Google Roll Call  

Posted by Roddykat in ,

This post is for anyone keeping score in the Google empire. If you already welcome your Google Overlords and know the name Larry, Sergey, Eric, and George, this list isn't for you. You know about most of this stuff. If you don't, follow me. Basically, this list represents almost everything the former search engine giant has to offer. I say former because while Google still does search and still does it well, they have evolved into a company of way more than what it started as. Ready? Oh, this is not exactly in chronological order, because some of this was already out before they got a hold of it. Most of this is in perpetual Beta state, which means they are still working some things out and could be for a while.

  1. Google - This needs no intro, so I won't give it one. It's good, it's fairly fast and accurate with the right search terms (not as I used to be), and it's now a verb. TIP: Did you know that you could do calculations and conversions in the search bar? Example: 3 X 7, or 1 dollar to Euro, or worded equivalent. Go wild with it.
  2. Gmail - Google's web email. Features and space. What more is there to say. Most of you use it. Now integrated with...
  3. Google Talk - Google's Voice over Internet / IM program. As I said, now integrated with Gmail, but can still be downloaded separately if you don't have a Gmail account.
  4. Blogger - Gee, I wonder what this is? Sounds like a place that houses free web logs. Now, who would want to use this, I wonder?
  5. Picasa - Google's acquired image manipulation software. You can arrange, edit, organize, print, and email all of your images on your computer. you can also share your pictures via...
  6. Hello - which you can use to upload your pictures to... somewhere online. You can also post said pictures from here to your blog. I haven't used this, but that is an issue for another time. Put it this way, Hello + Picassa = Flickr, essentially.
  7. Google Adsense - You see any ads around Google, people's websites, or blogs? It's could from here.
  8. Google Language Tools - Translate a web page or text from one language to another.
  9. Google Maps - Is the illest. True dat. DOUBLE TRUE! It's like search but with locations and a map. Try to find your place and zoom in, if you can. Not recommended for stalkers.
  10. Google Earth - Take maps, put it in a program, and add 3D. Plus, you are able to add 3D modeled building using Google Sketchup. It's free unless you choose to buy the Plus version, which adds Global Positioning System (GPS) support.
  11. Froogle - I almost forgot about this one. Looking for the best price on the internet for things. Go here and search for it. It'll give you a product description plus the best price and up (or down if you prefer). It reminds me of something else, but I can't put my finger on it. Also, you can make a wishlist to pester send to others that you believe would even consider buying you what is on it. Or keep it for yourself.
  12. Google Video - Google's version of Youtube, Ifilm, ebaumsworld(well, not so much), etc. with a dash of Itunes in that you can purchase shows (and movies now?) for $.99 to $14.99. Watch stupid people do stupid things, see product demos(maybe), the internet's funniest videos at the press of a button or two, videos of whatever you search for that may or may not have been shown on TV(like this from the movie, 'Date movie". You get the idea. Speaking of which, check this out.
  13. Google Homepage - Name says it all. Your very own customizable homepage. You can check news, weather, sports, videos, and anything else you cared to have checked from here provided you added it. Plus, you can move it to where you want to see it on the page. SWEET! So instead of your ISP's generic advertisement homepage , you use this if you want.
  14. Google Reader - It's a lite RSS reader that can handle attachments. What does that mean? When someone (like me) says that you can subscribe to a podcast or RSS feed, this could be used in lieu of an offline program or Firefox web browser (because it has a built in RSS reader) to keep track of them. And it can be used with the just mentioned Google Homepage for that one stop shopping feel.
  15. Writely - One of the online answers to Microsoft Word. It was acquired by Google earlier this year. Save to your desktop, upload from Word, access anywhere you need to work on a document, make blog postings (as far as I know, they hadn't integrated it with blogger yet), and collaboration, which means you can mark up someone else's document like that high school English teacher you hated ("bled" all over your paper did she? the heiffer). Well, provided they let you anyway. If only they had an Excel like spreadsheet page.... Oh wait...
  16. Google Spreadsheet - is the name of Google's "Microsoft Excel"page. it's like Writely, but for spreadsheets. And nothing says lovin' like sharing spreadsheets with others. I was going to make a spreadsheet that tracked my spending at Best Buy, realized that it's on the internet and my wife could find it. Not that she doesn't know i'm in there a lot....
  17. (EDIT) Google Calendar - Put your schedule online. Share it or events with others. Or not. Get reminders or SMS messages of upcoming events. If you use Outlook as your calendar, this does that part. As far as I know, however, there is no direct way to sync up Outlook with this. Yet. I apologize for forgetting about this. I haven't used it. yet.
  18. Google SketchUp - A 3D modeling program. You're an inventor, use it to sketch out your vision. Work out a project. Trying to build your dream house, use it for that. Model your existing house and make the changes you can't afford to do yet. And while you are at it, you can plug it into Google Earth so that you can throw it up against some land or whatever. There is a free to use personal version and a paid version for commercial use. Last but not least is...
  19. Google Checkout - This just came out the week i'm writing this, so I don't know much about it. It seems to be a PayPal / Amazon like entity where you sign up (or access with a Google account), put in Credit Card or bank info and use it with Online shops. It is said to be secure, but I haven't looked into it. If e-stores take to this, it could be a big thing. I did run across an article or two and video about it, so check it out. Of course, if you ain't a-scared, you can try it out for yourself.
It should be mentioned that all of these can be accessed if you have an account in the Google network (Gmail, I believe Writely, Reader, Homepage,etc). Particularily, if you have a Gmail account, it's a given. Oh, and there are mobile versions of some of these pages. Just check the pages themselves and it should mention it. There is also a place to check out some of the other stuff that is being cooked up, including some of the aforementioned products, on their Google Labs page. Now, I omitted Google Toolbar partially because I don't use it and don't really care to. I don't like toolbar plugins so much. You'd think that with as many web browser extensions that I use on a daily basis(more on that later), I would be into them. Nope. If you want to try it though, go to the Google Labs page. Anyway, this is the list so far and i'm sure there is more to come. Maybe i'll update this list as time goes by. Or not, who knows. The stuff listed is worth checking out if you hadn't already so go forth.

This entry was posted on July 1, 2006 at Saturday, July 01, 2006 and is filed under , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

4 full and speaking on it

I am such a Yahoo! head I didn't realize Google had all of this stuff. Good to know!

July 5, 2006 at 11:53 AM

Yea, I still have a Yahoo account, but it's more for internet forms, newsletters and spam catching. I pretty much use Google's stuff, otherwise. Particularly check out Froogle. It's great for price comparisons.

July 6, 2006 at 11:29 PM

I'm scared of g-mail for some reason. I never take advantage of the invitations. I'm just paranoid that my emails will show up on the search engine or something...lol.

July 7, 2006 at 7:56 AM

There's nothing to be afraid of. Google's just like that dude who tries to get to know you so well so that he can get into your pants. Email's are handled differently than search item. Otherwise, there would be much more Lawsuits than a little bit. So you can send or receive those naughty picture or Freaky Tales (just not Too Short, yuck yuck) of wanton sex acts till your heart's content.

July 7, 2006 at 3:55 PM

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