GOOGLE FEATURES NOV. 2006

This is Google :
What is Google? No one knows because it is so many things. It is a Search engine, a programs source, a email provider, and the first English word learned in many countries. To reach the web page shown above you open your browser and type in http://www.google.com/ . This is the basic search page. It allows you to search the web for
information, images, videos, current news and maps. But, that's now all, the "More Tab"brings a list of Froogle (a price shopping search), Books (about the topic you entered) and Groups ( interested in the topic). And guess what, "Even More". That is where all the new and creative stuff is.

A little about how Google works:
Google started as a really fast and in depth search engine. Unlike many companies, they invited the geeks to help them and used the ideas given to them. When they were successful and went Public on the stock market, they used the money to buy small software companies that had programs that could be used on the Internet. They built a very large storage and allowed the public to store information and email in this storage place free of charge to the home user and for a small charge to companies. They created a reputation for honesty and quality in all their products with the Computer community. Their main source of income is advertising, but they made it clear what is a paid advertisement and what is pure search items. They have one strange policy, "All Programs are Beta". Their Beta programs are modified to correct problems very quickly if needed.
Internet Options:
The sections are divided into Search, Explore and Communicate & Share programs. The search section contains add ons that are put into your browser to improve it's function. They include a Toolbar, Desktop Search, Earth Google, and several special search functions. The Explore section is for programmers, and includes the codes use to develop new features. It also links to the Lab where new concepts are being developed. There are programs in the Lab area that are really "Beta" and just in development. Unlike the Google Beta they may have problems and should not be used unless you are experienced and willing to take the risk. Once they have been tested and checked out they will be moved to the other section. The last section is Communicate and Share. These are free programs that are loaded to your computer to and can be used like software you would purchase. They include a photo editor, an on line word processor and spreadsheet, a blog creator and several other specialized programs. (This handout was written using the word processor.) Next month we will show how to use the Picasa II photo editor and catalog program.
Search Section:
The Toolbar is an add on that put a new tool bar into your browser. It adds the complete Google search feature, a page ranking , a spell checker, a zip code look up, an autofill for forms on the web that you control and a list of options.
The Desktop Search is an improved search function for you computer and email. It catalogs all your files and allow you to search any document you created or received for a specific word or phrase. This can be extremely useful or bothersome. To function it must create a directory of your hard drives and the initial creation take some time. If you don't regularly update the directory it updates each time your search. This can take several minutes. If you use it regularly the time is short and you don't notice it, if you don't use it and have created or add a lot of files it can take several minutes. It is more through the the Windows search features, but some people find it to through for occasional usage.
The Earth Google is a neat and pretty feature that allows you to view 3D images of any area of the World from the most recent satellite or air images. The free version is limited, but still useful. They also offer the full version that is used by TV News to show those fancy zoom in effects you see on CNN and others. The free version allows for combinations of the photos, detail information (Street, City and State names) and tilting features. I have found it useful when traveling in areas with poor street sign. Landmarks help you keep track of where you are on the map when big building block your view. I have printed out the 3D version and attached it to the maps.
All the programs and add-ons from Google are free. In the past, several Google products required that you have a Google email account (called Gmail). As a Gmail account could only be obtained by referral, this blocked many people from accessing Google products. However, Google has now developed a Google "Account" feature that allows you to sign-up for these products if you don't have a Gmail account. You still cannot obtain a Gmail account unless you are referred by an existing Gmail user.