Choose A Restaurant Through Google Street View

Google Maps Street View is one of the most popular functions included in the web-based mapping tool because it allows users to view street level panoramas from several US cities. Although its main goal is to enable consumers to enjoy the imagery, some companies found different uses of the functions. LaudonTech announced that it is currently a special tool that allows firms "to embed Google Street View technology directly in their corporate web pages."

According to the company, there are several new uses of Street View that can bring new functionality to the web-based mapping tool.

"Realty Listings – Potential clients can now view a property listing and surrounding neighborhood before physically viewing the property. This is especially significant for out of town buyers; Virtual Tourism – Potential visitors can now scope out hotels and tourist attractions before traveling; Restaurant Reservations – Potential restaurant patrons can now view a restaurant of interest previous to attending."

Street View was one of the most criticized functions of Google Maps because numerous users raised privacy concerns as the feature showed too many details straight from people's houses. Because of that, the parent company Google decided to create a special function to allow the users to remove certain pictures appearing on the webiste.

However, it was proved that it's very difficult to remove a picture from Street View because the Mountain View company demands all kinds of information such as pictures and official documents to reveal your identity.

Google Maps is a web-based solution that allows the users to view satellite maps straight from an online interface. Although Google also offers a downloadable version, Google Earth, Google Maps is more attractive for the Internet users because it can be access for free without any installation. However, Google Earth is a little bit more powerful because it offers very useful offline functions.

Google: Vista SP1! Vista SP1! Vista SP1!

Google has managed not only to help shape the first service pack for Windows Vista but also to force Microsoft to admit that the beta for the refresh will be made available before November 12 2007. Still, the Mountain View search giant revealed that it was far from content with the changes Microsoft announced for the Vista desktop search mechanism concomitantly with SP1. In this context, Google filed a request to be permitted to intervene in the Microsoft-Department of Justice antitrust case. The initial filing by the Mountain View-based company was denied by Judge Collen Kollar-Kotelly, and Google was not allowed to share its view on whether Windows Vista's built
in desktop search functionality was violating the antitrust consent decree or not.

However, Google is not prepared to go down without a fight, and a new filing on behalf of the search giant was presented to the court, offering an "important and useful perspective" on the building process of Windows Vista SP1. "As the developer of a major desktop search product and the company that brought the desktop search issue to the attention of the plaintiffs, Google has familiarity with the issues raised and is well positioned to provide information to the Court. Google worked with the plaintiffs for an extended period of time to ensure that Microsoft's violation did not go unaddressed, and nothing in Google's request for leave to participate as amicus curiae (friend of the court) is inconsistent with the plaintiffs' fundamental role in enforcing the Final Judgment, as confirmed by the fact that none of the plaintiffs opposes Google's motion," reveals a fragment of Google's filing, courtesy of SeattlePI.

Essentially, Google is not satisfied with the volume of information Microsoft produced in relation to how it will shape the desktop search mechanism in Vista SP1 in order to accommodate third party rival products, including Google Desktop. The Mountain View search giant complained over the speedy way in which the remedial measures were dealt with and the lack of specific details.

"For instance, in the conversation with counsel referenced in Microsoft's opposition, Microsoft's counsel indicated that he did not know whether Microsoft will continue to hardwire its own "quick results" for all purposes when users search from the Start menu. This is an important question in determining the extent to which Microsoft's remedial measures bring Vista into compliance," Google added in the filing.

Google's Office Gets Instant Messenger

Google Apps, the suite that is often compared to Microsoft's Office, gets a new update that adds communication features to the pack of programs. Basically, the interoperability could be done with ease because the parent company implemented only the Google Talk Gadget that is compatible with the Personalized Homepage, recently-renamed to iGoogle. A few weeks ago, the search giant improved the Gadget with several new features, numerous users sustaining that there is no reason to install the downloadable application since this tiny tool is even more powerful.

As you can see, the Mountain View company tries to get the communication capabilities of its solutions closer to the most powerful products on the market. Yahoo Messenger is the clear leader of the category but it seems that Google targets another side of the chatting solutions: the enterprise market. Since Google Appls was released, most of the company's efforts were meant to conquer the enterprise customers and increase the search giant's presence into this domain.

The interesting fact is that Google tries to attract both sides, individuals and enterprise users, with the same products but with different flavors depending on their target.

The Google Talk Gadget is compatible with several solutions powered by the Mountain View company including the Personalized Homepage, the one that features the communication functions in Google Apps.

"If you use Google Apps at your business, organization or school, you can now use the Google Talk Gadget on your Start Page to have chats with colleagues or classmates (including group chats)," Adam Fass, Software Engineer, said today. "Google Apps also offers collaborative tools, like Google Calendar, Google Docs & Spreadsheets, and the customizable Start Page, where all your students, employees, or members can view relevant content, preview their inboxes and calendars, and now, chat with one or more colleagues or classmates -- all from the same webpage"