In our daily tech routines, we often find ourselves naturally gravitating towards Google’s most prominent offerings – we habitually engage with Google Search, dive into our Gmail inboxes countless times, and rely on the comforting embrace of Google Maps whenever we’re disoriented. However, Google’s expansive arsenal harbors a treasure trove of lesser-known apps and tools, each harboring its unique utility and charm. In this compilation, we aim to introduce you to some of these hidden gems, in the hope that they not only become your newfound favorites but also evade the fate of Google’s digital graveyard, a place where many promising creations have met their untimely demise.
Certainly, Google’s propensity for experimentation over its illustrious 25-year history has wielded a double-edged sword. It conjures up new apps and services like a digital magician, only to subsequently pull them from existence, often leaving us lamenting their loss like children parted from their beloved toys.
Nonetheless, the Google applications and services showcased below continue to thrive, capturing the hearts of all those who have used them. Among these, you may have yet to experience the tranquility-inducing magic of Family Link, the intellectual marvels of Google Scholar, or the sheer delight offered by the Arts & Culture app.
If you’ve yet to embark on these journeys, allow us to illuminate why you should explore them.
Number 1. Google Arts and Culture App
For aficionados of art and culture, the Google Arts & Culture app is nothing short of a captivating rabbit hole that unfurls into a labyrinth of countless others. It’s a top-notch recommendation from me if you’re seeking to infuse your daily routine with a dose of artistic and cultural inspiration, whether you’re sipping your morning coffee or taking a breather during a workday. Perhaps you’re in the midst of brainstorming creative ideas and yearning for that spark of ingenuity. Plus, as a delightful bonus, the more you explore, the more adorable little badges you collect along the way, adding an element of gamification to your cultural exploration.
In Google’s own words, Arts & Culture is a testament to its commitment to making art and culture from across the globe and throughout history accessible to all, regardless of location. Upon landing on the app’s home page, you’re greeted with a rich tapestry of activities to engage with – from perusing featured articles to diving into interactive games. The app offers a splendid opportunity to delve into art collections and, intriguingly, discover collections near your physical location for in-person exploration.
Moreover, Arts & Culture offers the captivating option to virtually visit renowned museums, complete with meticulously captured 360-degree views, reminiscent of the immersive experience of Google Street View. And for those fortunate enough to possess a virtual reality (VR) headset, the app takes it up a notch with augmented reality (AR) experiences that promise to transport you into the heart of artistic masterpieces.
Should you find yourself hungry for even more cultural nourishment, consider following Google’s official Arts & Culture blog. Recent entries have covered diverse topics, ranging from an insightful feature on Leonardo da Vinci to the unveiling of four cutting-edge digital experiments crafted by artists, which you can explore firsthand. In sum, the Google Arts & Culture app is a delightful portal that beckons you to embark on an enriching journey through the world’s artistic and cultural treasures, an experience that promises to be as enlightening as it is enjoyable.
Number 2. Google Family Link
For those who haven’t yet delved into its capabilities, Google’s Family Link stands as a potent tool for digital-age parenting. In essence, it empowers parents to exercise remote management over their children’s devices, ushering in a host of controls such as setting screen time limits, restricting access to specific apps and websites, and exerting a semblance of order over their online activities. While primarily designed with under-13s in mind, it’s worth noting that it can also be extended to teenagers, albeit not without the inevitable skirmishes that might ensue.
The beauty of Family Link lies in its seamless execution, which alleviates some of the anxieties that accompany modern parenting in the digital era. To be clear, many of us recognize the importance of allowing our children to explore the vast expanse of the internet, learning and growing in this digital realm. However, the ability to define precise limits for individual apps has proven to be a game-changer, especially as our youngsters venture into their early teenage years, gaining access to platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. Without this safeguard, it’s conceivable that they would happily while away the bulk of their day scrolling through endless feeds. Instead, we can set boundaries, allowing them a couple of hours to engage with these platforms, ensuring a healthier balance between screen time and other activities.
Furthermore, the Location feature within Family Link emerges as a cherished asset. It furnishes parents with real-time information about their children’s whereabouts – or more precisely, where their phones are situated. This feature provides invaluable peace of mind, especially when our kids are out and about with friends, as it allows us to know their physical location with just a quick glance at the map.
Remarkably, Family Link often finds favor not only with parents but with the children themselves. In an era where the internet can be a daunting place for youngsters, they recognize that Family Link serves as a protective guardian, shielding them from the darker corners of the web until they reach adulthood – a time when they can, if they so choose, venture into those realms. In sum, Google’s Family Link embodies the essence of digital-age parenting, offering a comprehensive toolkit for guiding our children’s online experiences, and in doing so, helping them navigate the digital landscape with prudence and care.
Number 3. Google Keep
Google Keep, in its versatile simplicity, serves as a digital haven for an eclectic assortment of notes and tidbits, each reflecting a unique facet of your life. Within its virtual realm, you’ve curated a treasure trove of diverse content – from film recommendations to your favorite song lyrics, 5-a-side football attendance records, grocery lists, meticulous expense tracking, essential contact information for the press, and even your National Insurance number; this eclectic sampling barely scratches the surface.
The magnetic allure of these virtual Post-it notes stems from the astonishingly diverse range of applications they offer. Beyond simple text, you’ve harnessed the capacity to store handwritten scribbles and images, unleashing your creativity and organization in the digital domain.
One of Google Keep’s most commendable attributes is its seamless performance. Notes load instantaneously, ensuring that your digital workspace remains agile and responsive. Moreover, the effortless synchronization across all your devices and the web ensures that your insights are readily accessible wherever you go. When the need arises to retrieve specific information, the search functionality proves remarkably adept, even if you can only recall fragments of what you’ve jotted down.
Organization enthusiasts will find solace in Google Keep’s robust feature set. You can diligently label notes, affix timely reminders to them, foster collaboration by inviting others to contribute, and with a mere click, transform your notes into fully-fledged documents. In essence, Google Keep isn’t merely a repository for thoughts and ideas; it’s a dynamic and agile digital companion, primed to enhance your productivity, creativity, and organizational prowess across the spectrum of your daily endeavors.
Number 4. Google Scholar
Google Scholar, while occupying a niche domain, stands as an invaluable tool that has rescued me from the tedium of sifting through dense and dreary academic archives on countless occasions.
In essence, Google Scholar serves as a specialized subset of Google Search, meticulously tailored to navigate the labyrinthine databases teeming with academic papers. Its primary mission? To simplify the often daunting task of unearthing peer-reviewed research on virtually any subject. While it undoubtedly proves to be an indispensable resource for students in pursuit of scholarly materials, my personal journey with Google Scholar only commenced once I ventured into the professional realm.
As a writer, particularly when crafting content related to health and wellness, I frequently encounter the need to buttress my assertions with the robust foundation of scientific research. Over nearly a decade, Google Scholar has been my steadfast companion, dutifully assisting me in accessing an eclectic array of research papers. Whether I’m delving into the intricacies of VO2 Max or investigating the impact of virtual reality on ocular health, Google Scholar has unfailingly provided me with a comprehensive repository of scholarly insight.
In essence, Google Scholar is a quiet yet potent ally, standing ready to empower researchers, writers, and anyone in pursuit of validated knowledge with a wealth of academic resources. It transforms the formidable challenge of navigating the world of academic literature into a straightforward and efficient endeavor, saving valuable time and ensuring the solidity of one’s intellectual pursuits.
Number 5. Google Flights
Google Flights has long been a reliable tool for conducting straightforward price comparisons, but in recent times, it has elevated its capabilities with a revamped Insights tab. Now, when embarking on your flight search, you’ll discover a nifty blue card just beneath the search box, offering a wealth of invaluable data to aid in your decision-making process. This feature represents a significant enhancement, shedding light on whether the quoted prices you’re perusing align with the typical fare for your chosen itinerary. Furthermore, it presents a graphical representation of price fluctuations over the past couple of months, providing historical context to your booking.
As your narrative about planning a trip to Lisbon illustrates, sometimes, our impromptu travel whims can come at a premium. However, the silver lining lies in the insight that these prices, while not particularly favorable at the moment, aren’t exorbitant when compared to previous years. Naturally, it’s prudent to augment your quest by directly exploring the offerings of top airlines in your search results, as well as cross-referencing the options presented by comparison sites with the curated selections on platforms like Travel Arrow.
But the utility of Google Flights doesn’t end there. Its ingenious price tracking feature functions akin to Google Alerts, making it an indispensable tool for bargain-hunting travel enthusiasts. With consistent use, you might soon find yourself celebrated as the flights aficionado within your circle of friends and family. For instance, have you ever pondered the optimal booking window for Christmas flights? Well, according to the data, it’s precisely 71 days prior to your departure. Armed with such insights, Google Flights empowers you to seize the best travel deals and optimize your holiday adventures with unparalleled efficiency.
