10 Google services you can't afford to overlook
If you randomly pick a person and ask what Google services he is using, he would probably answer Gmail or Google Reader. At the very least, he should have used Google's search engine. But how many people subscribe to Google News? How many people download source code from Google Code? And how many people know that Google provides users with many useful services?
Here are ten Google services that deserve more attention:
If you randomly pick a person and ask what Google services he is using, he would probably answer Gmail or Google Reader. At the very least, he should have used Google's search engine. But how many people subscribe to Google News? How many people download source code from Google Code? And how many people know that Google provides users with many useful services?
Here are ten Google services that deserve more attention:
1. Google Labs
One of my favorite places to hang out online (even though it looks a bit dull now), where Google announces its latest beta products. Here, you can offer your suggestions, comments, or complaints to the Google Team (I have received personal replies from a member of the Google Team twice).
By participating in the development process of a new product, you can see some of Google's future development paths. How many users use Google's services but are unwilling to provide feedback for Google to improve them? If a Google service doesn't meet your expectations next time, don't just complain on forums—contact Google and provide your suggestions!
2. Google Pack
If you know someone who knows little about the Internet and software, you can recommend Google Pack to them. Google Pack offers an excellent starter software package (although personally, I wouldn’t consider using Norton or Real Player).
3. Google Translate
Google Translate can translate a piece of text or an entire webpage into 11 languages. Although like most online translators, it cannot be 100% accurate (online translators cannot understand context and situation), if you just want to buy an AK-47 from a North Korean online store, Google Translate can help you overcome the language barrier.
4. Google Co-Op
Allows you to customize search results for your DIY search engine. You can also provide information about your own website as a subscription link; if you're an expert in a particular field, you can tag and categorize some search results. It is said that these actions may affect the page rankings in Google's search engine.
5. Google Code
Google Code is prepared for geeks. You can download source code and developer APIs here.
6. Google News
Google News has been around for a long time and is already an old friend to many. But do you know that you can customize the interface so that it only shows the news you're interested in? Do you know that you can subscribe to a topic you care about? Not only that, you can also search for outdated news here.
7. Google Patent Search
If you love inventing gadgets, when you come up with a new invention, you can check on Google Patent Search whether someone has already registered the patent ahead of you. Even if you're not interested in inventions, it's still fun to look at others' creative ideas here.
8. Google Blog Search
One of my personal favorites, it helps me find topics on a specific theme (and keeps my RSS subscription list growing). After writing a blog post, it's also fun to come here and see which bloggers are discussing the same topic as me.
9. Google Alerts
Want to know who's talking about you online? Perhaps someone mentioned your website on a forum? Or maybe one of your online store customers is complaining loudly on their blog? By setting up a Google Alert, Google will send you an email notification whenever it finds information matching your keywords.
10. Google Catalogs
