Google Friends Newsletter - May 2005
Google Friends Newsletter
We didn't plan on having such a long hiatus from this newsletter, and
for that we apologize. Aside from other projects we've worked on
lately, we've revamped this newsletter. Each month from now on
you'll see an insider's roundup of Google tips, insights into our
products, plus stuff that inspires us.
And you might have noticed a new email address for Google Friends,
because we've moved the list to a newly updated and much-improved (if
we do say so ourselves) Google Groups.
Administrivia alert: There are new Google Groups Terms of Service for
subscribers to Google Friends. Please review them - see links at the
end of this newsletter.
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POWER TIPS
* If you're expecting a package, Google gives you an easy way to (a)
track it from the major shippers (UPS, USPS, FedEx), or (b) track it
even if you don't know the shipper. Both are possible with the number
tracking feature.
Number tracking:
http://www.google.com/help/features.html#number
* Go beyond standard categories (restaurant, hotel) in Google Local to
search more specifically for what you *really* want, such as [brick
oven pizza] or [inexpensive hotel] or [brunch "great view"].
http://local.google.com
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RECENT GOOGLE LAUNCHES
Google Desktop Search
This small (700k) application was built to help you find all kinds of
files on your own hard drive, including Office files, email, AIM chats,
PDFs, plus music, images, video, and more. (Windows only)
http://desktop.google.com
Google Local with Maps
A global search is fine, but there's nothing like local service
listings, business hours and directions when you're near home or on
the road. Now with dynamic maps and satellite views.
http://local.google.com
Customized News
Whether you're fascinated by Beyonce, the UN, cold fusion, or Lance
Armstrong, configure Google News your way to follow the stories and
topics of interest to you.
http://news.google.com
My Search History
This is a very handy way to locate web pages you found once and want to
see again.
http://www.google.com/searchhistory
Search for Movies, Weather, Stock Quotes
The Google search box accommodates more kinds of searches than ever.
Movies: http://www.google.com/help/features.html#movies
Weather: http://www.google.com/help/features.html#weather
Stocks: http://www.google.com/help/features.html#stock
Google Video
Search the closed captioning of TV programs to find cool quotes from
your favorite shows, or discover shows you didn't know were on. Learn
more about an individual program, see still images from it, and find
out when it will air next.
http://video.google.com
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MISCELLANY
"The long tail" is a provocative idea currently making waves in
business circles. The phrase, coined by Wired editor Chris Anderson,
refers to the greater market opportunity there is today for all kinds
of information, thanks to the Internet. Books needn't go out of
print, for example, and niche publishers have a much better chance of
finding a larger audience than they could before. "Small" films, TV
shows, and other content can now find more of an audience around the
world for longer periods of time than was previously possible. Google,
eBay, and Amazon are just three companies among many benefiting from
various effects of the long tail. Anderson is writing a book on this
topic, and his blog features real-world examples and comments from
thoughtful readers.
The Long Tail: www.thelongtail.com
The Google Blog features insights from Googlers on technology, our
products and the company at large.
http://googleblog.blogspot.com
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http://groups-beta.google.com/googlegroups/terms_of_service.html
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http://www.google.com/googlefriends/archive.html
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c 2005 Google Inc.