Exciting new technology - again!

'You and Yours' on Radio 4 today was talking about how a small number of very large and powerful companies are starting to dominate the Internet - and how we navigate our way around it.  Amazon and eBay were obviously mentioned - as was Google. 

Many of us know Google as a search engine, but it is worth spending time to look at some of the other search tools they provide.  Take a look at this link for just a flavour:  www.google.co.uk/intl/en/options/

And now, Google has launched their new Toolbar (Beta) - a free download which provides you with access at the click of an icon to a huge range of sites and services across the Internet.  In their own words:

'Now you can make your Toolbar as unique as you are.  You can add buttons and bookmarks; get instant search suggestions; share web pages; enjoy the Toolbar's pop-up blocker, web form filler and spellchecker.'

But that's not all.  Another great facility is that you can translate English words into another language - simply by hovering over a particular word! 

But possibly one of the most useful features, is the ability to add into the Toolbar, dozens of links to other sites around the web - some of which update themselves regularly with up to date information, news and Blogs.

In fact, you can customise the Toolbar with a huge range of buttons providing links to sites on (amongst many others) news, entertainment, business, travel, technology, shopping, reviews, gaming and - yes - software.  In other words, there's no need to spend hours surfing for the content you want.  It will all be available from a single source - your Toolbar.

Even better - if you have your own website, you can create your own button.  This is very important, because you can then make it available to clients, prospects, introducers or anyone who wants to download it from your website. 

In this way, your key contacts can be kept fully up to date about your latest news, views and changes on your site.  And what's more, because the Toolbar sits neatly at the top of their browser, your button/icon will be constantly visible to your key contacts - keeping you firmly front of mind.

For more information about Google's new Toolbar, click here:

http://www.google.com/tools/toolbar/T4/index.html

And in the interest of balance, have a look at the Alexa Toolbar - another great tool which provides valuable information and helps you get around the Internet.  You can find this here:

http://pages.alexa.com/prod_serv/quicktour.html

I use both these Toolbars, and they are incredibly useful.  So, although the Internet does seem to be dominated by a few 'big names', some of them are actually providing you and I with high-tech tools to help us get seen in our own right.

Email or call me if you would like to look at this or other ways of using technology to get you noticed.

Phil

Tel: 07773 359 619
Email: philip.calvert@quaysoftware.co.uk