10 Underrated Google Services You Should Try

Often Overlooked: 10 Google Services Deserving More Attention

When surveying a diverse group of internet users regarding Google’s offerings, discussions typically center around popular services like Gmail or Google Search. However, fewer individuals are aware of features such as customized RSS feed creation within Google News.

Here are ten Google services that often go unnoticed:

(1) Google Labs

This platform serves as an online testing ground for new Google products, offering beta versions to the public for feedback. Users are encouraged to share comments and suggestions directly with the Google team, and personal responses have been known to occur.

Contributing to Google Labs provides a direct avenue for influencing the development of future Google products. Rather than simply complaining about issues, users can proactively offer constructive criticism.

(2) Google Pack

Designed for those less familiar with software installation, Google Pack provided a curated software package. While the specific program list is available here, it offered a starting point for new internet users.

(3) Google Translate

This service facilitates the translation of text and entire webpages into eleven different languages, even accommodating variations like simplified and traditional Chinese. While not always perfectly accurate due to the nuances of language, it can be invaluable for overcoming language barriers.

For example, Google Translate could assist in understanding online shops in other countries.

(4) Google Co-op

Google Co-op empowers users to refine Google search results by creating custom search engines. Furthermore, website owners can contribute information as a subscribed link, and subject matter experts can categorize search data for others to utilize.

This represents another opportunity for user-generated input to enhance the quality of search results.

(5) Google Code

Geared towards developers, Google Code provides access to source codes and developer APIs for creating mashups with Google products.

(6) Google News

While a long-standing service, many users may not realize the customization options available within Google News. Users can tailor the page to display only relevant news and establish customized RSS feeds for specific topics.

The news archive also allows access to older stories, some available for free and others requiring a subscription.

(7) Google Patent Search

Businesses and inventors can utilize Google Patent Search to determine if an invention is already patented. This tool provides access to patent applications, helping to confirm originality before proceeding with development.

(8) Google Blog Search

This service is a valuable resource for discovering blogs on specific subjects. It allows users to find content related to their interests and expand their RSS reading lists.

(9) Google Alerts

Google Alerts monitors the web for mentions of specified keywords and sends email notifications when matches are found. This is useful for tracking online reputation, monitoring brand mentions, or staying informed about specific topics.

Individuals and businesses can use this to stay informed about what is being said about them online.

(10) Google Catalogs

Google Catalogs offered a digital browsing experience for scanned pages of catalogs and magazines. This allowed users to discover products from various retailers without the need for physical catalogs.

Do you know of any other underappreciated Google services? Share your thoughts in the comments below.