We all use Google products like Google Search, Googlemaps, Gmail, Googlevoice and even Google Buzz, but there are other great products that you may have forgotten all about. Some Google products have received very little attention and others have been taken down, Google Wave for example, and others have just been overshadowed. Some of these services are very useful, while others are just plain fun.
Here are 5 Google products you have probably forgotten all about:
Google Code Search allows you to search for strings public source code. There is a handy list of commands that can help you narrow down your search by language and license. Although this product is really only useful to programmers, it can help sort through the Internet to find specific strings of open source code
According to their site, “Google Base is a place where you can easily submit all types of online and offline content, which we'll make searchable on Google (if your content isn't online yet, we'll host it for you). You can describe any item you post with attributes, which will help people find it when they do related searches.” Although the site has recently changed into two sections, one for the traditional Google Base and the newly created Google Merchant Center, you are still able to make your search more data specific, for example you can search for vacation properties by number of bedrooms or specific location.
Page Creator is an easy to use, free, online wysiwyg page builder. It is simple enough for almost anyone to use it to create their own web pages and Google even throws in 100MB of storage for free. It is a great product for making simple websites and doesn't require you to download a large program.
So, Google may not be a leader in video game development, but they do have a flight simulator hidden inside Google Earth. To access the game, hit Ctrl+Alt+A (Mac users: Cmd+Opt+A) when you are using Google Earth. You can select your airplane and your airport and start flying. No pilot lessons are required, but to get familiar with the commands, there is a guide that can get you started.
Google SketchUp is a free download that allows anyone to create virtual 3D models. From architecture to just remodeling your living room, you can plan out a completely three dimensional model. It is easy to use, and fun for kids to design a spaceship or whatever structure they can imagine.
This list isn't complete by any means. There are so many products that haven't received much attention that are worth checking out. For example, I love GoogleMoon, GoogleMars and GoogleBooks.
What are your favorite Google products?
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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