What's in This Book Google isn't just web search; the company offers a lot of different products and services, all of which I discuss somewhere in this book. Because of everything that Google does, this is a long book43 chapters in all, organized into 12 major sections: Part I: Basic Searches provides an inside look at Google (the company and the technology), and then shows you the best ways to use Google web search and the Google Directory. Part II: Specialized Searches discusses all the many narrow searches Google lets you conduct, from phone number lookup and blog searches to searches for scholarly information and word definitions. Part III: Additional Search Features shows you how to customize Google and the Google Personalized Homepage, use SafeSearch content filtering, use Google in different languages, and use Google as a calculator and a converter (really!). Part IV: Shopping and Product Searches guides you through using Froogle, Google Catalogs, and Google Base to search for bargains on the Web. Part V: Maps and Directions is all about Google Maps, Google Earth, and finding the coolest and most useful Google Maps mashups online. Part VI: Communications Servicesshows you why Google isn't just about search; we'll discuss emailing with Gmail, instant messaging with Google Talk, and blogging with Blogger. Part VII:Multimedia is all about pictures and videos, courtesy of Google Images and Google Video. Part VIII: Other Google Services discusses a variety of Google's search-related and non-search services, including Google Answers, Google Book Search, Google Groups, Google News, and Google Mobile Services. Part IX: Google Software Tools presents Google's software and web-based applications, including Google Toolbar, Google Desktop, Google Calendar, Picasa, and Google Pack. Part X: Google for Businesses discusses Google's business-oriented tools and services, including how to improve your site's PageRank, how to make money with Google AdWords and AdSense, and how to employ Google search in your organization. Part XI: Google for Developers shows you how to add Google search to your website, create custom search applications, and produce your own Google Maps mashups. Part XII: Into the Future shows you what new applications are percolating inside Google Labs, and discusses Google's future directions.
There are also three appendixes that present useful reference information. Appendix A is the Google Site Directory (a complete listing of URLs for all of Google's websites), Appendix B present's Google's country-specific sites, and Appendix C lists Google's advanced search operators. Handy references, all. |
