Google launches four new tools

By Steve Malone

Posted on 11 May 2006 at 10:27

Google has introduced another set of online tools aimed at improving the search process for its visitors.

The four new tools launched yesterday build on Google's strategy of providing ways to allow developers to add their own applets to the services but also building on the growing trend towards community shared information.

A new version of Google Desktop 4 introduces Google Gadgets. These new applets are similar to Apple's Dashboard widgets. Gadgets are mini applications which can include games, media players, or buttons to access personalised weather and news. Google says that the new version of Desktop can also recommend new gadgets. It can also create a personalised homepage for users based on the topics they frequently search and access. Google says it hopes other developers will add their own Gadgets to the library of available applications.

In response to the security concerns raised on the previous version of Desktop, Google now allows network administrators to disable Search across Computers on both the consumer and enterprise versions of Desktop 4 at the network level by blocking access to specific URLs.

Google Co-op is designed to bring a human element to the business of search. Visitors are able to 'subscribe' to another person's recommendations in search. When the visitor makes a search on a relevant topic, the recommendations will feature high in the list of results - a kind of Page Rank on the micro scale. It's in a similar vein to Yahoo!'s MyWeb service that allows users to influence search results on the basis of bookmarks tagged by trusted buddies and other users.

Google Co-op is available today on all English language Google domains including the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US.

Another new feature building on the Google service Zeitgeist is Google Trends. Visitors can track the popularity of a particular keyword or topic over time and read any news reports relating to the topic. The tool is likely to prove a hit with search engine marketers and researchers looking to spot cultural movements.

Finally, the company is introducing Google Notebook: a clipboard cum scratchpad for searchers which is available from any computer. The tool allows users to cut text, images, and links from the pages they have visited and save them onto their online notebook. The contents of the Notebook can also be shared with others.

Google Notebook will be available next week.

The new applications raise the stakes further in the current online war between Google and Microsoft as they expand beyond plain search to provide must-have tools to attract and keep their visitors.