Google World Domination

Think Google think search? Well you better think again, is Google only a search engine with a bare minimum webpage? Put on your goggles and visit the Google labs the next time you visit Google.
The Google lab contains software (in their beta avatar) open to public users who can download and use their software. The Labs reflect a shared ethos between Google and its users that allows for public experimentation -- and for failure. People understand that not everything Google puts on view will work perfectly. They also understand that they are part of the process: They are free to tell Google what's great, what's not, and what might work better.
Google doesn't market itself in the traditional sense. Instead, it observes, and it listens. It obsesses over search-traffic figures, and it reads its email. In fact, 10 full-time employees do nothing but read emails from users, distributing them to the appropriate colleagues or responding to them themselves. Google didn’t market itself in the traditional way all the publicity it has received has been word-of-mouth from one satisfied customer to another one. The company has maintained the same approach in launching its software one after another no great fanfare, no glitzy ads or pop-ups the products have silently been launched. (The implication of this I will discuss in another blog.)

Since 2001, Google has acquired several small start-up companies, often consisting of innovative teams and products. One of the earlier companies that Google bought was Pyra Labs. They were the creators of Blogger, a weblog publishing platform, first launched in 1999. This acquisition led to many premium features becoming free. Pyra Labs was originally formed by Evan Williams, yet he left Google in 2004. In early 2006, Google acquired Upstartle, a company responsible for the online word processor, Writely. The technology in this product was used by Google to eventually create Google Docs & Spreadsheets. In late 2006, Google bought online video site YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock. Shortly after, on October 31, 2006, Google announced that it had also acquired JotSpot, a developer of wiki technology for collaborative Web sites.

World is nothing but a playground to the mighty Google. Today, Google has its hands in web search, email, online videos, calendars, news, blogs, desktop search, photo sharing, online payments, social networking, instant messaging, WiFi, word processors, web hosting, web browser, search tool bars, spreadsheets, discussion groups, maps and more.

Some of the new technologies unveiled by Google are presented here:

A new web-based mail service called Gmail, which at launch included a gigabyte of free storage for each user.

Google SMS enables people who are away from their computers to quickly and easily get instant, accurate answers to queries (like local business listings, dictionary definitions, or product prices) through text messaging, using a cell phone or handheld device such as a BlackBerry.

Google Groups, a new version of the venerable Usenet archive of 1 billion posts on thousands of topics that Google has managed since 2001.

Google Video a new project that captures the closed-caption information on TV programming and makes it searchable.

On October 14 2004 Google released the first version of Google Desktop Search, a small free downloadable application for locating one's personal computer files (including email, work files, web history, and instant message chats) using Google-quality search.

Google announced the acquisition of Keyhole Corp., a digital and satellite image mapping company based in Google's own headquarter town, Mountain View, Calif. The acquisition gave Google users a powerful new search tool to view 3D images across earth, and the ability to tap a rich database of roads, businesses and many other points of interest. Keyhole acquisition led to create Google Earth. This technology enables users to fly through space, zooming into specific locations they choose, and seeing the real world in sharp focus.

Google Blog Search, a tool to help people find lively content as soon as it's live on blogs around the world.

Google Reader in October that helps tame the flow of blog, web page, and news subscriptions we all seem to have. The Reader is a more friendly way to gather all the data bits in one screen, and is equipped to manage several flavors of "feeds."

Music search feature that delivers a mix of information on artists, titles, links to albums, reviews and where to buy information for a wide range of musicians and performers.

Google Pack – a free collection of safe and useful software for improving the web experience.

Google Talk, a free way to actually speak to people anytime, anywhere via your computer, featuring crystal-clear voice technology, plus an instant message service; and the next generation of Google Desktop, now offering at-a-glance access to your files, email, news, photos, weather, RSS feeds, stocks and other personalized web content.

AdSense for feeds, a way for every blogger to gain ad revenue by running targeted AdSense ads within the feed. As for Blogger, we continue to develop features, including the ability to post new items and photos from anywhere – even a mobile phone.

Google Analytics, formerly known as "Urchin" measures the actual results of online ad and marketing campaigns.

Google Print now renamed Google Book Search, which may more accurately reflect how people use it. And part of Book Search is their project to scan public domain books, which Google hopes will make them much more easily accessible to a global audience of readers.

Google News and Orkut are some of the beta offerings which are currently very popular with the users.

Phew………..