Play Videos from Google Universal Search Results

You probably know that Google now displays links to videos on its search results page, thanks to the new universal search features. But did you know that you can play most videos directly from this page, without linking to the video first? Just look for a Watch Video link in the video description; click this link to play the video.

New Version of Gmail

Google has updated its Gmail web-based email application. The new version has a slightly different interface, a new contact manager, the ability to filter messages based on various criteria, and is IMAP-compatible. It's the IMAP thing that's most interesting; IMAP lets you keep all your email messages in sync between multiple devices. It's a big deal if you use an iPhone or other mobile device to check your Gmail on the go.

Google Notebook Adds Labels and Bookmarks

It's now a little easier to organize the data you store in Google Notebook. Google has added label and bookmark features, which most people should find useful

Google Shared Stuff

Here's something new. If you go to this link, you can add a Share/Email button to your web browser's Favorites list. Then, when you find a page you want to share with others (via email or a social networking site, such as Digg), just click the button. If you have a Google Account you also create a Google Shared Stuff page which you can publicly share with friends and family, full of all your favorite pages and links. It's a nice way to share your favorite stuff!

Google Presentations

Google has finally launched the Presentations component of Google Docs. (Yes, it's now just Google Docs, no longer Google Docs & Spreadsheets.) You can import PowerPoint presentations 10MB or less) or create your own presentations online. Functionality is less than that of PowerPoint, but that's to be expected. Collaboration features, however, make the deal. You and your colleagues can edit a presentation simultaneously and, of course, multiple invitees can view the presentation over the web. When viewing a presentation, everyone can participate in a group chat via Google Talk. Expect additional features to be added in coming weeks and months.

Googlepedia Second Edition Now Shipping!

Just published: The new second edition of Googlepedia: The Ultimate Google Resource. This new edition is updated with everything new at Google in the past year, including YouTube, Blogger, Google Reader, Google Maps, and the like. The new edition is a big honkin' 822 pp. long, and sells for $34.99. Look for it at a bookstore near you, or read more (and order it) online: Googlepedia web page.

Google Reader Search

If you use Google Reader to keep track of your RSS feeds and such, you can now search across all your feeds via a new top-of-page search box. Nice!

Google Book Search Virtual Library

Google Book Search now lets you create a virtual online library of your favorite books. Add a book to your library by searching for it and then clicking the Add to Library link. Or you can import a list of ISBNs. Your choice.

This creates a list of the books you've selected. You can share your book list with others, thanks to the list's public URL. You can also categorize your books, write reviews, and rate the books. Cool!

What Time is It?

Here's a new query option for Google search. To display the local time for any location in the world, simply enter the query what time is it in location. Google then displays a OneBox result with the current local time.

Blogger Play

Here's a cool new Blogger-related toy. Blogger Play is a site that displays the most recently-uploaded photos to Blogger blogs, in a never-ending slideshow. It's a great time waster!