — ‘cause while Google’s getting rid of its cache system, the equivalent feature isn’t going anywhere in Microsoft’s search setup (for now, at least!). ➜ With that in mind, the simplest way to find a cached copy of any site is to [make your way over to Bing.com]( and then type the full address of the page in question into the Bing search box. If a cached copy of the site is available, you’ll see a little down-facing arrow directly to the right of the URL in the search results — right beneath the site’s name. [Bing's cache option is tucked away within a downward-facing arrow, directly to the right of a site's URL in the search results] ​ Click that arrow, and the option to pull up a cached, offline copy of the site will pop up right in front of you. ➜ Another good resource is the non-profit Internet Archive and its thorough, if often slow, Wayback Machine. [Head over to Archive.org]() and type or paste the address of the page you want to see into the Wayback Machine box at the top of the screen. You’ll then see a sprawling list of all available cached copies for that page, often going back years. And either way, you can set yourself up for even easier ongoing access, if you want... 2. View a cached website with a simple bookmarklet On a desktop computer browser, a simple bit of Javascript in your browser’s bookmark bar will create a quick ‘n’ easy on-demand website cache-summoner for you to use whenever the need strikes. ➜ Just select and copy this exact code snippet: javascript:(function(){if(location.href.indexOf(‘http’)!=0){input=prompt(‘URL:’,’http://’);if(input!=null){location.href=’ /’+input}}else{location.href=’ /’+location.href;}})(); Then, on your desktop computer, right-click in the browser bookmark bar at the top of the screen. (If you don’t see it, hit Ctrl-Shift-B to toggle it on or off.) Select the option to add a new page, then set its name to Cache and paste that code in as the URL. That’ll create a one-click button in that area of your browser to pull up the Wayback Machine results for any website you’re viewing, anytime. 3. View a cached website via a browser extension Last but not least, you can rely on a ready-made browser extension to accomplish the same thing and build yourself a versatile button for on-demand website cache viewing. In Chrome or Edge, the aptly named (and open source) [Web Archives extension]() will give you easy access to a cached version of any page you’re viewing from a variety of sources — including both Bing and the Wayback Machine. That extension is available only in the browsers’ desktop versions as of now, but its equivalent [Firefox version]() will also work within the [Firefox Android app]() for on-the-go access. 📌 You can access all of these tools directly in your browser — [Bing](), [the Wayback Machine](), and the Web Archives extension for [Chrome and Edge]() or [Firefox](). 💰 All of these services are completely free. 🕶 And none requires any manner of sign-in or personal data collection. Just pick the path you prefer, then rest easy knowing you'll never have trouble traveling to our virtual past again! Now, speaking of smart workarounds for tech-created challenges... ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE How to easily manage 1,500+ emails/day 📨 Not only does email cause major anxiety (“536 unread emails?!”), but it sucks a lot of precious time from our lives — 8.8 hours per week according to Microsoft! [Ticking cat-shaped clock](​ ​[Take back your day with SaneBox.]( This beloved tool intelligently organizes your inbox, saving you 3-4 hours per week without lifting a finger. And The Intelligence readers can get started with a 14-day free trial and $25 off any SaneBox subscription! Here’s why TechCrunch, Forbes, and The New York Times love SaneBox: 📧 Takes only minutes to set up and works with all email clients 🚨 Automatically groups your IMPORTANT emails and sorts non-essentials for later 🤝 No downloads, no software, and no training required No wonder PCMag called SaneBox "the best thing that's happened to email since its invention.” ➜ [Claim your 14-day free trial of SaneBox and earn $25 off any subscription!]( [FALL IN LOVE WITH EMAIL AGAIN ➜]( ​ This Week's Cool Tools Quiz Google may be the biggest name in search, but it's far from the only option out there. Which of the following has never been a Google-competing search service? Remember: NO CHEATING! Anyone can look up info on the web. Stick with the spirit of the game and test your actual knowledge without searching. It's just for fun, anyway! [HotBot]( [MeepMeep]( [Gigablast]( [Swisscows]( Answer correctly before next Wednesday and secure your spot on the [Cool Tools Leaderboard](=)! 👉 Last week's question and answer: Which was the first big application used for peer-to-peer music sharing? Napster. Napster launched in 1999. It was the application that took peer-to-peer sharing of MP3 files mainstream. It shut down due to lawsuits in 2001. 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up]() [Thumbs Down](=) Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let us know. ​ Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Cool Tools, Android Intelligence, or Windows Intelligence (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider,](=) our one-of-a-kind community where you'll have access to power-packed advanced resources, an on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 [An Intelligence Insider membership](=) allows you to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable! # #