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New_Goodies_At_Google
| New Goodies At Google
Copyright 2005 Jim Edwards
Search giant, Google.com, recently expanded their reach yet
again by offering new and expanded services going far beyond
simply searching the Internet for relevant information.
Jumping on a growing bandwagon already teaming with millions of
active users, Google now offers its own SMS search service to
allow mobile phone users access to their database.
Google also released "Desktop 2," a personal information manager
that resides on your desktop to organize everything from rss
feeds and stock quotes, to photos and the weather.
Make no mistake, though Google seems to possess an uncanny
ability to make things useful and "cool," these latest offerings
represent Google staking out territory on your desktop against
rivals Microsoft and Yahoo!
** Google Expands Desktop **
Originally, the Google Desktop program simply organized your
files, emails and web searches into one place.
When you looked from a certain file or topic on your system, the
program returned relevant results from files on your hard drive,
email correspondence, and past web search history.
The new version of Google Desktop expands significantly over the
original version by including a host of new services designed to
create your own "personal information manager" right on your
computer's desktop.
Probably the most obvious change is the "Sidebar," which makes a
significant new addition to the tool.
The Sidebar allows you immediate access not only to information
on your hard drive, but to specialized online information based
on your preferences and viewing habits.
The Sidebar also incorporates an RSS feed reader, making it
extremely simple for even complete novices to subscribe to and
read news feeds from the web.
Many would think this one feature of a simple rss reader
represents a direct step to grab the general consumer before
Microsoft can launch their Longhorn browser (which will contain
an rss reader).
Other additions include a news ticker, real time stock quotes,
photo viewer, quick-find feature with the ability to launch
programs just by typing in a few letters, and a scratch pad.
Google definitely upgraded this previously limited program to
create a very handy personal organizer for your computer's
desktop. Log on to http://desktop.google.com to download a free
copy.
** Google Goes Mobile **
If you fall into the over-30 age range, you probably didn't know
that "SMS" stands for "Short Message Service."
Yet SMS comprises one of the fastest growing areas of all
communication on the planet.
Millions of people use SMS on their cell phones to communicate
as well as gather information.
Log on to http://www.google.com/sms/ to discover how Google can
now help you get information through your cell phone fast and
free.
Get everything from driving directions, local business listings,
and movie showtimes to local weather conditions, dictionary
definitions and even product pricing.
Imagine walking into a store, spotting an item you want to buy,
and before purchasing it know exactly how much you could snag it
for online.
Picture yourself in an unfamiliar town and getting driving
directions to the local Walmart. Google also operates a new home
page just for mobile users at http://www.google.com/mobile/.
Watch for this area of online services to expand massively in
the near future.
About the author:
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist & creator of an
amazing course that shows A Quick and Easy Way To Painlessly Set
Up Your OWN Money-making 'Mini' Websites... Without Being a
Computer Geek, Buying Software, or Paying A Webmaster!" Click =>
http://www.MiniSiteCreator.com
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