If you were to interview a broad cross-section of internet users and ask them about Google services, probably most of them would enthusiastically talk about Gmail or Google Reader. At the very least, they would mention Google’s superior search engine. But how many people do you think would discuss being able to set up customised RSS feeds in Google News? Or being able to download source code in Google Code? How many people would know that Google offers various possibilities for users to help improve their products?
Here are some Google services that need a lot more loving (cue Barry White music) :
(1) Google Labs
My favourite online playground (although the offerings at the moment are a little dull). This is where new Google products are first given the beta label and unleashed onto an unsuspecting world for testing and commenting. If you try something out in Google Labs, you are invited to email the Google team involved with comments / suggestions / complaints (on two occasions, I got a personal reply back from a member of the team, discussing my comments).
The way I see it, this is a good way to influence future Google products by getting involved in a product’s development. How many Google users use Google products but don’t bother to provide any creative input to make them better? Next time a Google product doesn’t go as planned, don’t complain on a forum - contact Google and offer constructive advice & criticism!
(2) Google Pack
If you know an internet newbie who has not so much knowledge of the internet and software products (like my mother), Google Pack provides an excellent software package to start with (although I personally wouldn’t choose Norton and Real Player). Check out full program list here.
(3) Google Translate
Translate text or even complete webpages into eleven languages (you can even translate from “simplified” Chinese to “traditional” Chinese). As with all online translators, this won’t give you a 100% accurate translation (online translators can’t grasp things like idioms and contexts) but if you want to buy those crates of AK-47 assault rifles from that online shop in North Korea, Google Translate will let you overcome that Korean language barrier.
(4) Google Co-Op
Allows you to customize Google search results with your own self-rolled search engines. You can also provide information from your website as a subscribed link or if you are a specialist in a particular subject area, you can label and categorize search information which other people can click on. Again, this is another way you can actively help in making search much better (otherwise known as user-generated input).
(5) Google Code
This one is for the computer geeks (of which I am a honorary member). Allows you to find and download source codes and developer API’s to make mashups for Google products.
(6) Google News
Google News has been around for a while and is old-hat to many. But how many of you knew that you could customise the page to only see the news you want to see? Or the fact you can set up customised RSS feeds for the news subjects that interest you? Never miss another news story about Paris Hilton ever again. You can also use the new news archive to find very old news stories, either scanned pages of publications or online sources. Some free, others not.
If you’re in business and you’ve developed a hot new invention, don’t you want to check first to see if anybody got in there before you and filed a patent? Google Patent Search will show you the patent applications for pretty much everything so you can see right away if you are the sole inventor of the combined coat hanger and cigarette lighter.
One of my personal favourites as it helps me to find current blogs on my favourite subjects (and swell my 200+ RSS reading list even further). Find blogs catering to various subjects. Want to know if anybody shares your overwhelming passion for navel lint by blogging about it? GBS will help you out.
(9) Google Alerts
Want to know if anybody has been talking about you online? Maybe somebody trashed your website by insulting it in a forum? Or a disgruntled customer to your online shop made disparaging remarks in their blog? By setting up a Google Alert (with pre-defined search terms), you will get an email with links anytime Google finds something matching your keywords. Britney Spears probably has one set up now with the keywords “Britney” and “MTV Music Awards”.
(10) Google Catalogs
Guys rejoice! (and women too). Want to buy some Victoria’s Secret lingerie? Or perhaps a new light-sabre is in order for you trusty Jedi Knights? Google now offers the chance to browse through scanned pages of catalogs and magazines such as GQ and Cosmopolitan to find products you might be looking for. No more raking in bins looking for catalogs of women in bikinis - Google now gives them to you online!
Do you know of a Google service that needs more user loving? Let us know in the comments. I’ve got Lionel Richie on speed-dial.
Mark O’Neill is a freelance writer, proofreader, editor and blogger. Check out his blog at http://www.betterthantherapy.net
Found this article useful? Subscribe to MakeUseOf via email or RSS and receive free daily updates about new cool websites. Plus get free cheat sheets to your favorite programs.
Filed Under: Cool Websites ¦ Lists of tools
Tags: alerts, Google, patent, search engines, software pack, translation
Any chance I’m one of 200+ readings? Just kidding. Great list I love Googe labs
I’m a great fan of Google News and Google Alerts.
Alerts, especially.. can’t live without it.
I’m a fan of Google Notebook — allows you to cut-and-paste snippets of text and images from web pages, and save then as notes, which can be searched and categorized. The URL to the original page is saved as well. I think of Notebook as a sort of juiced-up Bookmarks.
http://www.google.com/notebook/
Google Sets
I use translate often. Also i would use the blog search more if it was better designed.
On our college campus, we use “Google Patents” all the time for assignments. It’s been great because we don’t have to sift through the inefficient Patent Office website [I really hate bureaucracy].
I find Google Trends quite fun. But it would be nice if it had real hard data, such as the real number of searches. As it is now, it uses only a selection of searches, and it generates a graph with no numbers or statistics.
Don’t forget Google Browser Sync, which keeps your browser info (bookmarks, history, preferences) the same on all your computers and OS’s.
What about Google Notebook?! One of my all time favs. Such a handy tool for keeping track of misc thoughts, especially with the Firefox plugin.
Google Alerts is hudge!
Google Alerts is indispensable for me, as I’ve got loads of projects that I can’t micromanage so I trust Google to tell me when anybody takes notice in them. I just wish that I could get the alerts as an RSS feed, rather than just emails.
As an aside, I was reading through the list of Google APIs a couple of days ago, and I was amazed at how the number of offerings has grown.
great list …
am gonna check out google alerts now …
thanks for sharing …
appreciated …
Google Sets I 2nd, you have no idea of how powerful the backend functionality behind this tool is…and to think it’s been in Google Labs since 2002…
I’d also like to toss into the mix Google Code Search (at http://www.google.com/codesearch ), which allows you to find code examples from all sorts of open source projects via regular expression. I use it all the time when I’m looking for an example of how to do something effectively!
I don’t remember how I lived without Google Scholar. Sure, it’s not as powerful as many of the usual scholarly search tools, but sweet mercy, it’s quick and easy. I use it constantly.
I am not exactly a n00b but I love Google Pack and load it on the systems I build out. The reason is simple - Google’s auto-update functionality is way better than the annoying popups from Adobe Reader, for example. I deselect the things I don’t need like Norton and Realplayer (good call) and I’m on my way.
If you’re a blogger or run a web business, I recommend checking out Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools, I use both of them for makeuseof.com
I like to use Google Finance better than any other site’s financial portal (like Yahoo! or MSN)
I love scholar.google this great for research projects! however a lot articles are not free
i love google all services.
I used Google Browser Sync ever since it came out but a few weeks back, I uninstalled it after Mozilla added it to their list of defective extensions - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Problematic_extensions
Ever since uninstalling it, I have noticed an improvement in CPU usage by Firefox.
I have to say I am very surprised as it is not like Google to bring out a defective product.
If you are a student or within the walls of academia in general, Google Books and Google Scholar are crucial.
Chris D. — If you like Google Code Search, I’d recommend also checking out what Krugle (www.krugle.com) is doing in this area. There’s a reason why Google Code Search was included on this list of services that get no love: because they’ve effectively lost the code search market to startups like Krugle and Koders. — Mike
I like Google alerts!
And the Google Maps? No one here uses?
Google Maps are pretty good too. It’s this only mapping / directions service that offers route drag’n drop functionality.
I love the translate feature Google offers. It has increased sales for my service as we are getting more reconization world wide
Thanks for the list. Funny Google is my main source for searching and utilizing but didn’t know some of the features.
Thanks for the list my business appreciates it Good Job
i’ve used AND unsubsribe to google alerts. bad, really bad.
@ Syahid Ali
Yeaahhh, I don’t like it either.
Seeing as Google is the “do everything” giant and they have taken over the entire internet, I’ll just sit back and wait for them to develop the following these threee handy services I’m desperately in need of…
#1) Google Virtual Baybsitting - GVB will come in handy for many new parents who need a night ot away from home..
#2) Google Virtual Dog Walking - Another handy tool I could use when I come home from work and the pooch want’s to go outside and do his business
#3) Google “Take out the Trash” - This one will have kids everywhere lovign the big “G” whenever their mom asks them “haven’t you taken the trash out yet”
Otherwise -
Google Blog Search - Pale in comparison to Technorati.
Google Code - bites since they switched from SOAP to AJAX.
Google News - I’ll stick with Yahoo, thanks.
Google Patent Search - What’s wrong with uspto.gov ?
Cheers !!!
@ Dave
I’m a fan of Google 411 (1-800-GOOG-411) It’s a voice activated 411 service. It has saved me from having to have contact with actual local people on a number of occasions, and it’s listing of businesses is growing quickly.
wonderful icons!!!!
i dont know, in brazil, these sites.
i just use, email, reader and apps!!!
all thing for google uncle