Google Checkout

Rating
8/10

Good Points
Integration into Google Search, faster transactions

Bad Point
Not an "amazing" product like Gmail or Google News

Although touted as not a competitor to Paypal by Google. Google Checkout is performing operations very similar to Paypal. This highly talked about product enable users to carry a "passport" of information (credit card number, expiration date) to make purchases online without ever giving any information to the merchant. This "passport" allows users to bypass the constant annoyance of typing in all necessary transaction information for each site they wish to buy items from. The benefits are clear, only Google (with its renown privacy policy) will ever handle you personal information and transaction would be far faster.

The main question is whether this product will launch into popularity. For every one dollar spent by a merchant in Google AdWords, he will be able to process 10 dollars worth of sales for free. For those merchants that do not use AdWords, the transaction fee's are lower than the market leader Paypal. This sort of enticement offered by Google has the potential to make it one of the hottest products in the market. Thus, making the online consumer experience as feasible as one would have in a local store.

Google Talk

Microsoft has brought out the replacement for their MSN Messenger, the new Live Messenger. This product among many other products by Microsoft are facing a major update due to increased competition from the likes of Google and Yahoo. In this bold move to claim the Internet for themselves, the new products have so far been rated with high marks.

The question is whether Google can respond with as equal quality in product design. Although I would never doubt the innovative spirit of Google, they have not faced a serious challenge as this. This could be the beginning of a sector of the market that Google may never get a major footing. In their other major foothold products (Search, Email) Google has been able to increase their market share because the current established products are highly degenerate.

Google Earth 4 Beta

Rating 10/10

Pros:

The new interface, hide sidebar feature, enhanced satellite imagery

Cons:

Lack of Google Moon and Google Mars integration

This new product hosts many amazing up-grades that are sure to enhance the Web 2.0 war. Google Earth 4 Beta includes an amazing new nonintrusive navigation consul that is easy to use and beautifully streamlined into the overall program. The new hide-sidebar feature allows for a near Microsoft Live Local amount of imagery on the screen thus enticing the audience to a breathe taking panoramic view of the Earth. It is understandable that Google Earth should depict Earth, but if Google was to release a product that integrates Google Earth, Google Moon, and Google Mars, the product would be even more alluring. Personally I would recommend this to anyone but especially to those who always wanted to travel to exotic lands but never had the money...