Using online apps has many advantages. First, you’re never bound to your PC. Google gives access to your docs anytime you need them from any computer in the world through any Internet connection. Second, Google Docs is platform independent, which means you can work on a PC or Mac with equal ease. Third, there’s no software to install because Google Docs works inside a Web browser. Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari provide the support necessary to use Google Docs.

Here’s a list of six additional advantages that we detail in the pages that follow:

• Docs are easy to launch, easy to use, and secure your files in Google’s massive data centers.

• Innovative search and folder naming schemes in the Docs Home ensures that you’ll never misplace a doc, spreadsheet, or presentation again.

• A single-document approach (that is, singledocumindedness) empowers superb sharing, team collaboration, and revision control.

• Online publishing to Sites and blogs makes docs a key part of your communications strategy.

• Seamless conversion and support for other file types throws docs into the mainstream.

• The ability to work offline presents you with powerful new ways to work.


You can launch Docs Home in several ways:
• Enter a Web address: You can start your Google Docs directly from the Web by clicking the address bar and entering docs followed by your partnered domain name.
• Google Account users: Enter http://docs.google.com and log into your Google account.
• Team, Standard, Preferred, and Education Edition Users: Enter http://docs.google.com/a/yourdomain.com or http://docs.yourdomain.com. For example, http://docs.google.com/a/ardsleybooks.com or http://docs.ardsleybooks.com. Log into your Docs account.

• Use a Start Page gadget: You can launch Docs conveniently from a gadget on your Start Page. To add a gadget, follow these steps:
1. Click the Add Stuff link near the top left of the Start Page.
2. Click the Add It Now button below the Google Docs option. (While you’re here, you may as well add a gadget for your Gmail and Calendar apps!)
3. To return to your Start page, click the Back to Homepage link on the top left of the Add Stuff screen. After you add your gadget, click the Google Docs link at the top of the gadget. This takes you directly to the Docs Home screen. The gadget gives you one-click access to a half dozen of your most-recently opened files in a short list. There’s also a link to create new docs. Look closely and you notice there’s even a search box. If the document you need does not appear in the list, click the All Docs link and go directly to the Docs Home.

• Click the Documents link from other open Google Apps. Regardless of which Google App you’re using, if you peer at the upper-left corner, you can see a series of links. Click the Documents link to go straight to your Google Docs Home.

Your Docs account is protected by your login and password, just as they are on any other network. You can use the same login and password for all of your online Google Apps: Gmail, Sites, Calendar, Picasa, you name it. Click the Sign In link and input your secret password.

If your computer crashes and your hard drive dies, your files are still safe online. As long as you have access to the Internet, you can access your files. You can even access your Google Docs from your smartphone browser as long as your phone account supports a higher-speed connection to the Internet.

If you can’t use your computer, you can use any other computer that happens to be lying around and log into your private Google account online. Even if you login to your account from someone else’s computer, you won’t sacrifice your security if you sign out properly at the end of your session. However, you should beware of one thing when using a computer other than your own; never click the Remember Me on This Computer check box. Save this convenience for your personal computer.

Google is constantly making improvements to Docs. The software is constantly being updated, but for the most part, you hardly notice. Because Google Docs is Web based, the most recent version of the software loads instantly. There’s nothing for you to install. In fact, Docs is in a constant state of improvement.

Source of Information : Google Sites and Chrome FOR DUMMIES

Good Internet security is very important, especially if you do your banking and shopping online. Secure sites encrypt your personal information so that other people who may be watching your Internet activity can’t make sense of it. Using the right security settings can help protect you while you surf and keep your information safe. To access security settings, open the Google Chrome Options window, click the Under the Hood tab, and scroll to the Security section. Here’s what the options do:

• Enable Phishing and Malware Protection: Phishing sites imitate legitimate sites and try to trick you into giving your personal information, such as bank account numbers and PINs. Malware sites try to install viruses or other evil software that tracks your computer habits and keystrokes. Google keeps an updated list of known phishing and malware sites and checks to make sure that you’re not visiting one of them. With this option checked, Chrome blocks access to bad sites. Even though the phishing and malware filter work well, it’s still a good idea to keep your information safe. Don’t share any personal information, such as your Social Security Number or bank account information, on a site linked from your e-mail. When in doubt, visit the company’s main page (type the www.company.com address) and call a customer service representative.

• Manage Certificates: Click this button to access your computer’s certificates. Certificates are used to verify a site’s identity. Browse through the Certificates window that appears and remove any certificates you don’t want to keep.

• Use SSL 2.0: SSL 2.0 is an older security protocol that is less secure. Most sites use SSL 3.0 or newer, so you don’t need this option normally. If you come across a site that only works with SSL 2.0, you can enable it here. However, we recommend you leave it unchecked.

• Check for Server Certificate Revocation: Certificates normally expire at a certain point, but some sites’ certificates can be revoked before the expiration date. This option checks to make sure that your certificate is still valid before you access the site. If it is not valid, Chrome blocks access to that site.

• Mixed Content on Secure (SSL) Pages: Some secure pages show information found on insecure servers, such as images or text. Although it’s usually fine to allow all content to load, you can protect yourself from sending information to insecure sites by only allowing images or blocking insecure content completely.

• Cookie Settings: Cookies are little files that store bits of information from Web sites, such as your login or location so those sites can quickly load your personalized content the next time you visit. Most cookies are safe, but some could potentially track the pages you browse or the links you click. Cookie settings in the Security section include Allow, Restrict, or Block. Cookies received in Incognito mode are deleted automatically when you close the window. Click the Show Cookies button to search for and delete any specific cookies you like.

Source of Information : Google Sites and Chrome FOR DUMMIES

Web 2.0 is made possible by a lot of cool technology, such as HTML, AJAX, Flash, and Java. Chrome is built to handle HTML and AJAX just fine on its own, but Flash and Java require special software to work properly. The plugins are provided by Adobe and Sun, respectively, and here we show you how to get these plug-ins working in a breeze.


Installing plug-ins automatically
When you open a page that requires a plug-in, such as Flash Player, a yellow bar slides in below the toolbar indicating that an additional plug-in is required. Click the Install Plug-In button on the right side of the bar to begin installation. A confirmation window appears. Click the Get Plugin button. The plug-in installer downloads and runs on your computer. You may have to click a few buttons to allow the installer to run. After you run the plug-in installer, return to your Chrome tab and click the Reload button in the toolbar. The page should now show your added features.


Installing plug-ins manually
Some sites won’t allow you to install plug-ins quite as easily as we describe above. You can still get them working, but it may take a few more steps, listed here:

1. Navigate to the plug-in Web site. We list a few essential ones below.

2. Click the button(s) that say Download. You may have to click through a few screens and accept a license agreement.

3. Open the installer by clicking the icon in the Installer Bar at the bottom of your tab. The plug-in installer opens in a new window.

4. Click the Next and Accept buttons to install the plug-in, and then click Finish. The installer closes.

5. Switch back to Chrome and click the Reload button. Your plug-in should load correctly and show your interactive content. In some cases, you may need to close Chrome completely and open a new tab.

Here’s a list of plug-ins we can’t live without and where you can download them:

• Flash: Enables you to watch YouTube videos and play online games. Many Web sites also use Flash for navigation menus and advertisements, as well. Go to www.adobe.com/go/getflash to download Flash.

• Adobe Reader: Opens any PDF file you come across. PDF files are digital replicas of paper documents, including manuals and eBooks. Download the reader at www.adobe.com/go/getreader.

• Java: This is used on shopping sites for 3D product views, for some online games, and other tools. Go to www.java.com for more info.

• QuickTime: View high definition streaming video and virtual tours. Find it at www.quicktime.com. If you’ve already installed iTunes, you already have QuickTime.


Source of Information : Google Sites and Chrome FOR DUMMIES

You have many browser choices out there. If you’re running Windows, you have likely used Internet Explorer to see the world. If you have a Mac, your Web is powered by Safari. Although both of these browsers do a fine job of displaying your pages and running your apps, there’s a better way. Chrome, was built from the ground up as a browser for Web 2.0. The developers focused specifically on speed, security, and reliability throughout the design process. Plus, Chrome taps into Google Search to make finding information a breeze.



Using a faster browser
Internet apps use technology that is much more advanced than simple HTML. Older browsers started simple and kept adding new capabilities. Over time, they’ve become bulky and slow because each app has to load before the browser can load. Who has time to wait for browser windows to open?

Chrome takes advantage of new technology that runs many of these advanced features without using as much computer memory as other older browsers. This means that Chrome starts immediately after you open it and new tabs appear just as quickly. Additionally, many online apps, including Gmail and Google Sites, run much faster in Chrome than in other browsers. Try it and you’ll see what we mean.

If you decide Chrome isn’t for you, our feelings won’t be hurt. You can always go back to Internet Explorer, Safari, or whatever other browser you’re used to. However, it’s going to take a lot of effort to pry us away from Chrome.



Making the most of Google Search
The Internet is built around search. Whether you’re reviewing products, mastering a new medical procedure, or looking for that special e-mail message, search is indispensable. That’s why Chrome builds in Google Search technology everywhere from finding Web sites to locating bookmarks to checking your browsing history. One of the unique features of Chrome is the Omnibox. The Omnibox combines the browser’s address bar, search bar, and search from other Web sites into one location. Whether you know the address or want Google to find it, the Omnibox takes care of you.

Believe it or not, several other search services are out there that you can use in place of Google, including Yahoo!, Live Search, AOL, and more. When you open Chrome the first time, you have the option to choose Google Search or some other service. You can change it at any time using the Options screen.



Keeping your computer safe
Chrome even protects you from people who would steal your information or install bad software onto your computer. Every time you use it, Chrome automatically downloads a list of Web sites that Google knows are bad. They either try to get you to give up your personal information or load software to track your behavior. Whenever you come across a bad site, Google blocks the screen and helps you navigate away. If you’re certain the site is legitimate, there’s an option to continue at your own risk.

With the Omnibox, you have a handful of ways to tell whether a site is legitimate. In the Omnibox, the domain name of the site you’re visiting appears in black letters and the rest of the long address is gray. If you’re visiting an eBay page, make sure that the address shows www.ebay.com and not some other address. When you’re on a secure site, the Omnibox is yellow and a lock icon appears on the right side. You’ll also notice that the “https” letters appear in green.

Scammers like to make you think you’re visiting a popular site, such as your bank or eBay. Although Chrome does its best to protect you from these sites, do not enter personal information, such as PINs or Social Security numbers, on a site that you visit from an e-mail link. When in doubt, visit the site directly (by typing www.ebay.com, for example) and log in, or call the organization to see whether the request is valid.


Source of Information : Google Sites and Chrome FOR DUMMIES

Google Apps (www.google.com/apps) is made up of five fully-functioning online applications: Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Talk, and Sites. Communicating with other people on the Internet is a snap with Gmail and Talk, and collaboration is simple with Calendar, Docs, and Sites. Each of these apps are fully functioning programs that allow you to do your work, such as e-mail and word processing, from any Web browser, instead of relying on your computer’s other installed software. Additionally, you can quickly access information you store online by using mini versions of the apps called gadgets. There are different editions of the whole Google Apps package, depending on your organization and needs. These include:

• Team Edition: If you already have a school or work e-mail address, this edition adds Calendar, Docs, Talk, and Sites to the mix. Plus, you can instantly start connecting with other users in your organization that have already signed up. (Click the link for Coworkers or Classmates.)

• Standard Edition: If your group or business is just starting out or is switching from another service, such as Outlook, this free edition of Google Apps lets you use all five services with your existing domain name with minimal e-mail advertisements. (Click the Business IT Managers link, click the See Details and Sign Up button, and then click Compare to Standard Edition)

• Premier Edition: This edition costs $50 per user per year, but adds more functionality and security than Standard Edition, more storage space, provides 24/7 support, and gets rid of the ads. (Click the Business IT Managers link.)

• Education Edition. This is just like Premier Edition, but free for universities, schools, and other nonprofit organizations. (Click the School IT Managers link.) These apps just so happen to play nice with each other, too, by allowing you to easily share information from one app with another. Some of the features we talk about in this book include alerts, which are sent to your e-mail account, and embedded calendars, which help your team members know what’s coming up.

Source of Information : Google Sites and Chrome FOR DUMMIES

Microsoft Office Live Workspace
Microsoft Office Live Workspace (http://workspace.officelive.com) — a free service that’s probably the most similar to Sites — offers users the ability to share files easily and to comment on projects. Unlike Sites, however, there’s no Web page tool, so creating a wiki site isn’t part of the package.

The main advantage to using Office Live Workspace is that if you use Microsoft Office, you can download a plug-in that gives you easy access to save your Office documents directly to the site. Office Live’s big brothers, Groove and SharePoint, offer additional features for larger companies but also require expensive servers and software. To use Office Live Workspace, you need a Windows Live ID and password, which you can get free at http://home.live.com.



Blackboard and Moodle
Blackboard (www.blackboard.com) and Moodle (www.moodle.org) are both great tools for teachers to keep track of classes, handouts, quizzes, and grades. They provide tools for pretty much any aspect of your class needs. But they’re also very complex and require extensive training every time a new semester rolls around.

Blackboard and Moodle both require servers to run on, and someone to maintain them. You also have to pay a license fee for Blackboard. If your school already uses either one, they have gone ahead and taken care of the cost. In cases where you don’t need all the bells and whistles or if you use other publisher-provided tools, Google Sites gives you the basics to share all of your classroom information with the students in your class.



Acrobat
Adobe takes a slightly different approach to sharing files. They offer five services through their Web site, www.acrobat.com, which allow you to create and share individual files with others:


• Buzzword is an online word processor similar to Google Docs.

• ConnectNow lets you host online conferences and share your screen over the Internet.

• Create PDF is a tool to transform your documents into portable document format.

• Share lets you upload and invite others to see your documents.

• My Files gives you a place to keep your files and access them from anywhere.

Instead of using a wiki-like interface, Acrobat gives you the option to enter the e-mail addresses of your team members so they can keep track of your files. Although this is useful for individual documents, it makes running a whole team project a little difficult because every time you want to share a file, you have to remember the addresses of everyone on your team. Still, the black interface is very easy to use and is just plain cool.


Source of Information : Google Sites and Chrome FOR DUMMIES