Google

I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We’ve created life in our own image. - Stephen Hawking

I worry about my child and the Internet all the time, even though she’s too young to have logged on yet. Here’s what I worry about. I worry that 10 or 15 years from now, she will come to me and say ’Daddy, where were you when they took freedom of the press away from the Internet?’ -Mike Godwin

Note: This review details only about the Google.com portal. This does not cover Gmail, Answers, News and all.

INTRODUCTION

Google has become synonymous with search. Google is the sole reason I am writing in this site. I am sure there are many other members in this site who owe it to Google for the discovery of MS. I am crazy about getting information. I like to keep myself up to date with the happenings around the world. Google is what I use the most, although I use other search engines too, albeit sporadically. Not a day goes by wherein I do not use Google. If I do not use it, it is either because I am on a vacation with no possible access to Internet or I am insane. Considering the first impossibility, it is likely the latter. Google had signs of innovation and excellence attached to it, from the word Go. Whenever I come to think of excellence, Google is one word that comes to my mind. The beauty of using Google is simply exceptional. Google has come a long way from being a search engine to a full-fledged portal status it is aiming for currently.

With Google you have 4, 285, 199, 774 pages at your fingertips. You may have to be a little selective, when it comes to better search (More about it later as well as in comments).

GOOGLE – A HISTORY

Google was started by couple of Stanford Ph.D Students, Sergei Brin and Larry Page when they were doing some research for efficient search algorithms. BackRub, as it was originally known, became a reality in 1996 and the technology was perfected in 1998, all the while they were Ph.D Students. Since 1998, there was no turning back for Google. Yahoo!, which moved to inktomi, knocked the doors at Google soon. No one could match the technology that Google had. Though there are better search engines for specific types of searches, nothing comes even closer to Google in technology. I shall forward you for, More history go and see @ https://google.com/corporate/history.html

GOOGLE – ANALYSIS

Google is primarily known for

Θ World Class search engine – Best in the world. No doubt in my mind, with the best algorithm they have

Θ Nice Image Searches

Θ Exceptional Search options and additional information associated with searching

Θ You can search based on Calculation symbols, Definitions & Acronyms (use define), File Types (use filetype:DOC), Froogle catalog search, Feeling Lucky option, Local search based on a location, News search, phone numbers, search by UPS, FedEx numbers, Patents, VINs etc, . They also have Map search, Stock Quote Searches

Θ Searches in local languages

For how to search, go to https://google.com/help/index.html

Θ Exceptional News updates (Google News!) – This was developed by a Google Scientist (an IITian), Krishna, who had tough time gathering information about 9/11. I love it and feel that news.google.co.in is far better than some achaar.com.

Θ Exceptional Language tools (Probably not perfect!) ( Being in Montreal, I come across a lot of French documents, I use Google a lot to get a better idea!

Θ Very good directory services (was useful to me when I was in US)

Θ 1 GB Free Email in Beta testing mode. It has searches on the content, index tagging and searching as well as sort of AI based tagged information search. It uses an adaptive preferences algorithm(<<SIGH> Sort of brings back my memories of Adaptive Vector Quantization I did for my UG project on Image compression) to suit your preferences(Woo hoo!)

Θ Exceptional Deskbar and Search Bar

Θ Google Sets that uses snowballing algorithm like search features

Θ Leaders in Web Logging facility – https://blogger.com is the best in the world.

Θ Compute, Wireless and Web Alerts are some other exceptional features. If you have Gmail, you can manage all of them at a single shot.

Θ Beta version of Voice based search by Google Labs

Well, well, well. I can go on and on and on. There are something money cannot search, for everything else, use Google search, to say it in a MasterCardish way.

Google is geeky

I shall give the ratings for the various online browsing features before I delve into pros and cons of the site.

Ratings

Θ Website load time, Site experience, Site Navigation, Features, Content Timeliness , Site Performance, Security   - all of them get ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ stars

Are you kidding me, all of them gotta get 5 stars.

PROS or Well Done

♣ Just about everything. I am definitely not biased. They are the leaders and I just hope they do not get cluttered by going the Yahoo! Way.

CONS or That’s not goods

♠ Too simplistic front page! for a site its might. (That’s classy too!, in a way)

♠ No nice site map in the front page!

♠ Some of the tools are not self-explanatory and you may have to click and read help to use it

♠ Some of them are kind of geekish. You need to know the hacks and tricks (Read them in comments section)

♠ Going the IPO, corporate way, hope it does not go MSFT way!

♠ Not very helpful in specific searches, such as literature or category specific.

♠ You should be careful to skim the junk to select the best (You may have to use Strict filtering/safe search option) all the times.

CONCLUSION

Google is heavenly. Google is godly, Google is the master. I have said everything in the pros. I cannot go any further as there is a lot and lot to be said about google and the number of good things are equivalent to the number of pages it caches or the number of pages it searches

GOOGLE is THE GREATEST!

I hope you liked the review. Do comment as time permits.

KALIL