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What I Use: Google Products and Services

Google doesn't just sell ads online, they also make some decent products and services
Dec. 14, 2012 Paul Thurrott
Google

I regularly get emails from readers who are trying to find replacements for various Google services. And though I understand this desire, the truth is that certain Google products and services simply don’t have viable alternatives. So while I did successfully migrate from Gmail to Microsoft's Outlook.com, I still use some Google offerings regularly. They’re just indispensable.

Google Chrome

While I split my PC-based browsing time between Internet Explorer and Chrome, and prefer IE for certain things, including its support for multi-tab pinned web sites, I use Google Chrome regularly as well. Chrome supports incredible sync capabilities tied to a Google account, and because this account uses 2-step verification, it’s secure. (If you’ve not enabled this feature, do so.)

I use Google Chrome for all of my work-related article posting and comments moderation. And the fact that site logins, bookmarks (which I only use through the bookmarks bar), and browser extensions are all synced immediately from PC-to-PC is just huge. I just love Chrome.

Find out more and download Google Chrome.

Google Reader

Even if I didn’t write about technology for a living, I’d still use Google Reader. This amazing cloud-based RSS reader provides me with my morning burst of tech information courtesy of the many technology web sites and blogs to which I’m subscribed, and keeps me up to date throughout the day.

And Google Reader works everywhere: I use the standard web app, but there are third party native apps on every mobile platform imaginable. And while some of the Windows Phone apps are particularly good, even the Google Reader mobile site is top notch. That’s what I use.

Find out more about Google Reader.

Google News

As with Reader, Google News is key because I write about technology news, and I pin both the Google News Technology page and Google Reader to a single IE shortcut on my taskbar. Google News aggregates content from multiple services, but it also lets you create shortcuts to topics you care about the most. In my case that includes Microsoft topics—Microsoft, Windows 8, Windows Phone, Xbox, and so on—and related topics such as Amazon.com, Google, and Apple.

Google’s mobile version of News is less attractive than it could be on Windows Phone, but it gets the job done.

Find out what’s going on in the world with Google News.

YouTube

I assume I don’t have to explain why YouTube is so useful generally. But in recent days it’s occurred to me that I can safely upload my personal videos to the service and then make them available only to family members. This is a kind of a huge and stealthy YouTube feature, and I’ll be working on that over the holiday season. Regardless, YouTube is universally available on all devices and platforms, and there’s nothing quite like it.

Enjoy YouTube

Is there any shame in using Google stuff? I don’t think so, and as with all things in life you should simply be pragmatic. In these cases for me, and perhaps others for you, Google does make some pretty amazing products and services.

Discuss this Article 22

cornholio
on Dec 14, 2012

too bad we have to depend on Microsoft for an alternative to the disaster that is Xbox Music

michaelljones
on Dec 14, 2012

What in the heck are you talking about and how does that statement pertain to anything in this article?

If you can't not be a troll, then go troll someplace else. Sheesh.

kjblank
on Dec 14, 2012

Look at ModernReader in the Windows 8 app store (all works on RT).

It's a great app that logs into Google Reader and quite easy to use. Just log in once, and it does the rest.

I noticed some other clients are showing up too. Google may not make some apps for Windows 8, but there are some great third party ones.

michaelljones
on Dec 14, 2012

I agree. I like ModernReader very much and it works quite well. It does NOT cache offline if that's important to someone, but I find the whole caching thing painful in the other apps and annoying when I'm actually connected to the web.

Nobody yet that I've found makes a perfect blend that give the immediacy of access when connected but give the capability to cache when you want to go offline and still read later.

euskalzabe
on Dec 14, 2012

Paul, you might want to check Nextgen Reader in Windows Phone - I'm not sure if it's available for your WP8, I use a WP7.5 device. Anyway, it's far, far better than the google reader app (which isn't very good...) in fact eversince I discovered it a year ago, that's all I use for my RSS feeds!

kcarson97404
on Dec 14, 2012

I agree with your view on Google Reader. It is the only feed reader I use, and it is accessible on multiple devices. I link to it using NewsBento on my Surface and WonderReader on WP8.

fuentes
on Dec 14, 2012

I could not survive without Google Reader, with that and Youtube I will never escape Google's clutches. I'm surprised that MS hasn't come up with an alternative to Google Reader. My favorite 3rd party Google Reader apps are Wonder Reader for WP, and Nextgen Reader for Windows 8/RT.

zorb58
on Dec 14, 2012

What's interesting to me is when I do switch away from Google services, I don't even notice. Since I got my Windows Phone, I use my Microsoft account a lot more. I didn't migrate anything to the new account, it just happened. This has left my Google Calendar and Docs (or whatever it's called today) in sort of a funny, random, stagnant state. It's like walking a post-apocalyptic city if I need to get an old file out of there. I'm not normally one to just desert files and things, but in this case, I just jumped ship!

Also, Firefox forever!

ngreader
on Dec 14, 2012

Good to know you use Google Reader as well.

Please try Nextgen Reader on Windows 8 (developer here): http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-US/app/nextgen-reader/30648d7a-f0b5...

Thanks,
Gaurav

orman62
on Dec 14, 2012

I like Google News too. However, there is no doubt in my mind that in the Technology section, vast majority of the articles related to Microsoft, Windows, Windows Phone, etc., are negative articles. It is very clear to me that the editors of the Technology section are picking the negative articles. Google News is not a random news search site. And when it comes to Technology news, it is abviouse that the editors are playing a nasty game.

ryanrpalmer
on Dec 14, 2012

There is no true replacement for Youtube. Msft tried with MSN Soapbox a few years ago.
However, the reason I stopped using my Gmail, Chrome browser and all related Google products is the atrocious way they handle my personal information.

ryanrpalmer
on Dec 14, 2012

There is no true replacement for Youtube. Msft tried with MSN Soapbox a few years ago.
However, the reason I stopped using my Gmail, Chrome browser and all related Google products is the atrocious way they handle my personal information.

GoodThings2Life
on Dec 14, 2012

Exactly. YouTube is pretty much the only option. There's Vimeo, and I use it, but it doesn't help me NOT watch YouTube, lol.

Right on with the other aspects. I just don't trust how Google uses (or *could* use) my information. They have quite a privacy risk to overcome as they go forward.

Maelstrom
on Dec 14, 2012

Considering Google's ToS and how manage my private stuff, I don't use their services anymore and there are many viable alternatives despite what Paul said.

• Google Chrome — We have IE10.
• Google Reader — There are many great RSS readers able to do the job once you've set our feeds right. For instance, on WP, I use Fuse; it's even better than Weave. On Windows8's Metro/WDL, I use News Bento right now.
• Google News — It's not like there weren't any good news agregators out there. Beside, in Europe, the press is going away from Google in a way that you won't get the headlines from the main newspapers anymore in France.
• YouTube — granted, for content consumption, it's hard to skip that one. But if it's to upload videos to the cloud then Dailymotion and Vimeo are good alternatives too!

All in all, it may take a bit more efforts but there are solutions outside of Google. But of course, if you don't value your privacy, then Google is just fine. On the other hand if you care, I would advise to stay as far away from Google as possible!

Sterling
on Dec 14, 2012

I don't mind using Google products. Like I say, I like Google (products) but I don't know if I trust it.

I use all the mentioned Google products, specially Chrome (sync is its best feature), YouTube (there's no other -- for better or worst?), and News (I like that I can customize it). I use Reader for Tumblrs I follow but am not subscribed to.

pthurrott
on Dec 14, 2012

I probably should add Google Voice to this list. I'm not using it enough but will be doing so.

danielgr
on Dec 14, 2012

Though I have it installed and updated (as well as Firefox, as backup browsers and to use with different accreditations), being fair I couldn't care less about Chrome, which keeps being particularly buggy while offering nothing really to bring me back.

That said, I'm a compulsive Google Reader user (less so youtube and gmail, though also use both) and personally find myself preferring NextGen reader on WP and W8 tablets to Google's own offerings on Android. On the PC though, I still rather use Reader's website, which is best for keyboard/mouse.

flindenboim
on Dec 15, 2012

Paul,
Why not use Picasaweb that includes youtube back-end for videos. It uploads them seamlessly and you can sync them.
I still use picasa (without Google+) for videos and pictures I'm worried that Google is killing it slowly.

cougarwa
on Dec 15, 2012

Paul, I'd also like to give next-gen reader a plug. Excellent 3RD party google reader for windows phone.

jr1734
on Dec 15, 2012

I uploaded some family videos to youtube last year. Carefully made them a private link in case some folks didn't want them public. Sent a link for some family members to see them. The next day, one of my nephews put them all on his facebook page. Think twice before putting your private stuff in a public entity.

BryanK
on Dec 17, 2012

Yes where is Microsoft's version of Google voice? That's the last goog product keeping me from deleting my gmail acct and cutting all ties...

heathc
on Dec 18, 2012

So, the first thing I did after reading this post was go to google and setup 2-factor auth.

After about 3 hours I had to turn it off. I got the text with the code, entered it and set my pc as trusted. Then over the next few hours I recieved 6 additional txt with more auth codes.

Did I miss something? I didn't want to use all my txt msgs on google sending me 100 txts a day that I don't know what to do with.

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