Douglas MacMillan over at Business Week brings us this article on Google’s 20 Hottest Tools. A cool list of many of the awesome things Google has been working on over the years. I have convered many of them, including Google Wave, Google SikiWiki and Google Patents. But this list contains some that I bet you may have not heard of including Google Heath, Google SketchUp, Google Mars, and Google News Timeline. Give the article, Google’s 20 Hottest Tools, a look over and learn more about all the awesome things Google  adds to our lives.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

Ever find yourself needing information on a patent held by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office?  I have and can’t begin to tell you how confusing and frustrating the online U.S Patent Office’s Web can be. Google to the rescue.  Google’s own Patent Search, launched in 2006, uses the full-text search capabilities it developed for Google Book Search to deliver more relevant results. Give Google Patents a try before http://www.uspto.gov/.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

There are so many Web sites out there that feature videos of all types. Then there are the sites out there that feature videos specific for a topic, like Automotive, such as my personal favorite site StreetFire.net. Then there are sites that combine the two where nice categories hold the featured videos. Some sites get it right, many don’t. When I found Videojug.com recently, I thought it was the best of both worlds.

Videojug takes the most relevant videos that are aimed at helping you get better at something. Take for instance, golf, my long-passion and sports hobby. Actually helpful and specific golf self-improvement videos are featured. This is great, because sometimes I just do not care to see your hole-in-one featured on page one. But, a video that helps me get an eagle or two, bring it on! What was even more impressive was that they broke down the videos into even more specific categories, like “putting”, “golf technique” and the “grip”. That surprised me.

I’m also starting a new project soon related to golf, soon to be live. LoveOfGolf.us/info/net/biz are registered under me now. I really want LoveOfGolf.com but the seller requested $4,000+ for it. I declined when I looked at the number of competitive golf-related sites out there that are decent, already established and for sale at a cheaper price. In addition, my goal is to share my passions and knowledge of with the world, not make a profit from it. I just cannot take on that kind of overhead with no intention of getting my return on investment.

To get back on topic, check Videojug out and start learning something new. They feature just about everything from cooking to automotive mechanics. I’m sure that there is a featured video that is sure to help you out.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

Google Wave, announced several months back at the Google I/O conference, aims to change the way people collaborate and communicate with others. According to Google, a “wave” is equal parts conversation and document, where people can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.”
The question the developers asked if email was invented today, what would it look like and ultimately how would it work? Google Wave is the answer. If you have some time, check out the long demonstration video below of the conference back in May.

Here’s how it works: In Google Wave you create a wave and add people to it. Everyone on your wave can use richly formatted text, photos, gadgets, and even feeds from other sources on the web. They can insert a reply or edit the wave directly. It’s concurrent rich-text editing, where you see on your screen nearly instantly what your fellow collaborators are typing in your wave. That means Google Wave is just as well suited for quick messages as for persistent content - it allows for both collaboration and communication. You can also use “playback” to rewind the wave and see how it evolved.

Some key technologies in Google Wave include real-time collaboration tools, Natural language tools, Extending Google Wave.

I especially love the playback ability and the instant ability to see the message as it is being typed. Think about just how much time one can save when one can plan there response as someone forms their message. This is in contrast to the typing icon that currently works in most email and instant message applications. What is also great is you can turn this feature off, helpful for those of us who are not quite sure about spelling or a quick response. But these features are just bonus to an revolutionary online tool!

In the near future, there is little doubt that Google Wave will have a major impact on the way we all email and share online. If you would like to give it a shot, try your hand at requesting an invitation. I am still eargerly awaiting the official release of Google Wave, which is supposed to be coming very soon last this year! As soon as it is released I will make a new blog and let you know.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

Twine.com sent me this link this morning from LifeHacker.com about there list of Top 10 Web Collaboration Tools. As they state, these collaboration tools stand apart from the awesome platform Google Wave, announced a few months back, which I will save for another blog entry. Many of these I had never heard of but many are very helpful. I especially liked MindMeister.

MindMeister Preview Image

From the developers Web site, “MindMeister brings the concept of mind mapping to the web, using its facilities for real-time collaboration to allow truly global brainstorming sessions. Users can create, manage and share mind maps online and access them anytime, from anywhere. In brainstorming mode, fellow MindMeisters from around the world (or just in different rooms) can simultaneously work on the same mind map and see each other’s changes as they happen.”

I hope you take a look at them and be sure to thank LifeHacker.com for the article, Top 10 Web Collaboration Tools.

Best,

Adam Faragalli

The world of Google introduces yet anther creative and relevant application known as Sidewiki. As Google says, it lets you “contribute helpful information to any Web page.” 

Here’s a 1-minute video that describes the concept:

You will have to have SideWiki installed in your browser for it to work. Although, I expect this to most likely be integrated with the very popular Google Toolbar. In a nutshell, it appears Google SideWiki makes, within SideWiki, each and every Web page something similar to Twitter in that live conversations (with opinions and all) reside.  This can also be as the video states “expert opinion” although that can be a bit bias as to what qualifies.

So far, SideWiki looks to better enhance the experience of visiting and interacting with Web pages. I’m curious to see how this application develops. To the future!

If you are interested to give it a shot, and why not, here is the link to Google’s site to install Google SideWiki.

Best,

Adam Faragalli