5 Great Google Uses you didn't Know

Did you know there are great uses of Google in addition to plain web search?  When you want to search for information in the cyber world, Google.com is there at the back of your mind, always.  Google doesn’t stop at giving you just the search results at a rocket speed.  This search engine also has a range of other services you would find it so useful that you’ll give it a big thumbs up!  Here are the five great uses of Google:

1.  Google Alert

Say you’re a chef and want to keep a tab on the information on new recipes.  Let Google track this topic for you!  Use Google Alert to get alerts on the topics of your choice.  This great Google use sends you e-mail every time it finds new information on the web, blogs, video, and others.  Now, isn’t that cool?

Registration to this service is simple.  Access google.com/alerts, fill-in the few fields, including that of key words and e-mail address, and click Create Alert.  Google asks you to confirm your e-mail ID.  After you do that you’re all set to receive the most current news.  Google also allows you to modify and delete alerts.

2.  Google Calculator

Ah, you’ll like this!  If you don’t have your physical calculator handy, don’t worry – the online calculator is just a Google away and more powerful.  Did you know that Google search box works as a calculator?  Try it out: Say you want to know how much 73 percent of 1256 is.  Type, 73% of 1256, and press Enter.  You’ll get the result in a flash.

Google search box works as a converter too!  How much is $14 in Japanese Yen?  For the answer, type, 14 USD in yen, and click Search.  Google instantly makes the conversion.  Google search box has other uses too:  Want to know the weather forecast for the next four days in New York City? Just type, weather new york city.  Google displays the data using a combination of graphics and text.  Get the full scoop of all the tips at google.com/help/features.html.

3.  Google Sites

With this service, you don’t have to be a pro in creating web sites.  Use one of the Google templates, fill in the content, and your site can be ready in minutes, and it’s free!  Who can use this service?  Anyone who has a company or college/school e-mail address benefit from Google Sites.  Sign up for this service at sites.google.com; again, the registration is quick and simple.

Project leaders, for example, can create a Google Site and use it as a one-stop resource for all involved in the project to collaborate, communicate, and get the latest updates.  A high school teacher can use this service, among others, to post assignments and allow students to ask questions.  And yes, only those who have your permission can access your site.

4.  Google Labs

Are you curious to know what new projects Google is working on?  Then, head to labs.google.com.  Here you’ll find a more than a dozen projects in the developmental stage.

Let’s look at the Experimental Search project.  How is this search different from the ‘traditional’ search?  In the new method, you can view search results in three new views: Info, Timeline, and Map!

In the Info view, you’ve the option to filter results by dates, measurements, locations, and images.  Say you searched for the term ‘e-learning’, you’ll see the four filters to the right of the results page.  If you wish to see the images for each item in the list, click Images.

For those who want to know of India’s freedom struggle (event) or about the scientists James Watt/Marie Curie (people), for example, the Timeline mode works best.

Use the Map view to see on the map, the location, a city or country, mentioned in the search result items.  With this option, you can pan the map, and to have fun, click the Satellite/Hybrid button to zoom-in on a city and view the roads, vehicles, and buildings.

5.  Google Advanced Search

Do you get too many results when you search for information?  Try the advanced search features of Google for precise results.  Here are the steps:

Click the Advanced Search link next to the Google search box.  A form to customize your query displays.  Of the various fields in this form, to illustrate, let’s use the one that allows phrase search.

Say you want to search for the phrase marketing in the Internet era.  Type the phrase and click Advanced Search.

To compare the results of this search with that of a ‘typical’ search, access the form again and delete the phrase.  Then, in the first field of the same form, enter the same keywords and search again.  Look at the numbers: The Advanced option gave you just a few items, but the second one gave you a whooping number of items  in the result list!

You can also conduct complex searches with the Advanced Search form.  Say you want to search for pages with the phrase “marketing in the Internet era” and either of the keywords “ecommerce” or “transactions”.  Type the phrase in the phrase field, and type the two keywords one each in the boxes just below that field.

Notice how Google automatically fills the top-most field, as you type your phrase/keywords in the various boxes.  Here’s a tip:  Once you become familiar with the syntax for advanced searching, you can directly type the query in the search box of the Google home page – no need to use the form.  If, however, you wish to use features, such as “Results per page” and “Language”, you will still need to use the Advanced Search option.