10 Underrated Google Services You Should Try

The Hidden Depths of Google: Beyond the Search Bar

Despite presenting a remarkably simple search page, Google operates a vast and complex network of web services. This single search box acts as an entryway to a surprisingly intricate digital landscape.

How individuals interact with Google can dramatically shape their online experience, transforming it into a resource-rich environment or a source of distraction.

Uncovering Lesser-Known Google Services

A recent survey of our readership explored usage of Google services beyond the core Search function. The responses highlighted frequently utilized platforms, prompting us to compile a list of more obscure offerings.

Many of these services are either infrequently visited or seamlessly integrated into standard search results, leading to a lack of awareness.

Exploring the Uncommon

We’ve previously examined some of these tools individually or within broader compilations, such as our article on underappreciated Google services. Stepping away from the familiar can be refreshing.

This exploration of ten unique web destinations offers an opportunity to discover new functionalities before returning to commonly used platforms.

A Diversified Ecosystem

• Google’s apparent simplicity belies the breadth of its digital infrastructure.
• The integration of services within the search experience can obscure their individual presence.
• Discovering these lesser-known tools can enhance a user’s overall Google experience.

Google provides a diverse range of tools, extending far beyond its primary search engine. Understanding this ecosystem can unlock significant potential.

These services, while perhaps not essential for everyone, offer specialized functionalities that cater to a variety of needs.

Search Stories

Search Stories is an engaging platform that uniquely blends narrative with the everyday act of using Google Search.

Utilizing the Search Stories Video Creator

The platform’s core feature is the Search Stories Video Creator. This tool allows users to craft videos based on their Google search activity.

To begin, simply input seven distinct search queries performed using various Google tools. Then, select a suitable background track to complement your story.

Sharing Your Search Narrative

The creator offers the option to automatically upload your completed video directly to YouTube. This facilitates easy sharing and wider reach.

Search Stories can be particularly effective for conveying unconventional or unique messages. The platform provides a novel approach to communication.

Finding Inspiration

For those seeking ideas or examples, the site showcases a collection of existing Search Stories videos. These can serve as a source of inspiration for your own creations.

Explore the videos available on the site to discover diverse ways to utilize the tool and express yourself through search.

Movie Showtimes

Typically, users input a film's title alongside their city or zip code to retrieve showtime listings. Google Search commonly displays three featured films, accompanied by a link to view additional options.

The movie search functionality also exists as a dedicated page, prompting further exploration. This page allows users to examine ratings and reviews, as well as pinpoint locations directly on Google Maps.

Filtering Options

The results can be efficiently organized by several criteria. These include sorting by movies, theatre, day, and genre.

This digital method offers a significant improvement over traditional methods like consulting printed newspaper listings.

Google provides a convenient and comprehensive way to find movie showtimes.

The platform streamlines the process of discovering films and their screening schedules.

Users benefit from integrated features like map integration and review access.

3D Warehouse: A Resource for 3D Models

Google's 3D Warehouse is a valuable online repository, though its functionality has changed over time. It’s particularly useful for individuals with an interest in design and 3D modeling.

What is 3D Warehouse?

The 3D Warehouse serves as a library of pre-made 3D models. These models can be downloaded and utilized in various projects, most notably within Google SketchUp.

While the original experience has evolved, the core purpose remains: to provide a platform for sharing and accessing 3D content.

Features and Uses

The platform offers a diverse collection of models, ranging from simple shapes to complex designs. As an example, a search for "spaceship" yields a wide array of results, as demonstrated in the accompanying image.

• Reusability: Models downloaded from the 3D Warehouse can be directly incorporated into your own SketchUp projects.
• Creative Inspiration: The library serves as a source of inspiration for designers and hobbyists.
• Extensive Collection: A vast number of 3D models are available, covering a broad spectrum of categories.

For those engaged in 3D design, the 3D Warehouse represents a significant resource. It allows users to leverage existing work and accelerate their creative process.

Panoramio

The presence of geotagged images within Google Maps and Google Earth is often facilitated by Panoramio.

Users are able to utilize their existing Google account credentials to upload geographically-referenced photographs, with a storage capacity of up to 2GB.

These uploaded images become visible within designated layers in both Google Maps and Google Earth applications.

Photo Sharing and Licensing

Similar to other platforms dedicated to photo sharing, Panoramio empowers users with control over access permissions.

Individuals can choose to limit the visibility of their uploads or distribute them under the terms of a Creative Commons license.

Location-Based Search

Directly through the Panoramio website, users have the capability to conduct searches based on specific geographical locations.

Search results are presented in conjunction with an integrated Google Map interface, providing a visual context for the images.

A previous article on this topic was published last year by Mark. You can find it here.

Aardvark

Aardvark was a social question and answer platform that Google acquired earlier this year.

The service functioned by connecting user inquiries with individuals possessing relevant, direct experience.

How Aardvark Worked

Aardvark analyzed the content of submitted questions to determine their subject matter.

Following analysis, the system matched the question to users identified as having the expertise to provide a helpful response.

The platform leveraged various communication channels, including instant messaging (IM) and email, to facilitate these connections.

Aardvark also integrated with Facebook, expanding its network reach.

Response Times

Aardvark advertised rapid response times for user questions.

According to the company, the majority of inquiries were answered within a 5-minute timeframe.

Furthermore, Aardvark stated that the vast majority of questions received answers within 10 minutes, though this depended on the complexity of the query.

Google Sidewiki [No Longer Available]

Sidewiki functioned as a browser-based toolbar, accessible through a side swipe, enabling users to contribute comments and perspectives on any webpage visited.

Its functionality closely resembled the creation of web notes or annotations for online content deemed valuable – or conversely, questionable.

How Sidewiki Enhanced Web Browsing

Sidewiki augmented existing webpage content with supplemental information. This often directed users to additional resources shared by the community.

The platform also facilitated the sharing of user-generated comments directly to social media networks, including Twitter and Facebook.

Essentially, Sidewiki provided a collaborative layer atop the existing web, allowing for real-time discussion and contextual information.

Users could leverage Sidewiki to gain diverse viewpoints and insights related to the pages they were exploring.

It served as a means of collective intelligence, where the wisdom of the crowd could enhance the online experience.

Google Code Search

Google Code Search represents a valuable resource for software developers, offering a means to accelerate the process of product creation.

It also functions as an excellent educational instrument for those new to programming.

Functionality and Scope

Essentially, Google Code Search indexes publicly accessible code, frequently originating from Open Source software projects.

A common application involves locating exemplary coding implementations for specific programming languages.

Benefits for Developers

• Accelerated Development: Quickly find and reuse code snippets.
• Learning Resource: Study established coding practices.
• Open Source Focus: Primarily indexes publicly available code.

The service provides a direct pathway to understanding how particular tasks are accomplished by other developers within the Open Source community.

This can be particularly helpful when encountering unfamiliar functions or needing to implement a specific algorithm.

Use Cases

For example, a developer might utilize Google Code Search to discover how a specific data structure is implemented in Python, or to find examples of error handling in Java.

The tool’s ability to quickly surface relevant code makes it an indispensable asset in a developer’s toolkit.

Google News Archive

Most users are acquainted with Google News as a current events aggregator. However, a less well-known feature is the Google News Archive Search, providing a straightforward method for researching and examining historical news collections.

Exploring Historical Data

This archive offers a valuable timeline function. The timeline visually indicates periods when specific news stories received significant attention.

For researchers, interacting with the prominent blue peaks on the timeline can reveal a wealth of relevant information.

Accessing the Archive

The archive isn't hidden; it's readily accessible directly from the standard Google News webpage with just a few clicks.

This accessibility makes it a convenient resource for anyone interested in historical research or simply exploring past events.

The Google News Archive is a powerful tool for uncovering historical context and understanding the evolution of news coverage.

Google Fast Flip

Please note: This service is no longer available.

Google Fast Flip represented a unique approach to news consumption. This project, originating from Google Labs, aimed to replicate the experience of reading a physical newspaper online.

How it Worked

The core functionality of Fast Flip involved browsing news articles through a series of thumbnails. Users could quickly flip through these visuals, representing stories from their preferred Google News sources.

This "flipping" mechanism was designed to enhance the speed at which users could scan headlines and determine which articles to read in full.

Mobile Optimization

While a browser version existed, the mobile site of Google Fast Flip – accessible on both iPhone and Android devices – was considered by many to be a more effective implementation of the service’s core concept.

The mobile interface better suited the quick-scan, visually-driven nature of Fast Flip, providing a more intuitive user experience.

Ultimately, the goal was to provide a faster and more engaging way to stay informed about current events.

Google Sites

While platforms like WordPress and Blogger, another offering from Google, dominate the website creation landscape, Google Sites often remains a lesser-known option.

It's frequently overlooked, yet as a recent article highlighted, it provides a remarkably straightforward method for constructing a complimentary, versatile webpage, or even a site dedicated to family matters.

Simplicity and Utility

The appeal of Google Sites lies in its ease of use and rapid development process. This allows users to quickly visualize and structure content layouts before implementation.

Google consistently surprises with its diverse range of services. What underutilized Google tool do you believe deserves more attention?

Consider exploring the breadth of Google’s offerings to discover potentially valuable resources.

The platform’s accessibility makes it a viable choice for individuals and teams seeking a simple web presence.

It’s a practical solution for quickly establishing an online footprint without the complexities of more robust content management systems.