Top 8 Products and Services off the Beaten Path

1. Blogger

Blogger is Google's service for creating and hosting blogs. Blogs or Weblogs can be used for a wide variety of activities, such as a personal journal, a news channel, a classroom assignment, or a place to talk about a specialized topic. Blogger blogs can even be used to create podcasts.

• Website:http://www.blogger.com
• More:Blogger Review
• How to Make a Podcast Feed from Blogger

2. Picasa

Picasa is a photo management package for Windows. This software is very powerful for a free package. Not only does it organize the photos on your desktop, you can also use it to post photos to your Blogger or Gmail account.

• Website:http://picasa.google.com
• More: Picasa Review

3. Google Spreadsheets

Google Spreadsheets is half of Google Docs & Spreadsheets. It creates and hosts spreadsheets that can be collaboratively read and edited. Spreadsheets may sound like a boring product, but this is a really powerful tool for anyone that needs to track data in a group. Look for this product to transform the office workplace.

• Website: http://docs.google.com
• More: Google Spreadsheets Review

4. Google Earth

Google Earth is a desktop software package for Windows and Macintosh. It not only shows maps of the entire earth, but lets you search, bookmark locations, or go on simulated driving tours. Google Earth comes in three price levels, but most users will do fine with the free version.

• Website:http://earth.google.com
• More: Google Earth Review

5. Orkut

Orkut Buyukkokten developed this social networking service, which is why it's called Orkut. Orkut accounts are available only from the invitation of another Orkut member. However, there are enough users that it isn't usually too difficult to find someone willing to give you an invite.

• Website: http://www.orkut.com
• More: Orkut Review

6. Google Docs

Google Docs is the Docs half of Google Docs & Spreadsheets. It's a free online word processing application. You can create your own files or import and export Word and OpenOffice documents. You can share collaboration or reading access with other people, and you can even edit the same document at the same time.

Google Docs isn't as full featured as Microsoft Word, but it is considerably cheaper.

• Website: http://docs.google.com
• More: Docs Reviewed

7. Google Toolbar

Google Toolbar is software you can download to give your web browser more features. You can enhance your web searches, post directly to your Blogger account, and even spell check any document you write on the web.

• Website: http://toolbar.google.com
• More: Toolbar Review

8. Google Desktop

Google Desktop is the search engine that Windows forgot. This is a free software download that lets you search your Windows desktop as easily as you search the web.

You can also install Google Gadgets directly onto your desktop.

• Website: http://desktop.google.com
• More: Google Desktop Review
  More Info