Search giant, Google.com, recently expanded their reach yet again by offering new and expanded services going far beyond simply searching the Internet for relevant information.
Jumping on a growing bandwagon already teaming with millions of active users, Google now offers its own SMS search service to allow mobile phone users access to their database.
Google also released “Desktop 2,” a personal information manager that resides on your desktop to organize everything from rss feeds and stock quotes, to photos and the weather.
Make no mistake, though Google seems to possess an uncanny ability to make things useful and “cool,” these latest offerings represent Google staking out territory on your desktop against rivals Microsoft and Yahoo!
Google Expands Desktop
Originally, the Google Desktop program simply organized your files, emails and web searches into one place.
When you looked from a certain file or topic on your system, the program returned relevant results from files on your hard drive, email correspondence, and past web search history.
The new version of Google Desktop expands significantly over the original version by including a host of new services designed to create your own “personal information manager” right on your computer’s desktop.
Probably the most obvious change is the “Sidebar,” which makes a significant new addition to the tool.
The Sidebar allows you immediate access not only to information on your hard drive, but to specialized online information based on your preferences and viewing habits.
The Sidebar also incorporates an RSS feed reader, making it extremely simple for even complete novices to subscribe to and read news feeds from the web.
Many would think this one feature of a simple rss reader represents a direct step to grab the general consumer before Microsoft can launch their Longhorn browser (which will contain an rss reader).
Other additions include a news ticker, real time stock quotes, photo viewer, quick-find feature with the ability to launch programs just by typing in a few letters, and a scratch pad.
Google definitely upgraded this previously limited program to create a very handy personal organizer for your computer’s desktop. Log on to http://desktop.google.com to download a free copy.
Google Goes Mobile
If you fall into the over-30 age range, you probably didn’t know that “SMS” stands for “Short Message Service.”
Yet SMS comprises one of the fastest growing areas of all communication on the planet.
Millions of people use SMS on their cell phones to communicate as well as gather information.
Log on to http://www.google.com/sms/ to discover how Google can now help you get information through your cell phone fast and free.
Get everything from driving directions, local business listings, and movie showtimes to local weather conditions, dictionary definitions and even product pricing.
Imagine walking into a store, spotting an item you want to buy, and before purchasing it know exactly how much you could snag it for online.
Picture yourself in an unfamiliar town and getting driving directions to the local Walmart. Google also operates a new home page just for mobile users at http://www.google.com/mobile/.
Watch for this area of online services to expand massively in the near future.
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist & creator
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