Google started as an ordinary search engine in 1998, but it has managed to expand the meaning of web search. It had organized the world of online research by putting up search pages focused on particular areas like: Images, Scholarly Articles, News, Maps, and Videos.
1. Google Image Search – Use this when you are researching for images online. Google has claimed that their service in image search is the most comprehensive on the web. Aside from that, Google allows you to narrow down your query. You can restrict image results according to their sizes: large, medium, or small. Or create more criteria by using the Google advanced image search options.
2. Google Scholar –This is an ultimate online buddy for students writing thesis, or writers searching for trustworthy sources, or to any users searching for any scholarly literature on the web. Search results can include papers, abstracts, and citations. Unlike other Google services, Google scholar thoroughly examine the scholarly articles. They weigh “the content, the author, the publication in which the article appears, and how often the piece has been cited in other scholarly literature.” (source: About Google Scholar)
3. Google News –This is a computer generated news aggregator, conducted similarly with the idea of Page Ranking. Since its beta stage in 2002, Google News faced different controversies. It came out of beta in January 2006. With Google News, users can sort the search results according to the date the news was published, news source, news location.
In June 2006, the search results became more extensive when Google added the News Archive Search Feature, wherein the user can get news results even 200 years way back, and may even show users a timeline. The user can sort it too by language, and price.
4. Google Maps –This is a very valuable map application from Google. Google Maps allows you to find specific locations quickly. You can find restaurants, hotels, schools, churches etc. Just type in an address, or an intersection, or restrict your query by entering keywords related to the place you are looking for. Since you can zoom in or zoom out the map, you will get a greater idea on the place you are looking for. You can also get driving directions from Google Maps, or plot your establishment in the online map.
Other interesting thing to do with this application is you can have a tour of the world in front of your computer. Try Google Maps UK and Google Maps Canada, and you will be amazed how comprehensive the maps are.
5. Google Video – If you’re looking for videos, then search it on Google Video. Since Google has acquired Youtube, search results would be comprehensive since it will include videos from YouTube, and other hosting services. Users from around the world can easily upload their video clips and share these to other online users. These uploaded videos may be viewed free or with charge like television programs and independent films. To download, or to save, or to embed the Google videos in other web sites will depend on the on the one who uploaded the video; If the uploader gave these options.
Alongside with Google Video, Google used to offer Google Video Player for free download but it is no longer available since August this year, according to an article in Wikipedia. Flash Videos were the only videos that Google Video Player display.
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