‘Google Maps’

The average user of Google services such as Google Plus, the search engine, Gmail and Maps may not even be aware of the applications and services to be cut in the near future. For most, relatively little will change in their day to day lives, but for a few the cutting of Google services such as Knol, Bookmarks List, Wave and Friends Connect may come as something not planned for.

 

Why The Cutting Of Google Services?

The US based company is in a process of streamlining the services and products offered. As with any growing company, house cleanup may be needed every once in a while, and that is exactly what Google is doing. The idea is to offer more focused products and services and to put more emphasis in beating the social media giant Facebook with the new Google+ social network, which would have been better off, if named Google Circle.

Although the company has seen tremendous growth in Google Plus, usage of the service is still not on par with that of Facebook. Unless users migrate from Facebook to Google+, one should not expect the social network to overtake Facebook or even be a real threat to it in the near future.

Failing Products And Services To Get The Boot

The cutting of some of the Google services is aimed at products or services which have failed to get off the ground or achieve what the company has hoped such would. Some users have expressed concern that more services may be cut and they are thus a bit sceptical in signing on for new services.

The company wants to integrate such services and products with their successful products and thus ensure a more streamlined and easier to use Google. Users accordingly have nothing to fear, most of the useful services stay intact.

Which Products Will Be Cut?

The cutting of Wave as a Google product comes as no surprise. The service combined online collaboration and instant messaging. Development on it has already stopped a while ago and it is now recommended that users opt for the open source projects such as Apache to replace it if they still want to make use of the Wave technology.

Google Gears, the offline browser functionality delivered less than expected and users are no longer able to download it. Applications such as Gmail offline will be incorporated into Chrome allowing for access to it and other applications such as Google Docs through Chrome.

The next item on the list of Google services to be cut is the Search Timeline. Graphs of historical search trends can in future be found by means of the google.com/trends.  Friends Connect also gets the boot. It is a service that allows webmasters the ability to enrich the user experiences through the addition of social media type characteristics to the sites by means of snippet embedding. Webmasters are encouraged to promote Google+ instead.

Bookmarks List, allowing the sharing of bookmarks among friends is perhaps one of the services which will be least missed. Knol, launched as far back as 2007 never really took off. It was designed as a Google service allowing for collaboration amongst experts in the creation of articles. The company has, however,  indicated that Knol will still be working until the end of September 2012.  Google has also indicated the cutting of Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal known better as RE<C.  According to the company other companies are now better positioned to continue research in driving the price of renewable energy down. They have published their results to help other companies in their research.

 

Caution Regarding Announcements Of New Products

The company has also indicated that their future announcements of new services and products may not be so hyped up since expectations may be more than can be delivered. They will only announce a few projects every year following the example of rival firm Apple. Most people, however, speculate that Google is cutting services in order to put more resources into Google+ in order to beat Facebook.

New Products & Services Launched

While the cutting of Google services such as Knol, Friends Connect and RE<C may come as no surprise, the addition of services such as the online music store, at present only available in the USA, is expected to keep the company solidly in the run. Users with Android based devices will be able to purchase MP3 files from a library of more than 13 million music pieces. With Sony Music Entertainment, Universal, and EMI also supporting the library, it is expected to give Apple a run for their money. The music store is integrated with Google+ allowing for sharing of music pieces amongst Circles.

Google MAPS – Extending Views Indoors

The company has taken its technology indoors as well, allowing for indoor viewing of some museums and other places of interest. The project is operational in several cities such as Paris and London. Unfortunately, it is not yet available in South Africa. Places to be viewed will include restaurants, repair shops, gyms and shops. Businesses have been invited to join, but have been asked to warn their clients of the photo shoots before filming starts. Users will be able to get 360 degree fish eye views of the locations.

Large scale usage of the MAPS feature will be charged from January 2012. Travel agencies and booking firms making extensive use of the MAPS will have to cough up if their map hits are in excess of 25 000 hits in a given day.

Data Crunching

Another service announced not for cutting by Google, but as something new to help companies identify and analyse large data sets with tools available from the company is that of data crunching. The BigQuery is seen as revolutionary in the sense that it can process a tremendous amount of data within only a few seconds.

Although cutting of Google services is thus eminent, new services are added and more streamlining is done. As such users can also expect more integration of existing services, whilst all the extras not delivering will be dropped.

Mobile sites and their usage grow by the day. Also known as mobi sites or as some write it mobisites, are fast overtaking normal desktop based websites. According to a DotMobi study the growth of new mobisites is enormous showing that from over 149 000 in 2008 to more than 3 million such sites have been registered in 2010. In addition, the social media networks such as Facebook have large numbers of users which login to the social applications by means of their phones. According to Facebook the figures suggest more than 199 million users which login to their site via their mobile phones.

With every new technology there is resistance and there is embracement. The resistance normally comes from those who have already invested a lot into an existing technology and don’t want to re-invest in the new technology, but a business owner that wants to survive changes must adapt. The pc website market is shrinking and mobile market growing.

One may argue that there is no reason to create a mobile website if the users can login from their phones in any case, but there are several differences between mobi sites and the conventional websites which should be noted. In short, the mobile user doesn’t find the conventional website mobile friendly. With loads of heavy graphics, Java scripts, Flash and other bandwidth intensive design tools, the mobile user gets a slow loading page which isn’t easy to navigate.

More and more mobile users migrates to the mobisites specifically designed to fit well on their mobile screens, load faster, browse easier and take up less bandwidth as well as memory. Of course mobi sites are not as visually stimulating as the conventional websites and don’t show the same versatility, but users on the move want sites which can be used on their mobile phones with ease.

One can continue to design only the conventional website and have the mobile users struggle to use the site, but if they find something more user friendly, they will leave the site immediately, never to return. The younger generation of Internet users are also experts on mobile usage and if you don’t want to see your market dying a slow and agonizing death, you will need to create a mobisite and a conventional website.

Don’t think of the mobi site as portable site only. It is far more than that. It is an innovative and advanced way of interaction with the visitor. Modern consumers carry powerful computers in their hands and pockets; used as phones as well. They want to get value for their money and with more mobility offered rather browse from their phones and tablets than from desktops. Studies have shown that desktop usage is still huge during the day, but mobile usage surpasses that during the evenings. The users browsing during the day do so from their offices at work where desktops are connected via the network, but once they leave office they migrate to mobile usage. As such website owners need to take notice and adapt their interaction with users.

Some important considerations for creation of mobi sites are:

• Create a site that can use the mobile device capabilities.
• Mobisites must be created with loading time in mind. The site should load in two clicks and thus under ten or twelve seconds.
• Browsing should be easy without the need to zoom in.
• The mobile site must provide enough incentive for interaction through means of competitions, discount coupons and prize draws.
• People on the move love sharing and the mobile site must make it possible as well as be so addictive as to ensure return and viral marketing.
• Convenience is another reason for using mobile websites. People want to interact where they are and as such you need to ensure that the mobisite can be used on the spot and in-store for specials.
• Mobile users want to find information rather quickly and as such they don’t want to wait for pages to load or have to go through several menu steps to get the information.
• Don’t just re-design a desktop website to fit on a smaller screen, but run two distinct sites which can ensure that both desktop user and mobile user requirements are met.

Smart Phones are Taking Over

Bandwidth changes to 4G and the lower lag enables mobile users to surf fast. With that then, more users migrate to mobisites in South Africa because of our slow connectivity via desktop. The majority of new handsets can connect to the Internet. With four times more mobile users than desktop users in the world including South Africa, there is thus a big untapped market available for the innovative thinker, willing to create a stunning mobisite. Studies furthermore indicate that about a third of mobile browsing is done for local content. This means that the mobile user is on the lookout for businesses in their immediate environment and thus more geographically targeted.

Google Android and South Africa

The Google Android platform is already widely used worldwide and although still not the most popular platform in South Africa, it is making inroads in the mobile operating market. Google Android is growing rapidly with more than 17% of the market already belonging to the platform as evident in the sales figures of more than 190 000 Android mobile handsets sold daily. Android is currently just behind the Symbian and closing in on the gab. The secret to a successful mobisite is adaptability for various platforms. As such it is extremely important to cater to Android, Windows, Symbian and Apple to name, but a few of the big players.
The implications are important for any business owner. Whether you are a publisher of content or a seller of products you need to also cater to the mobisite user. Many website owners still only think of mobile platforms such as iPhone or Blackberry, but with Android mobile handsets becoming more popular the web browsing is fast moving from desktop to on the go mobile browsing via mobile handsets. New entrants to the market will also mean more platforms to cater for and as with any new trend, businesses that want to capture a large share of the market, need to move fast to get a foothold in the new browsing environment.

You can make your current website mobile friendly or you can create a custom mobisite to ensure targeted design for various platforms. Google has indicated that mobile browsing has grown even more than expected. The news headlines have shown that mobisites have grown with more than 2000 percent, not something that can be ignored if you are a serious marketer. The top performing websites also offer mobi sites to their users. Even if your site doesn’t count under the top 10 000 or so, you can easily ensure a user friendly mobisite experience.

Google Androids are so successful because Google has ensured variations. There are various types ensuring more choices for the consumer. Androids are well priced and personalisation is not compromised. Full integration with various Google applications is possible including vital applications such as Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome and Gmail. With Androids running on open source Linux, new developments are possible while the consumer is not expected to pay additional license fees for such.

It has been said that Android products can easily outperform Blackberry products in South Africa. Although South Africans are slow to catch on to Android when compared to the US, the Google Android mobile market is growing steadily. The mobile networks in South Africa need more development to ensure that unlimited data offerings can become a reality. The networks need upgrading to be able carry larger number of mobisite users. With the expectation being that South Africa will also receive more bandwidth over time because of the cable which has been laid under the sea, business owners have a lot to look forward to.

What do you love? The answer is simple and yet so complicated. Google has quietly launched a new search interface bringing together a full twenty of their products at one page. The interface is still in progress and if you are already curious you can type www.wdyl.com in your browser address bar. Don’t leave out the www. as without it, you will get the 404 error message.

WDYL is the latest in a range of products added to the Google product stable. The Google Social Network named Google Plus has also been rolled out recently, but you need an invitation at this stage to join. “What do you love?”  is a question that provokes an answer and hats off to Google for the new service. In short, it is a search interface with simple search bar and the question of “What do you love?” The user can type in a search phrase, press the heart and get numerous Google services and products about the topic or covering the topic on one page.

Must admit, it is at first a bit overwhelming when all the widgets appear at one page. It works best with broad terms and as such is the ideal tool for the person who wants to know everything there is about a topic or wants to start a search, but doesn’t want to have to click on every Google product and then return to the normal search page for additional searches.

WDYL is the search tool for people not familiar with all the Google products and thus the ideal introduction to such. Most people don’t think about the 20 different products every time they type in a search, but with “What do you love?” you can get a quick view of how the topic is covered across Google products. With a message at the bottom of the search page stating “more coming soon” we can expect even more of the product in the near future.

Example Of How It Works

Upon typing in a search for paintball at the “What do you love?” search page, the results page delivered several means of exploring the topic further including:

• Explore paintball in 3D.
• Measure popularity of paintball on the web.
• Watch videos of paintball on the web.
• Find books about the topic.
• Translate paintball in 57 languages.
• Start a discussion group about the topic.
• Call someone about the topic.
• Scour the earth for it.
• Find patents about it.
• Search blogs about the topic.
• Arrange an event.
• See pictures of paintball.
• Email someone about it.
• Get alerts.
• Search for it on the move through mobile search.
• Organise a debate.
• Get news on the topic.
• Find paintball nearby.
• Access stuff on the web faster.

At the upper right corner of the search engine page you still have a search bar which can be used for more searches. Don’t even think of being too specific as the results will be disappointing, but if you plan to create awareness of a product searched for, it is the search engine to use. You can in an instant add an event to your Google Calendar as reminder about the topic, email people from your Google mail account, create a discussion group, organise a debate, and get more alerts about the topic.

No Facebook

The Google +1 button is neatly tucked on the left side of the search screen just below the scrollbar. You can utilize the scroll bar for easy navigation through the long list of product pages. From Picasa to YouTube, Google Maps, and Books are represented on the search page. You can view posts about the topic searched for at Blogger or quickly create your own about the topic. If you wanted to know how popular the term is one the Net use the trend finder.

Although tech savvy SEOs may be well aware of all the Google widgets, the average user is not and for such it is a great service. With WYDL, Google gets the chance to market these widgets to the general search population. With the Voice, Gmail and Moderator widgets Google tempts users to make use of the services. In a sense, “What do you love?” is almost just another version of iGoogle, just more user-friendly and visual.

It is amazingly easy to use. The first fear of being taken away from the page upon selecting one of the widgets was ill found. Google has thought of everything and upon clicking the Gmail option, another tab opened with a little message about “paintball” already in the message box. All that needs to be done is to add recipients before clicking the send button. The recommendation words “Hey this is awesomely awesome” are already placed in the subject field of the Gmail message. Google obviously ensures that should you want to recommend WDYL that you will not have a hard time in doing so.

You will find Google Buzz, SketchUp, and Chrome, but you will not find Facebook like options. Facebook and Twitter once again fall to the side. The Chrome feature is just as useful for further web searches and for anyone who has to do a school project on a broad topic, WDYL will work great.

Will WDYL Replace Normal Search?

Not likely, as the organic search results can hardly be displayed effectively on a page full of widgets, but for Google Chrome users it may become their new homepage and a good starting point to search. Since each widget opens in its own tab while the “What do you love?” page remains open, it is simply the new search interface. For a broad search you will use the search at WDYL, but for more advanced searches you will make use of Google Chrome.

Will “What do you love?” Take Off?

Well let’s hope so. Launching a product without even discussing it on your blog is secretive and with such the average user who isn’t following the latest Google trends will hardly become aware of such, unless someone notifies them. Looking at the Gmail message composition, mentioned earlier, it may just be a case of Google leaving it a secret because people struggle to keep secrets and love to share their new discoveries with other. WDYL, if marketed by means of a secret viral marketing campaign, can thus become the next hot topic at campuses and discussion forums.

The Apple iPad 2 has taken the world by storm and the success with its release has contributed to Apple passing Google in the Top 100 spot. Apple is now leading the pack of top brands with a value of $ 153.bn over the Google brand value of $111.5bn. The Google brand value dropped with 2% while Apple showed an increase of more that 84% over the past year. The secret weapon, of course, is the Apple iPad. The company brand moved up two places in one year, showing what a well planned and loved product can do for brand value.

Apple iPad Review

The new design of the Apple iPad, which is exceptionally slim, ensures a sleeker look and feel and with that also 33% lighter product than before. With such a light item taking up little space, while offering tremendous application power, it is no wonder that consumers stand in line to get the sleek tablet.

The Apple iPad features sought after applications including the likes of Safari, Calendar and Mail ensuring that the user can take their office anywhere. One of the reasons for its popularity is the seamless integration with business infrastructures. The Apple iPad offers secure access to electronic mail and a comprehensive contact application through open standards such as CardDAV and IMAP or alternatively through Exchange ActiveSync. VPN is a much needed feature for any such applications and Apple has not dropped the ball. Apple iPad users can connect with private corporate networks; have support for WPA2 Enterprise Wi-Fi and for VPN. Users can easily access Wi-Fi networks, providing the much need mobility required in the modern business environment.

The Apple iPad is secure ensuring that information is protected. This is possible because of security on several levels including:

• Data Protection
• Network Security
• Platform Security
• Device Security

Business Application

Businesses can deploy the Apple iPad across board with easy to install applications and configuration settings for the end-users to get access to corporate services. Many iPad users can be deployed, managed and compliance with corporate policies monitored. Businesses can host and distribute their in-house applications over 3G and Wi-Fi to the various users who will also not have to connect to their computers to get application updates. All that is needed is that a user login to the URL and install the application wirelessly.

The large LED-backlit IPS display makes for excellent viewing while the screen is responsive. The battery life is extended ensuring that the users will be able to work for several hours before recharging will be needed. This is perfect for the travelling employee.

With applications such as maps users will be able to get directions in a flash, will be able to check traffic and make use of Notes to capture ideas and important notes on the run. The iPad makes use of the Safari web browser ensuring fast and efficient browsing. The Apple iPad integrates with various messaging environments and with data that is secured; users will be able to stay in contact with the office and clients at all times.

It is the focus on business applications which makes the Apple iPad such a winner. Although certainly more expensive than other tablets, the iPad has every feature required for the enterprise environment of today.

Educational Application

Another reason for the popularity of Apple iPad is the usage possibilities in education. Instead of textbooks learners can have their work on the iPad, do all their reading, submit their work and store work in the cloud environment. With endless possibilities, lightweight design, ability to control the applications and easy deployment to various users, the educational institutions welcome the Apple iPad. Students can download several applications from the Apple Store, can track their assignments, create professional looking presentations with Keynote, and build active spreadsheets with Numbers. With Airprint it is possible to print directly from the iPad and with more than 3000 lectures, videos and related material available from iTunes, Apple takes education to another level with the iPad.

The above are, but a few features which have made the Apple iPad exceptionally useful in business, education and also in the day to day lives of users. It is because of these features that users are willing to spend more on the iPad tablet.

Does This Mean That Google Android Based Tablets Will Fall Away?

Although Apple iPad is extremely popular, it is certainly not the only tablet on the market. Google is still recouping investment costs into its range of new products and free services, but when it comes to affordability, the Google Android based tablets are still popular. Users who purchase the Google brand do so because of the reliability, free services, compatibility with other applications and of course the affordability of the tablets. The Samsung Google Chromebook which was launched earlier this year has been met with a lot of enthusiasm. With the traditional cloud service and storage environment, Google Maps and other applications available free, the average user is expected to go the Google Chromebook route rather than the Apple iPad. Whether Google will be able to beat Apple iPad in the long run with its tablets remains to be seen. It is the Apple reputation which seems to be the determining factor when users decide on their tablet of choice.

Before the launching of the Apple iPhone a few years ago the company brand ranked at spot 29, but with the iPad launch and of course, iPad 2, the company has succeeded in pushing to the number one spot dethroning Google with its cutting edge communication and data tool. Regional preferences will play a role in the selection of the type of Apple iPad that users buy. In Europe the trend has been for the 64GB 3G model with the 16 GB WiFi model as the second most popular.

The war between Apple and Google is just warming up, but whether users select the Apple iPad or a Google Chromebook as their tool of choice, the trend is towards tablets away from desktops and the conventional notebooks. Contact us at iLead Online for web and mobile marketing assistance.