An other way to work and collaborate
Dozens of tools, all free
When most of us hear the word “Google”, online search engine comes to mind. Google is more than just a search website, it is a very active company where thousands of very smart people work very hard every day to re-imagine the way we work, communicate, find and organize information. We are going to focus today on just a few out of the dozens of products Google has created for all of us and offered absolutely free of charge:- Google Maps and Google Earth (maps.google.com and earth.google.com )
- Google Documents (http://docs.google.com )
- Gmail (mail.google.com )
- Google Reader (reader.google.com )
- Picasa (picassaweb.google.com )
- Blogger (www.blogger.com )
- and if we have time:
- Google Calendar (www.google.com/calendar )
One Log in For Everything
You need a Google account!
Yes, with one log in, you have access to all existing Google products, and the same log in and password will be used for all future products created by Google. Once you’re in, you are part of the family. The registration is easy and asks the usual standard questions (an email address, first/last name, country, and agreement to their terms.How do you get an account?
Go to any of the above mentioned google website, and below the sign-in box, click on “create an account”, and follow the online instructions. That’s it, your are done.
Google Maps
Where?
http://maps.google.comWhat?
Google maps is an online program that enables you to search and map any geographical location on the planet. Google maps offers a great number of information layers that can be overlaid on top of the geographical map:- Satellite images
- Terrain
- Traffic
- User generated custom maps (can be saved and shared)
Google Earth
Where?
On your computer (if not, download it from http://earth.google.com )What?
Google maps on steroids. You need to see it to believe it. Uses the power of your computer to offer maps and navigation in three dimensions. Multiple and custom layers of information available as well. Google Earth connects to the Internet to receive information.Google Documents
Where?
http://docs.google.comWhat?
Think Microsoft Office online. Less bells and whistles but more cooperation.Google Documents offers:
- Word processing
- Spreadsheets
- Presentations (like PowerPoint)
Gmail
Where?
http://mail.google.com (www.gmail.com will work as well)What?
Gmail is the all-powerful online email program created by Google. Like all other Google Tools, Gmail is free, but come to a price. The text of your emails is analyzed by computers and you are fed add on your main email list. Well, they have to get their money from somewhere...With Gmail, you leverage:
- the power of Google's search engine applied to your emails
- virtually no storage limit, you never need to delete an email again
- a pretty good spam filter
- a nice address book
- the faculty to setup other email clients to send and receive from your gmail account (very handy with the iPhone)
Google Reader
What?
A Feed Reader, or "Reader" is a tool that aggregates feeds from multiple sources conveniently in one organized space. There are many different feed readers available and Google Reader is one of them.Where?
http://www.google.com/reader/ Picassa Web Albums
What?
They are really to products here: Picasa and Picasa Web AlbumsPicasa is for Windows only and I will not cover it. Picasa Web Albums is an online tools and works perfectly on a Mac. It enables you to store, organize, and display images online.
