Google Base : User Reviews, Auctions, Classifieds, Real Estate & More
Google Base is coming, but what is it? Some folks have called it an eBay Killer. Others, the next Google Classifieds. Or will it be Google Auctions? And will Google Wallet launch to give all of these possible scenarios a payment system? A hub for user generated content which will be integrated across the Google neetwork and put Yahoo’s user reviews to shame? Google tested their Base.Google.com page for about an hour Tuesday and then again last night,which gave some Googlers a sneak peak – but Google Base is still a mystery.
Were the live tests of Google Base a ploy to strike up some industry buzz and put the fear of God into eBay’s Meg Whitman and send Amazon.com up the river during after both companies stock fell due to third quarter earnings? Google enjoys what little have, the ability to shock the world in the blink of an eye. They leak the news of a new database program that no one in the public has even realy used yet, and speculation of the end of eBay due to Google Auctions and Classifieds go through the roof.
To back up the theory of Google feeding the Searchosphere with the buzz generating sweetness of honey and cream, here’s an incredibly vague description of what Google Base can do, positioning it as a competitor of almost any web service:
• Description of your party planning service (eVite, HotJobs, Craigslist)
• Articles on current events from your website (mySQL, Yahoo, Blogger)
• Listing of your used car for sale (eBay, Amazon, Yellow Pages, Paypal, Craigslist)
• Database of protein structures (Ning.com – probably the closest relative of Google Base)
Yes, I most highly suggest looking at Ning.com, as it may be the closest thing to Google Base on the market. Google also plans to integrate these recipes, classifieds, and personal info into its Google search results, Froogle, and Google Local. Let’s just hope that this Base comes with Spam defense.
The Google Baseheads Searchosphere Buzz :
Google Blogoscoped : Right now, Google Base was live for me. For a few seconds. I was logged into my Google Account (Gmail), so I could start editing right away and created a people profile. I could preview my draft, and I could see auto-completion (probably Ajax-based – a text input box with a select-box style drop down). However, as soon as I tried to save my edit, I was asked for my password again. Entering it returned me once more to the login screen asking me for the password. Since that time, even when I delete my cookies or try another browser, I can’t get it to work. So I suppose for the moment, for some, trying out the system worked, but only up to a point – saving didn’t.
Nick from ThreadWatch : So, Google Base is live once again and oh boy, it’s not just craigslist! Get a load of that bastard!
* Course Schedules
* Events & Activities
* Housing
* Jobs
* News & Articles
* People Profiles
* Products
* Reference Articles
* Reviews
* Services
* Travel
* Vehicles
* Wanted Ads
More Google Base screenshots on Flickr!
