One very useful feature of Google Doc's I discovered this morning is creating an online form. A form is used to get input from users on a website or blog. Google Doc's allows you to create a custom form, which they will host. This for gathers information and organizes it into a spreadsheet. It is perfect for creating a websites mailing list, an online test, or a poll.
What makes it great for a poll is that the page becomes linked with Google Analytics, allowing for you to view the results in organized charts. For an example I have created a simple two question poll asking: "What Operating Systems do you use" and "What Browsers do you use". As well at a text box to get peoples feedback. I created it because I am interested in the topic and want to know what it is popular, as are many developers. This way they can gear development toward what people use.
Click here to see the current results of this poll.
Late yesterday evening I started hearing that google was going to release a new social networking app. I could not wait to see what they had cooked up. I had a fear that it would be a slow release and I'd be scampering around the net looking for a invite. Much to my relief after visiting the buzz website and clicking the link a few times, buzz was added to my gmail account. Soon it will be available to people without gmail. However, gmail is the best email to have and will manage all you email accounts in one place.
Using the search buzz button with the keyword "buzz" I was able to quickly see what people in the community were thinking about buzz. Many people say it is very much like friend feed, which I have not used so I can't say. I feel it is a hybrid of twitter and facebook. It allows you to search status messages and find relevant comments about current events on a global scale, like twitter. However you can see other peoples comments to posts and reply in a fashion like facebook. It will allow you to aggregate your favorites and posts from many sites around the internet, making it easier to share videos you like from youtube, or a blog post you like or write. It will make it easier to find new friends, and old, with similar interests.
The first thing you should do to find out what all the hype is about -- watch the video released by google.
It seems like a great way to integrate Google Profile, Google Reader, and Picasa. It will lead many people to use such services for the first time. And, integrate seamlessly with many other sites around the web.
I have been with Google a long time, but I am new to Google Voice. Like Google Wave I had a lot of trouble getting invited to use the service. I begged for an invite all across the internet using twitter, facebook, and personal confrontation. I requested a voice invite twice using the official site link. I think what finally got me invited to these services was actually on the Google Wave official invite page here. Where I wrote a lengthy message to the Wave Team about how it's upsetting that I can be with Google from the beginning, always give feedback, and can't get a invite to Wave or Voice to save my life! However, my dad a loyal Microsoft devotee gets a voice invite simply by purchasing a Droid phone.
A week later I got an invite to Google Wave, and a few days after that I was invited to Google Voice! I think the key is to express to the development team how bad you want invited and promise to give feedback. Neither of these services would survive if made public, they are just not ready to handle it.
Right away I was disappointed while setting up my Voice account. They do not offer numbers in my area code, rural Nebraska. They promise to soon have 308 numbers and I am sure that is coming. With a $10 fee I will be able to change my number at a later date. For now I have my Google Voice number set-up in the 402 area code. In fact my number is: 402-500-0705. The ability to safely, and publicly, give out your phone number is one of the best features of Google Voice. You can choose how to deal with incoming calls, and my account is set to forward calls not on my contact list to voice mail. So fell free to call and leave me a message, however, my phone will not ring. Another great way to handle calls from Non-Contacts is to screen them. Yes, Google Voice can screen your calls, asking the caller their name and notifying you. Then you can send the call to voice mail or accept it.
The feature I was most excited to try was the voice mail with transcription. Before Google Voice I had been thinking it would be nice to have Verizon's visual voice mail. This way you don't have to call your own number and enter a password to listen to messages. You can see who the message is from and play it without calling. Now with Google Voice my voice mail is just like visual voice mail, except better! Imagine being at work and simply reading your voice mail, while in that boring meeting.
The transcription feature is still a work in progress. It might give you an idea of what the message is about. It is not perfect, but think about how people leave voice messages. They use run on sentences and they um...well...you know...mumble. We all do it. What follows is a perfect example.
Google voice transcription:
Hey it's Lisa, I just wanted to call and tell you is day. They did told on a car out and they are. Give me a leave stay friends going to bepurchasing the car in the next seeing the sales. Yeah, that's all. I hope you have a good day, thanks. Yes
My Translation:
Hey it's Alicia. I just wanted to call and tell you that um... they did total the car out. And they are um gonna be... State Farm's gonna be purchasing the car in the next 10 days, so... ya. That's all. Hope you have a good day. Bye.
As you can imagine when I read the message before playing it back, I thought WTH. I knew she was going to be calling with information about a car, but the transcription really gave me no idea about the content of the message. When you listen to it, then you can't really blame Google Voice. I feel the technology of Google's Voice recognition is probably the best in the world. This is because of their awesome 1-800-GOOG-411 number. They have been analyzing peoples voices for years now. The problem is simple, people don't expect to be analyzed and transcribed by a computer when leaving a simple voice mail. The service will become a lot more useful as people realize this.
Another neat feature is the ability to make widgets that link to your Google Voice account. They can be customized, this one will alway be forwarded to voice mail. I am looking for more samples to use on a later post to discuss in more depth Google Voice's transcription.
Please leave me a short message, it could be featured on a later post about Google Voice.
As always, comments are enabled for everyone so please feel free.
