Google have launched
Google Page Creator, a free website creation tool.
Perhaps best described as Geocities for the 21st century, Page Creator takes the Google AJAX magic and applies it to website design. The process is simple, albeit, at this time, a little buggy.
In a fashion remarkably similar to Powerpoint, users can pick from a number of themes (or change them on the go) and text layouts. It makes use of a rather clever What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor, so users don't have to face the prospect of editing HTML (but the option exists). Best of all, in true ground breaking fashion, Google lets you have 100MB of space for free, and it doesn't even put ads on your homepage.
It's all very easy; of course, that's the idea. Google have identified an area of the web which has garnered little interest in the last few years. "Free" providers traditionally have provided a lack lustre offering designed to try and persuade people to go up to pay-for options. No longer. Google Pages sees the company delve into a natural but new field, and will no doubt be popular.
Screenshot: >> Click here <<
View: Signup
Perhaps best described as Geocities for the 21st century, Page Creator takes the Google AJAX magic and applies it to website design. The process is simple, albeit, at this time, a little buggy.
In a fashion remarkably similar to Powerpoint, users can pick from a number of themes (or change them on the go) and text layouts. It makes use of a rather clever What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor, so users don't have to face the prospect of editing HTML (but the option exists). Best of all, in true ground breaking fashion, Google lets you have 100MB of space for free, and it doesn't even put ads on your homepage.
It's all very easy; of course, that's the idea. Google have identified an area of the web which has garnered little interest in the last few years. "Free" providers traditionally have provided a lack lustre offering designed to try and persuade people to go up to pay-for options. No longer. Google Pages sees the company delve into a natural but new field, and will no doubt be popular.
Screenshot: >> Click here << View: Signup
EDIT: Just published a quick page, and there are NO ads at this time.
you're forgetting desktop search, sidebar, start.com/live.com(google personalize), gadgets(called modules)...
I'd say they equally rip each other off, but google is considered one of the most innovative compaines.
Reminds me of a friend of mine who has a bakery. Bakes pies, cakes, cookies, bread. Then some SOB has the temerity to open another bakery down the road and bake those exact same things!
How dare he bake those things when my friend was already doing it!
//EDIT - I see now, you need to have a gmail account so there aim is in effect so increase numbers across their 'passport' system (most of which is ad serving).
And it's quite uncommon to have free + ad-free web hosting from established companies offering over 100 MB.
I'm almost beginning to believe there are more Google fanboys than there are Firefox ones. Of course that is probably due to the fact that Firefox has become the target of security issues and such, and maybe people are FINALLY realizing Firefox isn't all that great either.
People like Google's products. If you don't like that fact, then ignore them. Don't be a fool by being a troll.
edit 1: tried using the service, opera not supported as browser, come on, what part of javascript or css does opera not support that is needed, this is bs
edit 2: created a page, passed it trough the validator (http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffreedownloads.googlepages.com%2Fhome) net even standard html. and that from a company that is always boosting about it's standard compliance and it's help to the open source community. shame on you google
Last edited by XerXis on 23 Feb 2006 - 13:00
OT, Man I wish I could win the lotto, even 1mil will do. I need funds. lol.
As for valid html.... no comment on that.
Sucks about Opera, though; if they go putting all their eggs in one basket like this (in the same way all their desktop apps only work on Windows), then all they're doing is paying lip-service to the principles of open standards.
I like to think the hiring last month of Guido van Rossum (creator of the Python language) is because they know this, and are hoping to improve portability of these technologies. We'll see...
Wonder if it has instant google crawling too
Just use it to host your pictures and stuff.
I created an account the live sites do not have ads.
it's like if there was a truly WYSIWYG programming app (don't throw rocks at me if there is, i don't dwell in programming), you can't complain it's too "basic". it's supposed to be basic to make it easy for people not knowledgeable enough to use it.
if it's too basic for you, you shouldn't be using it. write your code in a text editor like you should.
I remember the days before i paid for webhosting, 5mb of rather unreliable ad filled space was all i could find.
100mb is good if you want to make your own little page for what ever reason. good on you google
I mean, html is more than enough for the average user which is probably the majority of people that are going to be using this.
Thank you for your interest in Google Page Creator! Google Page Creator has experienced extremely strong demand, and, as a result, we have temporarily limited the number of new signups as we increase capacity. In the meantime, please submit your email address and we will notify you as soon as we are ready to add new accounts. Thank you for your patience.
Maybe pages already hosted with them means more pages they don't have to cache?
I still don't see how it could be profitable... Can somebody help me out here?
thats how....with spam advertistments and selling your email address.....slick move LOL
And, what service in their right mind will sell your email to someone so that in return they can get bombarded by spam? That would practically kill their servers.
"Hmm, I think I'll submit all these emails so that it can clog up the server and cause it to crash!"
Nothing really there, was just testing the WYSIWYG interface, which is pretty nice!
As long as they allow hotlinking images, this could be a really nice place to host pictures because it's fast
Google Page Creator has experienced extremely strong demand, and, as a result, we have temporarily limited the number of new signups as we increase capacity. We will notify you as soon as we are ready to add new accounts. Thank you for your patience.
I say lycos and the people say "no way!".
I say google and the fanboys say "Hallelujah brothers and sisters! we are saved!".
You cannot trust some opinnions in internet, specially when we talk about google, anti-ms or linux cause they are too biased to be near of the reality. For instance Picasa was acclaimed like a "MUST HAVE" but the facts is the program is useless and there are a lot more programs better and free.
Now, you can have a not-for-free webpage for the price of a beer. The advantage is you put the rules, you can put ads or not, you can put the name that you want or the content you want. So the question is why to invest time in a page where you are (in some ways) limited?. May be if you are a kid or you want to put a anonymous webpage.. To be free is good but it's not a holy grail.
Apart from the advanced features you expect from purchased hosts - for a WYSISYG editor - with some basic html coding support - its more than enough for the people they are targeting it at. AKA the Teen/Blog Market.
Not the advanced coders present on neowin.
As for Picasa - As a tech - and using it personally - the program ISN'T useless.
lots more programs better and free? Whats the point of point out 'free' as picassa is 'free'.
And for end users that do not have a clue about what they are doing - again its a great program.
Sure I have a couple of bugs with it - particulary the labeling area - but apart from that it runs well.
Speaking of talking about limited pages - thats just what is needed - my brother wants to have a website where they can upload photos, and announcements - what more is needed?
Surely not php, linked to a mysql database for a group of people who do not know how to use anything more the a wysiwyg.
While personally - and yes i did create a site - like it the limitations - such as the lack of a single consistent navigational area - across the site - not replicated on each page as it is, mean its useful for a small subset of web pages - Hmm, look at mySpace.
You cant trust opinions on the net - sure - thats because the bias works both ways.
Take this from someone who has used, and is using the products.
they may even let you intergrate your blogger blog at some point... sounds pretty cool though
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