Early links. Spring break.

• Loads of offline resources for design inspiration.
• TypeFlash: Enter text, pick a typeface, modify it, and have fun. My youngest kept wanting to return to this site to see his name in different designs and colors. I told him we have lots more to explore!
• Four words that prove how difficult the English language is. How do you pronounce ghoti (hint: not goat-tee).
• Perfect for my husband and my oldest… find everything you lose with Smart Goggles [Link: Guy Kawasaki]
• 55 Ways to Have Fun with Google: Free ebook or buy the tree version if you want it in print. [Link: Steve Bass]
• Google Logo Rejects. [Link: Steve Bass]

Go Eagles! Beat Tennessee!

• Hemingway’s Rules of Writing Can Still Work to help you write simple
• Wacky iPod Cases
• Puppy Bowl: awwww
• Beat Blank Page Syndrome: I’ve had it and some of these tips are what helped me past it.
• Yahoo! vs. Google: Enter words to see how their results compare on the two sites.
• 25 Ways to Become an Effective Freelancer
• 10 Effective Productivity Tips for Writers

The campaigns to promote Firefox and demote Internet Explorer keep coming and Google tops them all by promoting Firefox on its home page–prime ad estate–along with the its Toolbar. For a limited time on Wednesday, April 26, users in the U.S. surfing with Internet Explorer saw a one-liner that read, “Firefox with Google Toolbar: tabbed browsing, safer surfing.”

Google specifically promoted the Firefox edition that comes with the built-in Google Toolbar. This effort further strengthens the Google and Firefox relationship. In 2005, Google implemented an AdSense Referrals program in which AdSense publishers earned one dollar every time their visitors clicked the referral button and downloaded Firefox.

Contrary to many reports (including well-respected reporters and bloggers), this is not the first time Google has promoted a third-party on its home page. The company has highlighted other third-party bundles such as the Google Pack and Google Video content from the NBA and CBS, according to Google spokesperson Sonya Borälv. The promotion builds on the aforementioned AdSense Firefox referrals program.

Analysts have noticed more advertising on Google’s home pages sending a message that the company is opening up to large partnerships. Google looks like it’s jumping on things that are big and beneficial for the companies involved, said Emily Riley, analyst with JupiterResearch.

Behind Google’s Motivation

What could Google stand to gain from promoting Firefox with its Toolbar? A likely scenario is that Microsoft could be planning to tie the search tool closer with future releases of Internet Explorer. So as a counter-action, Google encourages users to switch to a browser the company can control. “This may be a prelude to either taking over Firefox or launching Google’s own Firefox-like product, but regardless, this initial effort is to ensure Google’s place on the desktop,” said principal analyst of Enderle Group Rob Enderle.

“Google will gain more Toolbar users, which means more data and more committed Google users. Also, the more Firefox in the world, the better for Google, and the worse for Microsoft,” commented John Battelle, chairman of Federated Media Publishing and author of The Search who posted a screen shot in his blog.

Google plans to continue working with not only Mozilla, but also other technology providers. The company wants “to ensure our mutual users have the best experience possible with our products and services,” said Borälv.

This helps Mozilla expand its reach. Based on the available tools and applications such as Gmail and Google Calendar, Google is moving away from a “pure search.” “Microsoft still has a huge penetration in the browser space and any new offering that’s better will surely take market share from Microsoft. This is sort of the ‘final frontier’ for Google in becoming both the browser and the home page,” Riley said.

Google doesn’t have an official manual, so Google: The Missing Manual steps in. The super search engine has a multitude of features many don’t know about. The authors do a first-rate job of describing its features and demonstrating how to use them.

When I start a search, Google is often the first place I go. Over time, I’ve learned of its new features and applyied tricks here and there. I have found the words to a song when I could only remember a handful of words. The song is no rock ‘n roll hit or anything played on the radio. It’s a geography song I learned in third year Spanish in high school. Using a few of Google’s tricks, the full lyrics appeared quickly.

Heck, save money with Google. A search engine that saves money? Indeed. Froogle is the word, nice play on frugal there. Enter the item and it provides results with prices. I use it for comparison shopping to ensure I get the best deal. Thanks to Froogle, I located a hard to find item for my niece’s birthday gift.

The book covers every trick I’ve learned and read about and taught me a few more. A call comes through, but the person doesn’t leave a message. The CallerID shows the phone number and a company name, but it doesn’t ring a bell. When I enter the phone number in Google, it provides three results (boy, talk about bad luck as a couple of companies who had the phone number went out of business) and it dawns on me it is the new family doctor, which is why the number is familiar. The company appearing in CallerID is the telecommunications company provides the services. In some cases, teleco names show up instead of the business or residents’ names.

The Google API (application program interface) is not covered although it is mentioned as a resource. The purpose of the book is to show how to use Google from a non-programming and non-techie perspective. The authors have accomplished the goal. They briefly cover using Google on Web sites as a search tool and for Ad Sense.

Those looking for hard-core Google tips using the API obviously won’t find it in this book. This is a book for all the non-programmers and non-Web designers. Scanning the book takes little time and it’s an excellent reference since it’s well organized in five parts: techniques, unknown Google, search tools, Google for Webmaster, and an appendix with resources. Also extra nice is the authors’ coverage of other browsers besides Internet Explorer when referencing browser-based tools that work with Google.

One of the reasons the company is popular is for its simplicity. Its home page has hardly anything other than its logo and a search box. The book continues the theme by keeping it simple.

VITAL STATISTICS:
TITLE: Google: The Missing Manual
AUTHORS: Sarah Milstein (Editor), Rael Dornfest
PUBLISHER: Pogue Press
PUBLICATION DATE: May 2004
ISBN: 0596006136
FORMAT: Paperback
PAGES: 311
PRICE: USD: 19.95, CAN: 28.95, UK: 13.95

Read the GnomeReview of Google Hacks by Tara Calishain and Rael Dornfest.