The Secret’s Out!

Posted on August 29, 2008
Filed Under Business, David Waldman, Gmail, Gogimon, Google, Google Docs, Google Health, Google Suggest, Internet, Israel, Search, Searchbots, business trends, financial, high tech, search trends, technology | Comments Off

Internet marketing types have been trying to keep this a secret but now it is officially public knowledge. Google’s “Suggest” literally helps decide which word or words are a better option to search for. There were often huge numbers next to the words that Google never really explained. They certainly were not search queries for that word, they were most probably the amount of times Google’s robots had seen them on the various web pages they crawled. In any case “Suggest” has now become a default tool on all Google searches having graduated from the experimental to the full usage stage.

Many don’t know that Yahoo has long had this option as a default item on Yahoo searches but, who talks about Yahoo and Google together anymore? Google tests its tools to almost an obsessive point making sure it passes the most rigorous tests possible. As an example of Google’s fastidiousness, almost to absurdity, the Google e-mail system is still classified beta. It seems the whole world uses Google Gmail and is considered by many the most reliable e-mail program available. Nonetheless it is officially still in its beta phase and may stay there for along time yet. Many of the other tools Google has in its repertoire are very useful, steady, reliable but Google still considers them experimental.

Some of the interesting tools still in the experimental stage include Google Docs and Google Health. The former is very old while the latter is very new. Google Docs was an attempt to wrestle Microsoft’s complete control on computer documents like Word or Excel. Its free Open Source usage has tempted many to try out it with all its pluses and minuses.

Here Google has not managed to outdo Microsoft and many still prefer the original Word and Excel to Google’s version of these. One noteworthy feature of these tools, however, is both interesting and very useful at times. If more that one person is signed in to the same Google account everyone together can update a document and see in real time changes that are being made. This unique feature still hasn’t made a dent in Microsoft’s complete hegemony in this field, though. Of course it is all in Beta.

Google Health is another very necessary, interesting tool. Here’s how Google describes its purpose: “With Google Health, you can store and manage all your health information in one place. And it’s completely free. All you need to get started is a Google username and password.”

Google’s Beta tools, most often, clearly outshine everyone else’s finished products.

That’s just the way it is.

David Waldman

[Mr. Waldman is Managing Director of Gogimon Advanced Search Channel, an Israeli search startup]

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