Google (GOOG) is so vast that it's hard to keep up. But it's not just search, or even the new Web-based apps, which is extending the tentacles of the search-engine giant into territory beyond the reach ofMicrosoft ( MSFT). Here are 5 lesser-known but nevertheless interesting Google tools, code snippets, and professional tech training materials. Before I get to the list, some musings on how Google approaches product development, which is certainly unlike any other company. On the one hand, Google is incredibly retro in its research model; it's like the old Bell Labs, or IBM when it was in its glory days. You've got engineers, programmers, and PhDs of various specialties working on stuff, with little or no pressure to produce stuff that can be monetized. However, whereas Bell Labs or IBM (IBM) keep projects in their respective labs—and many never saw the light of day--until they were refined into a commercial product with a clearly defined market, that concept seems to be alien to Google. The search-engine giant rolls out anything and everything, from the tiniest Java widget to the biggest app (like Google Earth), and everything in between. This is vexing on several fronts. First off, Google seems to give little guidance as to how "baked" something is. (As is, in it half-baked or fully cooked?) At least with Microsoft, there's a clear model: The first release of a product is bit rough, with improvements to come in the first service pack. Secondly, Google gives no hints as to where its thousands of projects might ultimately take the company. Sure, the search business is throwing off so much money that Google can pursue this take with nary a care about its bottom line. And we know that Web apps, followed by mobile (gPhone anyone?) are the next big areas after search. Probably, Google itself doesn't know where it's headed, and its leadership believes that this "throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks" model is a far better way to pick winners and losers than to make bets internally. They're probably correct about this. I guess I shouldn't complain. Google has so much stuff going, that there's always something to peer into. Plus, its model of releasing anything and everything provides us all with universal, and usually free, access to the fruits of its research. the rest of the article here for the 5 Cool Google Tools http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/09/5_cool_google_t.html
Nice cutting and pasting, but you forgot to cut and paste in the part about the 5 tools. Is flight simulator going to make me rank better? If I see a thread on DP about google tools then I'd expect to read about some tools related to Google.