I recently wrote about Google’s new quasi-competitor to Microsoft Office known as Google Docs (docs.google.com). Google Docs offers a fairly full featured word processor and spreadsheet that can be used online, and for free. The response to Google Docs has been rewarding, resulting in several emails, and other contacts, and culminating with an appearance on the very popular Al Caldwell Show. Some time ago I wrote about another fascinating Google utility, Google Earth (earth.google.com), which offers amazing mapping and satellite image functions, as well as driving directions and real time flight tracking. Several weeks ago I wrote about using your cell phone to get a wide variety of information as text messages on your cell phone (sms.google.com). Google continues to offer helpful and useful services to the computer user in addition to its enormously popular search engine.

One of Google’s newest offerings is “iGoogle” (www.google.com/ig), which is intended to be a “home” or startup page when a browser is loaded. The top of iGoogle has the traditional Google search bar, but the page also has a variety of fully customizable information resources, including a calendar, weather, news, and other resources. As a default, one of the primary news sources is CNN, which provides links to the latest news. This is Google’s early attempt to compete with the likes of other popular home pages, such as My Yahoo and other integrated startup pages.

While curiosity may have killed the cat, it may sometimes be useful to see what others have done on Google. To satisfy that curiosity, Google has introduced “Trends” (www.google.com/trends) where statistical and graphical information on most search topics can be found. As a test of the Trends functionality, I entered as a search term “Beaumont”, and was rapidly displayed the results. Not surprisingly, the major source of inquiries was Beaumont, Texas. A graph at the top of the page showed the relative search volume on Beaumont, calculating the number of searches requested. Not surprising, there is a sharp peak at the September, 2005, mark on the graph, indicating that a lot of people researched Beaumont as the city was ensnarled by Hurricane Rita. On the right side of the page are the most frequently researched and selected news stories about Beaumont. It should be noted that the statistics and stories are based on any search containing the selected search term (Beaumont in this example), regardless of the context of the search. Other “Beaumont's” are displayed and counted, in addition to the city in Texas. If the frequency of different search terms is to be compared, multiple search terms can be entered in the search bar separated by a comma. The display overlays the results of the search terms on the same graph, which allows for easy comparison. Tabs on the page also allow for the determination of the region where the search originated, and the language of the users searching Google.

People often like to customize their desktop with a variety of real-time items that can display weather, stock quotes, photos, clocks, and a variety of other topics. Google recently introduced its free desktop customization tools which Google calls “Gadgets” (desktop.google.com). Gadgets are graphical displays of varying size that display information on the desktop, and can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the desktop. Gadgets are a useful way to enhance the computing experience by making desired content available directly on the desktop.

Google offers a large selection of Gadgets (desktop.google.com/plugins) which include such diverse items as “Bible Verse of the Day”, online interactive dictionaries, news headlines, real-time weather radar, webcam viewers, credit card managers, calendars, international clocks, and many others. While many Gadgets are created by individuals and posted to Google, there are also some corporate created Gadgets that offer a variety of services. One example of a corporate Gadget is Intercontinental Hotels Group (owner of Holiday Inns and other hotels) “Priority Club Rewards” which tracks reservations and earned reward points. Of course, there are Gadgets that allow the user to search Google directly from the desktop. A toolkit is available to creators who wish to create their own customized Gadgets.

Most of us like to be informed shoppers, and Google wishes to oblige us. Google has re-branded its former “Froogle” shopping service as “Google Product Search (beta)” (www.google.com/products). By entering a product category, brand name, or specific model number, information of selected products can easily be located. As a test, I entered the brand and model number of a GPS device I have been considering. Google Product Search returned product information as well as a list of sellers of that particular product, including some local “brick and mortar” stores that stock that item. One nice feature of this service is the ability to get product information via SMS text messaging on a cell phone. By simply sending a text message with the item desired (such as “price ipod 20gb”) to 466453 (“G-o-o-g-l-e”) the service will immediately reply with a text message giving much the same information as found on the website. It should be noted that if the SMS message service is used, the cell phone provider may charge a message fee, but Google does not charge a fee for the service.

There is tough competition in the computer and internet field, and Google is working hard to maintain its exalted position. As long as Google continues to offer innovative services, it may well retain its position in the marketplace.

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