September’s Been a Busy Month for Google …

… And we’re only 14 days into the month. Here’s a recap of the highlights.

• Google Instant
• Google Voice
• Google OpenID
• Gmail Priority Inbox

Google Instant

Google says, Search: now faster than the speed of type. Catchy, right?

There’s a bit of controversy, surrounding the benefits versus the downside of using Google Instant.
So, for those of you who do not like change, you can shut it off at any time … at least for now.

Benefits:

Your search results show up even before you are finished typing. You could save between 2 to 5 seconds per search. Even when you aren’t exactly sure what it is you’re looking for, Google’s predictions help guide your search. You’ll notice that the top prediction is shown in grey text directly within the search box, so you can stop typing as soon as you see the result you you need.

Google Voice

Make Phone Calls Directly From Gmail!
If you’re within the U.S., you can now call any phone right within Gmail. Here’s the catch, you must have a Google Voice account. It’s okay, because it’s free! (And open to everyone in the U.S.).

What else is great about Google Voice?
You can also receive calls to your Google Voice number right from within Gmail. Calls to the U.S. and Canada are free, at least until the end of this year. While international rates will start at just $0.02 per minute.

Google OpenID

OpenID helps streamline the process of creating an account on a website and using it right away. As opposed to going into your email program, opening the confirmation email and then activating the account by clicking a link provided in the confirmation email. That’s about 5 steps too many for most people.

Google’s Blog says, “Until recently, we also required people to follow these steps if they wanted to sign up for a Google Account using their existing email address, such as a @yahoo.com, @hotmail.com, or other address.”

Yahoo, is one of the participants in the OpenID program, which means that Yahoo users who sign up with Google will see a page with a button that will send them directly to Yahoo for verification.

Google Priority Inbox

The Gmail Priority Inbox helps avoid the clutter that is SPAM (not the canned ham kind, either)

Since Gmail began, it’s evolved into an amazing resource with organization tools that keep even the most Type A of Personalities satisfied. Last week, Google launched Priority Inbox, which helps you get through your inbox even faster. It’s evolved into an intuitive platform, and will come to notice which emails you consider a priority. In other words, you’ll have to break it in. But, once you do, your important emails will be front and center and the clutter, well, it’ll be in a place you can access at your leisure.

Google claims that their research suggests this new tool can save a typical worker one whole week of work time each year! For people that I know who receive close to 200 emails a day that are work related but may not be urgent, this should help them. However, I do wonder if it’ll make it easier for us as a society to put off looking at the rest of our email and not getting to it in a timely manner.

Google’s Brought More Fun to the Net Than Lol Cats

Okay, maybe the Internet was fun even without Google. But the Internet giant certainly added elements that many of us have come to rely upon and look forward to using. Heck, Google’s so awesome it’s even become a verb (Googling), much like Kleenex and Pampers have become synonymous for tissues and diapers.

Since there are a couple weeks left in the month, I’m looking forward to reporting back to see what else Google introduces us to. And if nothing else is released this month, I still have my back-up plan… cute kitties that can’t spell worth a darn. Enjoy!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures