10 Essential Google Tools

Key Insights

There are days when it feels like Google is relentlessly pushing toward its goal of organizing the world's information, making it more accessible to us. On other days, it seems as though the company has global domination in its sights. And with a code of conduct that champions 'don't be evil,' perhaps that's not such a bad thing [source: Google Investor Relations].

There's no denying it — Google stands as a dominant force on the Web. Its influence is so vast that when Yahoo! partnered with Google to display Google Ads on Yahoo!'s search result pages, people feared that Google might take over the search engine advertising market. Even the U.S. Congress raised concerns about this alliance [source: Hart]. Google has come a long way — evolving from a makeshift network of computers in a garage to a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise.

While Google's core business is its search engine, the company offers a wide range of other services. If you explore Google's site, you'll find everything from productivity apps to an instant messaging platform. Some of these products were developed in-house, while others started as independent projects from other companies. If Google sees something of value that aligns with its objectives, it may make an acquisition offer to the company behind it.

It seems that Google hesitates to promote many of its offerings from beta versions — initial releases that might still have some functional issues — to final products. Even Gmail, Google's email client, which launched in 2004, is still in beta. However, some projects are less polished than others. Google invites users to explore experimental services through Google Labs, though it acknowledges these services 'aren't quite ready for prime time' [source: Google Labs].

Let's take a deep dive into the broad range of Google products. We'll begin with a closer examination of Gmail.

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10: Google E-mail

In 2004, Google released a statement revealing that it wasn't content with dominating online searches — the second most popular activity on the web. Google set its sights on conquering the most widely-used online service: e-mail. With this goal, Google announced the testing phase of a new web-based email service called Gmail [source: Google].

Gmail initially served as an internal communication tool for Google. When the company decided to open Gmail to the public, it opted for a gradual rollout. At first, the only way to get a Gmail account was by receiving an invitation from an existing user. Almost three years after the initial announcement, Google made Gmail available to everyone. Now, anyone can create a Gmail account.

Gmail organizes emails into "conversations." When someone sends you an email and you reply, Gmail displays both the original message and your response together in a stack. The original email appears at the top, followed by your reply underneath. Future messages will be displayed below the originals, which Gmail collapses to save screen space. By grouping related messages and replies together, Gmail helps users manage multiple conversations simultaneously.

Some believe that email communication is on the decline (or already a thing of the past). Google seems to have a solution for that: Google Talk. Discover more about it on the following page.

9: GTalk

Just when it seemed like the Internet had enough instant messaging clients, Google Talk arrived. Launched in 2005, Google Talk is a messaging app that enables users to send messages to each other. Unlike Gmail, the Google Talk client is not entirely web-based. Users need to download an application to their computers to unlock its full capabilities.

Google Talk offers more than just simple text messages. You can send unlimited files — no size limit — to other users. However, keep in mind that sending large files will take longer to transfer, especially on slower internet connections. Additionally, if you have data usage limits with your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you could face hefty charges for transferring large files.

Google Talk also functions as a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) service. This means you can make calls between PCs to other Google Talk users. Both you and your contact will need microphones and speakers, but Google Talk takes care of the rest. Real-time voice communication requires substantial bandwidth. Just like file transfers, excessive use could push you over your data limits with your ISP.

Users can download the Google Talk Gadget, a web-based application that lets them access many (but not all) Google Talk features from a personal website, such as a blog or an iGoogle page. This means you can use Google Talk on any computer connected to the Internet. At present, using the Google Talk Gadget is the easiest way for Mac users to access all Google Talk features.

That covers communication, but what else can Google organize? How about online shopping? Learn all about the Google Checkout service in the next section.

8: Google Checkout

Many people turn to the Internet for shopping, but one major downside is the need to repeatedly enter your personal details when purchasing from multiple online stores. Google recognized this challenge and created a tool that allows both merchants and consumers to benefit from a unified checkout system.

Here’s how it works: first, you create a Google account. If you already have one, you’ll need to update it with your credit card number, billing address, shipping address, and phone number. Once that’s done, you’re ready to start shopping.

Simply log in to your Google account and look for websites that support Google Checkout. When you spot the checkout symbol next to an item on a search results page, you’ll know you can buy from that site using your Google account. After entering your Google Checkout password, there’s no need to re-enter your credit card or personal details. Select your items, and Google will handle the rest of the transaction. The merchant never sees your credit card information.

Google Checkout is free for customers. Merchants, however, pay 2 percent plus 20 cents per transaction. Merchants who use Google AdWords receive a discount — for every dollar spent on AdWords advertising monthly, Google processes $10 worth of sales at no charge [source: Google Checkout].

Google also provides tools to help you organize your life. Discover more about Google Calendar in the upcoming section.

7: Google Calendar

In April 2006, Google launched a free online calendar service known as Google Calendar. If you already have a Google account, you can easily create a Google Calendar. If not, you can sign up for an account at no cost.

Google Calendar allows you to set up events and invite others to join. By sharing your calendar, you can compare schedules with other users. When everyone keeps their calendar up to date, it becomes much easier to avoid scheduling conflicts. You can open and view multiple calendars in a single window, with each calendar's events displayed in a distinct color to prevent confusion.

Google integrates its search functionality directly into Google Calendar, allowing you to search for specific calendars. Calendar owners have the option to keep their calendars private or make them public. Additionally, multiple calendars can be created under a single account, which is useful for organizations serving different customer groups. For instance, a theater may have one calendar for the public listing performance times, and another for actors, showcasing audition and rehearsal schedules.

Another growing Google tool is a collection of applications typically found in office software suites. This is the Google Docs suite. Read more about these programs in the next section.

6: Google Docs

The Google Docs suite represents Google's venture into the world of online productivity software. This free suite includes a word processor, spreadsheet editor, and presentation software—essential tools for many businesses. Instead of storing your documents on your computer's hard drive, Google Docs saves your files to a remote Google file system. Because the files are hosted online, you can access them from any computer connected to the Internet, making your documents available across different devices.

A standout feature of Google Docs is its ability to share documents and collaborate in real-time. Multiple users can edit the same document simultaneously, something traditional desktop applications struggle with. In desktop software, a project manager may need to manage multiple file versions while collaborators make changes. With Google Docs, everyone edits the same document hosted on Google’s servers, and Google Docs also tracks previous versions of the file, eliminating concerns about accidental deletions.

One downside of Google Docs is that its applications aren’t as powerful as those found in traditional desktop productivity suites like Microsoft Office. If you only need basic functionality, Google Docs can meet your needs. However, if you require advanced features for creating complex documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, you may prefer to stick with traditional software.

We’re halfway through! If you're feeling overwhelmed by all these products and features, don’t worry. Google has another solution: Google Maps. Discover more in the next section.

5: Google Maps

Google introduced its online map feature in 2005, nearly a decade after MapQuest went live. Like its competitor, Google Maps allows users to view maps of specific locations and obtain directions from one place to another. The platform offers street maps, terrain maps, and satellite imagery. For some regions, Google also provides a traffic map to inform users of traffic congestion and roadblock situations.

The digital map images used by Google Maps come from NAVTEQ, a provider of map data for various clients, including in-vehicle navigation systems. deCarta (formerly Telcontar) powers the mapping features with their applications. Google employees then integrate these images and mapping capabilities to build the features that users interact with on Google Maps.

In 2008, Google Maps introduced a new feature allowing users to receive walking directions from one location to another. Prior to this update, Google Maps only offered driving directions, which considered one-way streets and traffic conditions. Now, users can find the quickest walking routes between two points with ease.

At times, Google's decisions don’t always go as planned. A notable example is the Street View feature in Google Maps. Google outfitted cars with specialized cameras and drove them through cities in the United States and France. The cameras captured images every few seconds, offering users a street-level view of selected cities. However, some people raised privacy concerns. In response, Google blurred faces in the photos to ensure individuals’ privacy was protected.

Google Maps is closely linked to another Google product called Google Earth, which we will explore in more detail in the next section.

4: Google Earth Maps

Google is always innovating how it organizes and presents information. One such method is called geotagging, which involves associating data with a specific location. This geotagged information can be displayed on a map. While Google Maps could have been used to provide this data, Google opted for a different approach. The company introduced Google Earth, a digital globe designed to display geotagged information.

In 2005, Google acquired a company called Keyhole, which laid the groundwork for Google Earth. This digital globe allows users to zoom in and out from the Earth's surface to an orbital view. Google Earth offers a range of options, including satellite imagery, map overlays, 3D terrain, and even fully-rendered cityscapes.

Google Earth also enables developers to build applications that link information to specific locations on the globe. Users can opt to explore geotagged data, ranging from general news stories to personalized information. This feature offers a new way to present news, such as showing the impact of wildfires on a map using Google Earth.

Initially, users had to download and install the Google Earth application on their computers to access it. While the application fetched updates from the Internet, most of its features were hosted locally. In 2008, Google released a Web-based version of Google Earth, which is a simplified version with fewer features due to the high computing resources required to run the full desktop version.

3: Google Desktop

Ever had the hassle of looking for a specific file on your computer? Or maybe searching through an e-mail buried in a folder filled with thousands of messages? It can be a stressful process, especially for those of us who aren't the most organized, making it difficult to find exactly what we need.

This is where Google Desktop can be incredibly helpful. It's a free downloadable application from Google. Once installed, it goes to work by scanning and indexing all the files on your computer, doing this quietly in the background when your computer isn't busy with other tasks.

Google Desktop doesn't just index file names—it also searches through the content. So, if you can't recall the exact subject of an e-mail, but you remember it mentioned something about a sushi restaurant, you can simply search for the word "sushi" and the results will show you relevant files, including that e-mail. The results will look very similar to the search results you'd get from Google’s Web search engine, making it easy to find what you need.

Additionally, Google Desktop offers the option to add personalized Google Gadgets to your desktop. These gadgets pull in data from the Web and display it in a small window on your desktop. They can show you updates on weather, traffic, news, to-do lists, and more.

If Google Desktop doesn't provide enough information for your needs, you can always build a personalized Google homepage that pulls in data and applications from hundreds of different sources. This is the concept behind iGoogle, which we will explore in the next section.

2: iGoogle

You probably visit a handful of websites or use a few applications more frequently than others. What if you could gather all those websites in one place, enabling you to visit them all at once? That’s the idea behind iGoogle, a free Web service that acts as an aggregator or portal.

With iGoogle, users can pick from a variety of applications and news feeds across the Internet. Each user has the ability to customize their own iGoogle homepage. For example, sports enthusiasts can add widgets that display the latest scores and stats of their favorite teams right on their personalized iGoogle page.

Google provides users with easy tools to organize their personalized iGoogle pages. One such tool is the tab system at the top of the iGoogle page. Users can create tabs dedicated to specific categories, like apps or news feeds, making it simpler to find the information they need. After setting up their iGoogle homepage, users can sit back as the app takes care of the rest.

Though you can include Google services such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs on your iGoogle homepage, you're not confined to Google's own offerings. Third-party developers have built applications for iGoogle that allow access to a wide range of web-based programs. With the right add-ons, you can use iGoogle to tap into a variety of services, including:

The final product we’ll examine is perhaps the most contentious of all: an attempt to streamline the management of medical records. Learn more about Google Health in the following section.

1: Google Health

Switching doctors can be a challenging process. In addition to the usual stress of adjusting to a new provider, you also face the task of transferring your medical records from one doctor to another. This often requires you to rely on others to facilitate the transfer, and sometimes, you have to hope for their prompt response. Ensuring your new doctor has access to your full medical history is crucial for accurate diagnoses and effective treatment.

To address this challenge, Google offers a solution called Google Health, an electronic, centralized platform for storing your medical records. Your doctors can upload your files directly into Google's secure databases. Rather than tracking down physical paper records, your doctor can simply log in to a computer and access your entire medical history. No need to recall which doctor has your file.

However, some people are concerned about the security of this system. What happens if Google's security measures are breached, and sensitive medical data is accessed? Medical information is inherently personal, and the potential for misuse of this data raises concerns for some individuals. Others are uncomfortable with the idea of a third-party company having access to their complete medical history, even if the system is protected against hackers.

Google emphasizes the high level of security in its systems and prioritizes patient privacy. The goal of Google Health is to give patients control over their medical data. The platform is designed to empower individuals to stay informed about their health, allowing them to decide whether the benefits of convenience outweigh the potential risks.

That concludes our overview of ten Google products. If history is any guide, we can expect many more Google tools and services in the years to come. As long as there's disorganized information in the world, Google's work will continue.

If you're interested in exploring more about Google and related topics, check out the links provided on the following page.