Google’s empire online: a kingdom with so many territories
Google’s empire online: a kingdom with so many territories
Google is no longer just a search engine. The latest project in its portfolio of services is an online payments system which aims to compete with auction giant eBay.
The service, known as Google Checkout, is just one of a series of online products launched by the California based company.
However, none of the new ventures launched over the past four years have established themselves as a market leader, reported online magazine Business Week.
1. Google Earth
3. Google Picasa
5. Google Spreadsheets
2. Google Talk
4. Google News
6. Google Video
GOOGLE EARTH
Google Mars allows users to explore the Red Planet
Google Earth combines satellite imagery and maps into an application that allows users to point and zoom to any location on the planet.
Users can search by location, landmark or by category such as schools, parks, or restaurants.
Various overlays allow people to see roads and tourist attractions.
Unofficial “mash-ups” combine the program with other data to provide interactive maps on everything from internet connections in Africa to new theme parks.
A similar program called Google Mars allows people to explore the Red Planet, while a French program, known as Geoportail, offers high-definition images of the country.
GOOGLE TALK
Skype is still the most popular VoIP service
Google Talk unites net telephony with an instant messaging (IM) network.
Based on the open software, known as Jabber, the program allows different IM systems to talk to one another.
Google entered the field of IM and VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) later than many of its rivals who already have an established user base.
In 2005, America Online had more than 40 million users on its AIM and ICQ instant messaging networks. Yahoo had 20 million users and MSN Messenger had 14 million.
Skype, the largest VoIP network, claims to have over 50 million users.
Google Talk ranks number 10 in the list of IM clients, with just 2% of the number of users for market leader MSN Messenger, according to net traffic firm comScore Media Metrix.
GOOGLE PICASA
Digital photography allows users to share photographs more easily
Google Picasa allows people to manage, share and organise their digital photos.
The program automatically catalogues all of the pictures on your PC and sorts them into searchable albums.
It also offers a series of tools, such as red eye correction, to manipulate digital snaps.
Photo sharing site Flickr already enjoys huge popularity, hosting millions of pictures.
The photo sharing site is now owned by Yahoo and allows users to tag images.
GOOGLE NEWS
The content is collected automatically by a computer
Google News compiles the latest headlines from more than 4,500 sources into a searchable index.
Users can search the news by keyword or set up alerts based on personal interests.
International versions of the site offer headlines in many languages, including Korean, Japanese and Arabic.
At the moment, the automatic search ranks the most recently published story highest. Critics say the results do not take into account the credibility of the source.
The service has recently been launched on mobile phones.
Gail MarksJarvis: Look early for college scholarships
Health insurance choice is critical after a job loss
Jim Mateja: At 40, Corolla’s a little wider, a little more solid
Bob Weber: GM V-6 leaks don’t happen in a vacuum
Foreclosure’s hidden victims
Stubborn mortgage rates defy conventional wisdom
Delay retirement if you must, but not enjoyment
Midyear a time to rebalance
Steve Johnson: Hypertext: Searching for meaning behind ‘Google Envy’
Try these 5 from Xbox Live Arcade or PlayStation Network
WiiWare, XBLA, PSN turn gaming on its head
What you need to access PSN, XBLA or WiiWare
Steve Johnson: Hypertext: High 5
Steve Johnson: Hypertext: Chicago Methods Reporter catches hold of a new wind
Steve Johnson: Hypertext: Steve Johnson’s Web Spin.
Some Web sites springing leaks
Steve Johnson: Hypertext: High 5
Steve Johnson: Hypertext: All praises to social networks
Steve Johnson: Hypertext: Steve Johnson’s Web Spin
When will Web TV blow us away?
Help me get connected to all of my electronics
GPS seen as way to aid abuse victims
‘Sims’ through the ages
Sim-ply stunning success
Paint dries, night falls; voice mail drones on
Finance executives moved in shake-up
Microsoft, Intel fund U. of I. research center
Eric Gwinn: Gadgets to help find your other gadgets
Will County hopes to go from waste to windfall
Investors look to health field
Piracy measure alarms colleges
Science group boils down need for breakthroughs
Factory extras: Installed viruses
Wikipedia starts to look a bit less wiki
Space station handyman gets 1st checkup
Astronauts link arms to robot handyman
New dimension to baby scan
Going online for therapy lite
Market for adult stem cells multiplies
Couples search online for spare wife
Joining in the worldwide gardening community
Clearer signals about HDTV
Online advice good in small doses
Circuit City connections a bit awry
… or just try the scientific Guinness
Strong demand boosts video game sales for February
Online shopping gender gap
Facebook sites face scrutiny for NCAA March Madness pools
AOL to buy social networking site Bebo
Facebook is doomed
Battle stations
Not all dating sites are created equal
Cell phones to ring up sales even in time of recession
Hulu opening its vault of TV shows, movies
Tapping your TiVo’s hidden talents
AP technology news
FTC opens formal probe of Intel chip business
Amazon.com Web site has problems for more than 2 hours
Gartner: Smart phone sales double in North America
New play explores what search reveals about us
Google puts CTA maps on mobile phones [Eric 2.0]
San Francisco abuzz ahead of WWDC [iPhone, Therefore I blog]
Need a Bluetooth earpiece? I have a suggestion [Eric 2.0]
High Five: Following John Tesh, suing Bill Murray, and improving both Bill Cosby and Garfield [Hypertext]
New Tom Cruise Web site aims to remake image [Hypertext]
Google Maps upgrade provides CTA routes via cell
Health insurance choice critical after job loss
At 40, Corolla’s a little wider, a little more solid
Eric Benderoff: ESPN remote = ultimate guy device
Gail MarksJarvis: Scholarship search should start early, reach beyond academics, athletics More most viewed
Gail MarksJarvis: Scholarship search should start early, reach beyond academics, athletics
Cuban says he will ‘pull out all the stops’ in bid to buy Cubs
Health insurance choice critical after job loss
Stubborn mortgage rates defy conventional wisdom
Phil Rosenthal: Tribune Co. faces big cuts, fast
GOOGLE SPREADSHEET
Google offers some alternatives to Microsoft software
The free, web-based spreadsheet application was launched on a trial basis in 2006.
The rival to Microsoft’s Excel program allows up to 10 users to work on the same spreadsheet.
The application is aimed at small business users.
Google recently bought Writely, an online word-processing application.
Along with its e-mail program, Gmail, its online calendar and the Google Desktop search tool, the company is increasingly competing with Microsoft’s Office software.
GOOGLE VIDEO
Apple offer video downloads through iTunes
Google Video is the company’s answer to Apple’s move into offering video through its iTunes download service.
Google’s version allows people to search for, buy and download films and TV programmes.
As part of the service, the search giant has done a deal with CBS to offer some of its big blockbuster hits, such as CSI and Survivor.
The Google upload service also allows users to upload their own videos to the site.
The services are offered as test, or beta, versions.
Online media company Yahoo offers a similar service.
Now you have visited Google’s empire online. How do you like it?
Related posts
Thank you for visting iflove.com, the fairy legend of Edward Chen the Movie Star! You may want to Find Love or subscribe to RSS feed. Enjoy or do a search!