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google finance and reader

Track your stock portfolio or follow your favorite companies from one convenient place. Google Finance brings information from multiple finance and news sites, and places them in one location. Sift through financial statements, check the historical stock prices, and watch the latest videos from the experts. As a bonus, you can add a Google Finance gadget to your Start Page and see how your stocks are doing while you peruse your Gmail Inbox.

Instead of taking a lot of time to visit your favorite news sites and blogs, make them come to you. Google Reader helps you corral all your sources into one place, and it automatically updates your top stories. After you log in the first time, be sure to take the tour. Click the Add Subscription button on the left side of the screen and a textbox appears, allowing you to search for your favorite Web site feeds. Click the Subscribe button on the search results page and you’ll receive messages and articles right away.  Think of Google Reader as an Inbox for the Web. Rather than messages from people, you get articles from Web sites.

Google gadget directory

To access the gadget directory, click Insert on the Edit Page toolbar and choose More from the bottom of the list that appears. The gadgets that appear may vary because Google users create new gadgets all the time. Browse through the categories, and when you find a gadget you like, click the gadget link or preview image to begin adjusting the gadget’s settings.


In addition to browsing these categories, you can enter a search term at the top of the gadget directory and click the Search button to find a specific gadget. If you’re interested in making a gadget for your page, search Google for make your own gadget or visit www.google.com/ig/gmchoices. If you’re using Google Apps, you can create your own version of a Start Page by adding gadgets that give you access to your personal calendar and docs or allow you to chat with your contacts. The following sections show you howWhen you open your site, the following gadgets show you your personal files and only you can see them.

Google Tracking Packages

Many online retailers allow their customers to track the delivery of packages, either by providing a tracking service at the e-commerce site or by linking them to UPS, FedEx, or the U.S. Post Office site. Google simplifies these multiple destinations by providing a single location for putting in numbers related to all three delivery services. Google doesn’t display the tracking information on its own pages; it merely provides a link to the appropriate service when you enter a tracking number.

Of course, you must have a tracking number for Google’s feature to work. When supplied by an e-tailer, the number is usually on an order confirmation page or in an e-mail sent by the online store. You can also track outgoing packages that you’ve sent; the tracking number is found on the receipt you get afterdropping off the package. Simply type the number into Google’s keyword box.

Where do Google’s answers come from?

Where do Google’s answers come from? From a range of reference sources, not least of which is Wikipedia. In fact, if you use Google Q&A several times, it becomes apparent that Wikipedia enjoys prominence in the answers. Wikipedia is a remarkable online encyclopedia written and edited by its readers. Anyone can post an entry, add to an entry, or edit an entry.

With everybody chipping in and no formal editorial control, you might wonder how authoritative Wikipedia is as a reference source. The truth is that it’s pretty good, thanks to dedicated work by some thusiastic volunteers. Certainly good enough for basic Q&A. Answers.com, a more traditional collection of reference sources, and a partner site to which Google turns for word definitions (described later in this chapter), is not used for Google Q&A answers as of this writing.