The estimated reading time for this post is 8 minutes
Tech tools can change lives. Remember what life was like before smart phones? Before the Internet?
Finding a useful tech tool can be like finding a winning lottery ticket. Google services are tech tools that may save you time and maybe even some money.
Google has dozens of services to help people and businesses. Some you may use every day. Others you may not have discovered yet.
You’ve probably heard of the more familiar services, such as Gmail, Chrome and YouTube. But you probably haven’t heard of all 16 of these Google services. Some of these Google services may quickly become your new favorite tech tools.
Google Trends
Want to know which topics are hot? Check out Google Trends which shows you the most popular topics searched for on Google. Click on a topic to read related news stories. You can filter for dates and country to see targeted results.
View trends according to categories, such as business, sports, entertainment, health and science/technology. Trends will also show you related topics.
Compare two topics to see which is the most popular. You can also see how a topic had been trending over time.
→ Learn more about Google Trends at Google Trends – Find Out What’s Hot!
Find Your Android
Google will help you find your lost Android phone. Type “find my phone” to have Google show you where your phone is on a map. Click the link for Ring to make your phone ring.
→ Learn more at Lost Your Android Phone? Find It on Google!
Google Dashboard
Check to see all the Google services you have linked to your account at Google Dashboard. You can get access to the bookmarks you’ve saved on Chrome, see which Android phones you have linked to your account, check out your +1’s on Google Plus, view your search history and more.
You can adjust your settings in many Google services directly from your Dashboard.
Google Photos
Introduced last year, Google Photos gives you unlimited storage space for your digital photos with automated backups. The service helps keep your photos organized, and you can search by person, place and date.
Google Photos also will create albums of related photographs. Assistant stitches together photos to create a panoramic image and can create animations of photos.
Recently, Google Photos launched a Rediscover This Day feature to remind you of photos you took on this day in past years.
→ See, Google Photos: Making Magic Happen to learn more about using Google Photos.
Google Reverse Image Search
When you see an image on the Internet, you may wonder what it is a picture of, or where you saw that image before. Google Reverse Image Search lets you search images to find out more information about them.
Learn what the subject of the image is, where the image has appeared and what the usage rights for the image are.
I’m Feeling Lucky
Want to speed up your search? When you begin your search at the Google website, click the I’m Feeling Lucky button.
Instead of seeing a long list of search results, you’ll be taken directly to the first website in the list of results.
The downside of using I’m Feeling Lucky is that the first website may not be the best one for you. If you want to see the entire list of search results, just click the Google Search button instead.
[note] If the I’m Feeling Lucky button isn’t working for you, adjust your preferences in Google settings. You will need to turn off Instant Search to be able to use the I’m Feeling Lucky button. [/note]
Google Flights
When planning a trip, you may want the cheapest air fares or the most convenient flights. Search using Google Flights to find both. Google Flights not only shows you the least expensive air fares for your flight, it also shows you a calendar view showing the prices of flights on different dates.
You can also see flight options on a map to find out if flying to or from a different destination may make a difference in the cost and timing of flights.
Use the I’m Feeling Lucky Button in the map view of Google Flights to have the service suggest a trip for you.
→ For more information, check out Google Flights Update Helps You Find Your Best Trip!
Google Maps
Use Google Maps to find points of interest, get directions, see traffic, get public transportation information, share routes, and see images. Google Maps can be used as a website or as an app when you’re on the go.
See live traffic or set the day and time to see how traffic has been in the past. You can also see how busy a business is at specific days and times.
Download maps for viewing when you’re away from the Internet.
→ See, New Google My Maps Lets You Create, Save and Share Custom Maps
Use Google Street View to see what a place looks like before you get there. Also use Google Earth to get a satellite view of the area.
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture is a website filled with the greatest art in the world. From nature art to musical performances to virtual tours of museums, this site can culturally enrich your life, without you leaving your computer.
Take virtual tours of museums, find out about special exhibits, learn about the history of art at the site. Search by color, medium, artist, date, location and more. Watch ballet and opera performances from around the world. You can save your favorites to find them easily later.
Planning a trip? Check the site to get a preview of the art you can experience there.
You can also download the app to use when you’re on the go:
Google Translate
Learn the translation of words in foreign languages with Google Translate. Copy and paste text to translate phrases from over 100 languages into your native language. Google Translate can even detect the language if you’re not sure what it is.
You can type text to translate words from your native language into other languages. Be careful though, the translations aren’t always 100% accurate.
In addition to a website, Google Translate is also available as Google Translate Chrome Extension to translate text on websites as you visit them.
The apps let you translate words as text. You can also point your phone’s camera at a word for instant translations.
Field Trip
Whether you’re close to home or on a trip, Field Trip can help you discover the most interesting places. This app lets you know what’s around you, including historical sites, restaurants, parks, attractions and more.
The Field Trip app is free and can alert you when you’re close to an interesting place. You may drive a road every day and never knew a famous battle once took place there.
→ Find out more at Field Trip – Discover the World Around You!
Google Drive
Google Drive is a Cloud service that lets you store up to 15GB of files for free. Named as one of the best Cloud services by Reviews.com, Google Drive is helpful for sharing files with others and collaborating on projects.
→ Find out more about Google Drive at Which Cloud Service Is Best for You?
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is a free chat service that lets you send text messages or have video calls. You can add up to five people for a group video chat.
Google Hangouts also lets you share your screen with others. Use this to illustrate a point or troubleshoot a problem.
Keep your Hangout private or broadcast it to others with Hangouts on Air. Save your Hangout on Air to YouTube for others to discover later.
Update: The day after this article was published, Google announced Hangouts on Air was moving to YouTube Live in September. Learn more at the Google Hangouts on Air page.
This video gives you more information about Google Hangouts:
Use Hangouts on your computer or your phone. In addition to the website, Google Hangouts is available:
- Google Hangouts Chrome Extension
- Google Hangouts Android app
- Google Hangouts app for iPhone and iPad
Google Alerts
If a topic is important to you, Google Alerts can help you stay informed about it. Google Alerts can send you a notification when that topic is mentioned on the Internet.
For example, you can set up a Google Alert for your name, your company’s name, the name of a competitor, or your favorite TV show.
Set an alert for your cell phone carrier to find out when they’re having a sale on services. Set up an alert for your make and model of car to get alerts for possible recalls.
Edit your alert to control how often you receive them, where you want alerts sent, which sources you want alerts from and more.
→ Find out more at On Alert with Google Alerts
Google Opinion Rewards
This free Android app from Google rewards you for taking surveys. Earn Google Play credits for answering questions and giving your opinions.
Google Opinion Rewards for Android
https://youtu.be/2zpKBS9pL-o
Google Dictionary
Google Dictionary is a handy extension for Chrome that will tell you the definition of words. Double-click a word to see the definition. You can save words you look up to study them later.
Your Thoughts
Which of these Google services do you use? Are any of these news to you? Do you have any Google services not listed here that you recommend?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
Hi Carolyn,
Happy Monday 🙂
Wow! What a resourceful post, and I am so glad I use most of these Google services as I am forever logged into my Gmail account!
Yes, Google drive and photos are a few I still need to explore further, and I remember you writing about both of these, which led me to learn more about them. Haven’t checked out Art & Culture, so would surely do that now. Which one’s are your favorites from this list?
Thanks for sharing this with us. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
Hi Harleena, Yes, I learned about some services while researching this article. I had no idea about Google Arts & Culture. That’s an amazing service that can bring arts and culture to you, or give you a preview when you travel.
I’m still a huge fan of Google Photos. I like the backup and syncing, as well as the creations of animation and panoramic photos. I am still discovering all that Google Photos has created from my photos.
Thanks so much for your comment and shares, Harleena!
Hey Carolyn,
In this online world, people are living because of Google. I always use Google Maps while travelling.
The Google trends and all other tools have their features and it’s quite awesome to use such tools.
Google has provided the best we can have.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Have an awesome day.
~Ravi
Hi Ravi, Yes, often we take Google for granted, but when we look and see what it has to offer, it is pretty amazing.
There were other Google services I could have mentioned, but most of those were business-oriented. I felt these were the most helpful for personal use in our daily lives.
Thanks so much for adding to the conversation, Ravi.
Hi, carolyn,
amazing post. I almost use all those services provided by you in your post. But there are some new too.
So, thanks for sharing.
have a good day.
Hi Robin, Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed this article and found it helpful. Yes, Google Arts & Culture was new to me too. What an amazing site!
What’s even more amazing is that we get all of these services for free. Have a wonderful week ahead, Robin.
So cool! Remember when Google was just a search engine??
I have either heard of or used all of these except for “find your Android”. I immediately had to try it and I can confirm it works quite well. Is it bad that my first instinct was to think of ways that I could use this to prank my wonderful girlfriend?
Hi Eric, Yes, that is a very bad first instinct! You would have to have her Google log in information to be able to find her Android. And she could do this back to you!
Great to hear a confirmation that this tool works. This can be very convenient and help people avoid losing their phones for good.
Google trends is good for blogger like me.
Hi Kunle, Yes, Google Trends can be an effective tool to give you article ideas. You can search in your category of interest to see which topics are the hottest and see how they have trended over time.
Great post… I had no idea about Google Flights. Do they make money from this?
Also, in the past, I’ve had intercontinental relationships break up with Google translator lol… so be carefu 😉
Hi Geoff, Yes, Google Flights is very handy. I use it to research flights to get the best combination of times and prices. Convenience counts for our family so a cheap flight that makes 3 stops or leaves at 4 am doesn’t really work for us.
Yes, Google Translator can be inaccurate, but usually you can get the general idea of what is being said. Hopefully people who use it are forgiving or have a sense of humor!
Hi Carolyn,
I just about half of these services. I like Google alerts they’re useful and everything to do with maps. Translate isn’t always accurate, but I am often trying to translate Chinese!
I have been busier lately, but I’ll have to come back here and search your site for info on phones. I need a new one. I think it will be a choice between the Samsung Galaxy S7 and an iPhone. I quite like the look of the S7 but will do a little more research, they are expensive here with our 20% VAT! I have an S2 which is very slow on the internet. I’ve just bought a Samsung smart TV for my bedroom and that is very cool. It records to a USB flash drive and I even have a flash drive connected as a network drive with movies on it. I need my internet speeded up, though. The speed has reduced. I’ll complain when the contract runs out! I’ve been photographing pageant princesses this week, a step up from landscape photography! 🙂
Hi Mike, You’re right about Google Translate. You can get into trouble if you rely on it too heavily. Best to check translations into another language with a native speaker.
That’s great you’ve been busy lately. The Galaxy s& is an excellent phone. If you’re thinking of an iPhone, please wait until next month. The new models come out in September which means you can either get the newest model or get a discount on last year’s models.
Hi Carolyn,
That sounds great to see that am using almost all the google services.. drives , hangouts , maps and dictionary are the things which we generally use. I think its time for me to give a try with alerts as well as reverse image search. Am a fan of google photos, its easy as well.
Thanks for sharing such a lovely post
Have a great day !!!
Hi Dinesh, As someone who already uses a lot of Google services, you may find these others helpful as well. Google Alerts is an incredibly helpful tool that can keep you posted about important topics without having to search for them.
I hope you enjoy using Google Alerts and reverse image search, Dinesh.
God bless you Carolyn! I didn’t know about field trip.
Also, does anyone uses Hangouts?
Hi Monica, Thank you. I think you’ll really enjoy Field Trip.
I do use Hangouts quite a bit. I like the many features it offers, including group chats and screen sharing. With the introduction of its new video calling app Duo, Google may not keep Hangouts around long, but I hope it does.
Hi Carolyn,
Superb post, All the google services mention here is great and very helpful. I am already using some of these and found very useful, Thanks for sharing.
Have a Great Day…
Hmm, looks like I’m missing a lot of interesting google services, haven’t heard some of it and now, looks like I’m ready for some testing.
Thanks,
Nhick
Very cool article. I knew Google had recently released additional “stuff” to make our lives easier —- but I didn’t know that there was as much as u write about. Thx! 👍🏼
Excellent review. Thank you very much, this is – just what I was looking for to let my studens know on great Google possibilities
Hi Yulia, I’m so glad this was helpful to you and your students. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us.
Nice list Carolyn. I haven’t used so many of those but i will one by one. Thanks for the great article.
Hello Kolo, Yes, Google has many services that could be of use to you in your everyday life. I hope you find at least some of these helpful.
Google Drive and Hangouts are two of the services I use most. I use the first one for work documents as it allows my team to better focus on the task at hand and this way we can both work on the same document. Hangouts is the chat app I use for business, this way I don’t have to browse a lot of messages to find the ones I need.