Which Google application/features is the most useful/interesting?

Link to us: http://sn.im/google-app-poll
The topic of our poll this week is quite interesting. It is on "Which Google application/feature is the most useful/interesting?" The poll is about the sub-application developed by Google, such as Google earth, Gmail, iGoogle and Google translator. The result is shown using a bar chart (which is link to Picasa) as below.
Link to Picasa - Poll result

Our poll question: Which Google application/feature is the most useful/interesting?
The result of the poll is:
A) Gmail - 44% (4 out of 9 votes)
B) Google translator - 22% (2 out of 9 votes)
C) iGoogle - 11% (1 out of 9 votes)
D) Google earth - 22% (2 out of 9 votes)


Gmail
What does Gmail mean? Gmail is actually a term for "Google web e-mail services". It is a commonly used free web-based e-mail service other than Hotmail, yahoo mail, window live, etc. It was open through invitation only when it was launched in their beta phase and was then released to the public later on. Gmail, which had 176 million users even at the beta phase, is popular due to its capability of storing data in the gigabytes, a function which gives the ability to search for a specific messages and rearrange the related messages automatically into a conversational thread. With an initial 1GB storage for users, Gmail increased the storage capability significantly from 1GB to 2.4GB due to competition from other email servers. Gmail now provides up to 7450MB of free storage and users are able to rent an additional storage at minimal cost.

"According to Google co-founder and president Larry Page, the company was inspired to create Gmail by a user's complaint about problems with existing Web e-mail services, such as the constant need to delete messages to stay within storage limits, and the lack of any searching ability."

Example of Gmail

Google translator
Like other language translating tools, Google corporation provides a powerful statistically-based machine translation service online which translates a text, document or a sentence from one language to another. However, there are some limitations of this tool. Although it helps users to understand the general contents of the translated text, it does not gives an accurate meaning. An obvious example is when it translates a Chinese text into English and vice-versa (which makes the sentences look weird). To avoid this problem, the service limits the number of words/paragraphs entered by users. This is because shorter sentences are less likely to get their meaning lost in translation.

An example of Google translator (inaccurate translation)

iGoogle

Like we mentioned earlier in the post entered by Jimmy, iGoogle is known as a Google personalized home page or "a smarter version of Google". It allows interaction between user and Google with a gadget known as "Google gadgets". Users can create their own web pages that display the Google search engine and themes through Google gadget.

The gadget which is customizable is as below:

• "Framed Photo" – displays a series of photos.
• "GoogleGram" – creation of special daily messages.
• "Daily Me" – displays user's current mood and feelings.
• "Free Form" – allows the user to input text and an image of their choice.
• "YouTube Channel" – displays videos from a YouTube channel.
• "Personal List" – allows the user to create a list of items.
• "Countdown" – countdown timer.

An image on iGoogle personalized skin

Google Earth

Google Earth is a useful and interesting desktop application which allows users to view the Earth in virtual 3D shapes. Users can navigate through the map in different views (perpendicularly down or at an oblique angle, with perspective "bird's eye view"). Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on the Earth to view satellite images, maps, terrains, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. It combines satellite photos and maps with Google search engine which allows user to look for a specific location, address and directions easily compared with a GPS (Global Positioning System) because the directions are virtually 3D, which look just the same as what we see of the real thing. Only 2D images are available to view a larger part of a map, from almost a vertical photography. The most interesting feature of Google Earth is viewing and exploring 3D rendering images of Mars and moon 3D terrains.

Features of Google Earth:

• Flight stimulator - A stimulator which runs with animation, providing a realistic experience.
• Sky mode - Allow users to view through stars, celestial bodies and galaxy.
• Street view - Provides 360-degree panoramic street-level views.
• Ocean view - Allows users to zoom below the surface of the ocean and view the 3D bathymetry beneath the waves.

An image of Google Earth beta version

According to the poll result, 44% of the respondents choose Gmail as their most useful and interesting Google application. I, too agree with their opinions because Gmail, unlike other applications, serves many of our purposes, to explore or for entertainment. With an additional storage of up to 7,250MB, Gmail is useful for handling important messages between one client and another. Hence, users are free from the annoying "full capacity" message in inbox and the need to delete old messages frequently.


We can also make full use of its storage by uploading our pictures, documents and files (ranging from 1MB to 7GB).It serves as our secondary storage, thus saving some hard-disk space on our computers. Gmail also has a function which allows users to search for related messages and re-arrange them automatically into a conversational thread.


To my surprise, 22% of the respondents' votes went to Google translator despite its shortcoming in that it cannot give an accurate translation. Still, the application should be credited for giving users a rough idea of of the sentences translated.


iGoogle has the least vote in this poll. I believe this is because the majority of the interest users do not know what its existence. Although iGoogle can be personalized by the user using Google gadget it is not preferable because it is just an application to ease the user and for visual enhancement purposes only.


Google Earth receives 22% of votes, which is same as Google translator. Google Earth provides virtual 3D shapes with different views. An interesting feature of Google Earth is that it allows users to explore Mars, moon terrain and even ocean 3D bathymetry beneath the waves. I think Google Earth is good for self-exploring and to watch an incident live through the satellite.

Do you think my post has removed most of your doubts or answered most of your questions on Google applications? Is my explanation simple enough and up-to-date?

Source:
Tech Target, [online], 2001
http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci958524,00.html
Memodata Corporation ,[online] , 2009
http://dictionary.sensagent.com/google+translate/en-en/
Marziah Karch, About.com
http://google.about.com/od/i/g/igoogledef.htm
Marziah Karch, About.com, [online], 2010
http://google.about.com/od/googleproducts/g/earthdef.htm

iGoogle Technology make your life even easier

Link to us : http://sn.im/igoogle-short-review

I believe that there are some of google’s users still don’t know what is iGoogle. iGoogle is one of useful services to make user more comfortable using google search engine. iGoogle is a modern start page personalized by users especially whoever have an Google account. Users can use this service by logging in into their Google Account. For those don't have any Google account still can use this service, but they unable save what they changed.

The short history of iGoogle, Sep Kamvar was founded a search company called Kaltix at Stanford. Google Inc. today announced it acquired Kaltix Corp in 30^th Sept, 2003.

“Google and Kaltix share a common commitment to developing innovative search technologies that make finding information faster, easier and more relevant,” said Larry Page, co-founder and president of Products at Google. “Kaltix is working in a number of compelling search technologies, and Google is the ideal vehicle for the continued development of these advancements.”

Google IG was launched by in May 2005, apparently came out of an offsite meeting for Mayer’s group in 2004. This service was renamed to iGoogle on 30^th April, 2007.

How iGoogle Technology can make their user’s life easier...??? First of all, users are able to personalize their iGoogle Homepage. It is possible to add web feeds, Google gadgets and read email. They are many useful gadgets you can add in into your iGoogle homepage. They are many categories of Gadgets, examples are News, Tools, Communication, Fun& games, finance, Sports, Lifestyle, and Technology. Some of the examples of Gadgets are Google news, Weather, To do list, currency converter, and many more. Google news gadget shows the latest news of selected topic. Using “to do list” gadget, users are able to list down their memos inside, users are able to group it into three categories, high, med, and low. Users are able to add some simple games too. Futhermore, all the contents can be arrange by drag & drop it.

To start the iGoogle go to this link: http://www.google.com/ig

Sign In if you have an account, so you could save your settings for future use.

Other way to go to iGooglr, you can click iGoogle switch on the Google classic home on the top-right corner as shown below...

(click on the image to clearer view)

That's it for my short review of iGoogle technology service to help Google's user who still don't know what is iGoogle.

For all readers, whoever has awesome gadget to share, please do leave comment...please... :P

and we are open for critics and suggestions too...please do comment...:P

(click on the image to clearer view)

Sources link:

Grey Sterling, Third Door Media ,[online] , May 1 2007

http://searchengineland.com/igoogle-personalized-search-and-you-11109
Google.com ,[online] ,2010

http://www.google.com/press/pressrel/kaltix.html

Behind Google technology (PageRank)

Link to us: http://sn.im/googlepagerank
In this era, many users uses Google as their search engine. Have you probably wonder what is behind that amazing technology? Have you asked yourself : what is Google PageRank? Is it so important for Google to function? Today, my post here will clear out the fog of uncertainty as you proceed to read this post. Here are some brief history about Google PageRank : PageRank has nothing to do with the webpage at all, it is actually name after Larry Page and Sergey Brin assist him in a research project about the new kind of search engine. The project started in 1995 and name is as Google after the prototype is functional.

Now, be sure to keep your mind alert because i am going to explain what is the function of the amazing Google PageRank. PageRank is actually used to calculate the page importance from the vote cast given to it. It is not the only factor that Google uses PageRank to determines a page ranking in a search, but it is an important one for Google. PageRank is a numeric value that represents the improtant a page is on the web. How important each vote is,is taken into account when a page's PageRank is calculated. Google noted that a page is linked to other page, which will effectively cast a vote for the other page which will decide the important's of the pages. In other words, PageRank results from a "ballot" among all the other pages on the World Wide Web.

How to calculated a PageRank?
- To calculate the PageRank formula is PR(A)=(1-d) + d(PR(t1)/C(t1) + ... + PR(tn)/C(tn)).
- Each inbound link is consider important to the overall total except banned sites which does not count inside.
- The 't1 - tn are the page that link to page A, and the 'C' is outbound link, for the 'd' is a damping factor, which usually will set at 0.85.
- I know the explanation and the equation is hard to understand and view by us, we can made the equation simpler for human being to understand with this calculation " a page's PageRank = 0.15 + 0.85 * (every page that link)"
- If the PageRank value is between PR1, PR2 until PR10 were equal then the final result will hold up, but many people believe that values between PR1 and PR10 are set on a logarithmic scale.

Is my information on Google PageRank is up to-date, calculation and explanation is easy to understand? Can you share with us the information about the calculation of Google PageRank if you know a simpler one?

Reference :
Phill Craven ,Webworkshop, [online]
http://www.webworkshop.net/pagerank.html
Goingup.com[online], 2006
http://www.goingup.com/pagerank/pagerankwork.html
Danny Sullivan , Third Door Media ,[online] ,Apr 26 2007
http://searchengineland.com/what-is-google-pagerank-a-guide-for-searchers-webmasters-11068#definition

Is Google a web 2.0 application? (poll result)

Link to us: http://sn.im/pollresultweek2
Similar to the poll of week 1, we have collected a few result from the poll we change since Thursday. In this analysis, we will still be using "Picasa" as our image hosting website. However we will be using bar chart since the poll result only consist of 2 answer for the ease of the public.

Link to our poll result: poll result
Our poll question is on - (Is Google a web 2.0 application)
The following will be our result:
A) Yes - 92% ( total of 11 vote)
B) No - 8% (total of 1 vote)

I would like to thanks the public who participate and vote for our poll to give us their opinion on "Is Google a web 2.0 application." From the result stated above, we could clearly see that most of the public 92%(11 vote out of 12 votes) agrees that Google is a web 2.0 application.


           "Originally in 2004, Web 2.0 was referred to as this idea of the "Web as a platform".The concept was such that instead of thinking of the Web as a place where browsers viewed data through small windows on the readers' screens, the Web was actually the platform that allowed people to get things done."           

What is web 2.0? I doubt many of the public are not familiar with this term, however i think it is common among those who major in information technology courses. Web 2.0 often refers to 2nd-generation of internet based applications (between the period of 2004). From my point of view, I agree with the majority that Google is definitely a web 2.0 application because it contains the features such as web as services, not package software which is certainly free of charge and is available/ready 24 hours for end-users to use. It is now complete with many features such as blogs, Google map (uses Ajax which make the application really takes off), and Google translator. Google also reflects the features of web 2.0 such as collective intelligence - (contents get richer as more users uses them) hence users can collaborate and share information online in perceived new ways unlike the previous version "web1.0" which only allows the host to share their information to the users. In another term, it means that users as co-developers and Google as the center of massive collective information.Web 2.0 application also offers interactive GUI(Graphic-User-Interface),added graphic, text, video and colors which oppose the previous version which is just about text and colors. There is a total of 8% vote for no on this poll, i think this is because the voters does not understand the meaning of web 2.0? or he/she may refers to the old version of Google in that era. Is my information correct and satisfying? Did i give much information on web 2.0? Please leave a comment.

Google Technology

Link to us: http://snipurl.com/google-technology

Nowadays, Google is one of the most powerful search engines on the World Wide Web. Google was defined by co-founder Lary Page and Sergey Brin, incorporation since September 4, 1998.

Google search technology using software to conducts a series of simultaneous calculations requiring only a fraction of a second. PageRank technology is considering more than 500 million variables and 2 billion terms. Google search technology used more than 200 signals including PageRank technology to examine the entire link structure of the web and show the most important pages who receive a higher PageRank. Hypertext-Matching Analysis used to analyzes the full page content of a page and factors in fonts, subdivisions and precise location of each word. By combining overall importance and query-specific relevance, Google search technology is able to show most relevant and reliable results first.

Google querying normally just took less than half a second.

(http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/tech.html)

Source link :
Google.com , 2010 , [online]

http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/tech.html
Google.com , 2010 , [online]

http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/facts.html
Woopidoo.com [omline]

http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/larry-page/index.htm
Woopidoo.com [omline]

http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/sergey-brin/index.htm

Introduction to our blog

link to us: http://sn.im/introductiontogoogle-tech
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to our blog (Google Technology Today), we hope you all enjoy and have a fun viewing our blog. Although this blog is for our project purpose, but we will try our best to give the best, latest and most updated information about Google Technology to the public. We will update our blog frequently - ( 3 post per week) for 10 weeks.

Our main objective is to bring more awareness about what really is behind Google's amazing technologies so the public understand how Google functions, despite the fact that Google is just a search engine for most of the users. Our sub-objective is to make our blog sound interesting and irresistible even for a break. However to achieve our objective, we also plan some strategies in-order to make our objective run smoothly. The strategies used in our blog is - we always plan ahead of time (week 1 to week 10) so that our blog always have information about Google Technology to be published successfully. Of course teamwork is important in a project, that's why each of our member must be responsible for their research, maintain the blog, and update frequently.

So before we start defining Google Technology, we would like to recommend the public to visit our About Us to know more about our objective, purpose, and target audiance so the public will know better about our personality.

From,
Google Technology members.
We whole-heartedly welcome everyone to read and comment on our blog. Rules and moderation are enforce in this blog to avoid spam and unneccessary comment. Thank you.

Analysis

Link to us: http://sn.im/week1pollresult  
To make our analysis look more tidy and meet our specific requirement for our project, we decided to embedded a link which leads to a photo sharing website (Picasa) for the public to view our pie chart about our previous poll result.
Please kindly visit our link:
Poll result

Our last poll question is on - ( Do you think Google is the best search engine ever created?)
The result is as follow:
A) yes,definitely (50 % vote)
B)No,i disagree (13% vote)
C)For now,yes (31%)
D)I have no idea's whats Google is(6%)

The result of the poll is many of the users agree that Google definitely is the best search engine ever created compare to other search engines such as: Bing, Yahoo, and ask.com.This is because Google has an interesting interface when it come's to design, because Google will change it's look of it's homepage on different festivals or occassion. Other than the interesting interface they offer, Google is popular because Google usually comes with the web browser installation which come by default. Hence, many user which is lazy will just use the default search engine.Google also provide a quick and systematic search which allows user to get the most accurate and updated answer through the search.Google is also good at maintaining their sites which ensures that it's web availability is 24 hours ready. In this poll, 13% of the public disagree with Google as the best search engine. I think this is because different users like to use different search engine, different users have different taste. 31% voted Google is currently the best search engine because technology is so advance that once day it will be replaced by a better search engine. However, to my dissapointment, there's a total of 6% of the users do not know what Google is, this may be the result of some users only live in their own box and decline to search and explore the web(lack of exploring skills). Do you think my analysis is accurate? Readers are welcome to give some comment about this blog .