Google Launches Goo.gl Site With QR Surprise

Link shorteners are helpful to keep a link short and sweet, but they're nothing new. Even though there are plenty of link shortening options out there, Google is pressing onwards with the next step in its own service.

Previously available only through Google's software, now the Goo.gl shortening service is available through the web browser. Simply hit http://goo.gl/ and get your links done.

There's even a secret to the Google URL shortener – it can make QR codes for you simply by adding .qr at the end of the link.

For example, turning http://goo.gl/kKf0 into http://goo.gl/kKf0.qr makes this:

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.