Top 8 Points On Google’s New Privacy Policy

March 1 has finally come, which means Google’s long talked-about new privacy policy is now in place. The rumors about the changes have been flying wildly since Google first announced them back in January, but the truth is that very few people have actually taken the time to learn what the new policy really means.  But since Google is now operating under the new policy, it’s more important than ever to understand how it will affect you.  

Below are the top eight points you should know about Google’s new privacy policy.

1. Google is not selling your personal data

When Google first announced these changes, there was a popular belief that the cloud service provider would begin selling user’s personal data.  However, this is simply a myth.  Google is not selling your information, or even sharing it, with anyone.

2. Google has simply consolidated its many privacy policies into one

The big change for the new privacy policy is actually quite simple.  Previously, Google had a distinct privacy policy for each of its many services.  Now, Google has one, giant policy for the majority of its services.  This change means a simpler, easier-to-understand privacy policy that applies to most of the Google platforms you use regularly.

3. Google now has a complete snapshot of your web presence

Since Google now has one all-encompassing privacy policy, it now has a complete snapshot of your internet activity.  Basically, this means Google can track your activity as one user across its many platforms, which enables it to put together a complete picture of you as a Google user.  Why is this important?  Google plans to use this information to improve its services.  To get a better idea of exactly what this means, you can use the Google Dashboard to see your activity across all Google platforms just like Google does.

4. You will soon see more personalization

A major component of the improved services is more personalization.  With its complete user picture, Google will soon get a better idea of who you are online - how and where you spend your time on the web, what you tend to look for, and what you usually find the most beneficial.  Google will use this information to give you more of what you like and less of what you don’t, therefore personalizing its services to suit your individual needs.  Examples of this personalization include automatic spelling corrections, suggested contact lists, better search results, and advertisements geared toward your interests.  You can even contribute to the personalization with tools like the Ads Preference Manager, which allows you to designate what kinds of ads you want to see.

5. Google’s platforms are now working together

Because most of Google’s platforms now share the same privacy policy, they are working together more than ever before.  This close integration allows for a smoother connection when working across multiple Google platforms, such as Gmail and Google Docs.  How will this connection actually affect you?  There are many ways, one of which is notifications.  With the changes in place, if you use Google Calendar to mark appointments and Google Maps to get to these appointments, you may now receive a notification indicating whether or not you’ll make it to the appointment on time.  This is because the two platforms can now share information with one another like you’re destination, the time you need to be there, you’re current location, and traffic conditions.

6. To experience more personalization and collaboration, you need to use more Google services

Google is able to offer this more personalized service because of the way it can now see your complete user data across all of its platforms.  To receive the most personalized services, as well as to get the most benefits from the increased collaboration between platforms, you need to use a variety of Google services on a regular basis.  This is because the more services you use, and the more often you use them, the more information about you Google will have to draw on when it comes to personalization.  Given this, Google Apps users, who tend to use the most Google platforms regularly, are likely to see the most changes in the shortest amount of time.

7. You can still use Google without having information tracked

These changes may be a lot for some people to take in, which is why there are ways you can still use Google services without having your information tracked.  Examples of tools that allow this are the “incognito window” in the Google Chrome web browser, which allows you to slip off Google’s radar, and “off the record” chat in Gmail.  Additionally, if you want to conduct a simple search or watch YouTube videos without Google noticing, you can easily sign out of your Google account.

8. Google will now be meeting your needs better and faster

Now that all of these changes are in place, you can expect Google to meet your needs better and faster.  From more personalized services to increased collaboration across platforms, the changes resulting from Google’s new privacy policy are all poised to improve your user experience.

Cloud Sherpas is a leading cloud service provider and was named the “Google Enterprise 2011 Partner of the Year.” As one of the first Google Enterprise partners, Cloud Sherpas has migrated over one million users across a variety of industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cloud Sherpas has regional offices in locations including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Austin and Sydney, and has more Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialists than any other partner in the world.

Should You Buy a Chromebook?

There’s been a lot of buzz about Google’s Chromebook, and the reviews have been mixed. There are strong opinions on both sides concerning whether or not you should purchase one. The Chromebook is a netbook. It’s unlike either a laptop or a tablet, and its primary purpose is to access the Internet. Previously Chromebooks were considered by many to be too expensive for their limited functionality.

But now the price has been reduced, and you can purchase one starting at $299. Many people love the simplistic nature of the Chromebook, and they find it incredibly useful. Whether or not you’ll feel the same usually depends on your personal computing needs and lifestyle, but it is definitely worth considering. So should you buy a Chromebook?

Image by rwentechaney via Flickr

Do You Compute on the Go?

The Chromebook is incredibly light and easily portable. It also has a battery life of approximately ten hours, and it boots up in mere seconds. If you frequently need to compute on the go, the Chromebook might be a great option for you. You can access the Internet anywhere with Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity. If you do a lot of typing and document creation or editing, it’s much easier to use than your smartphone and less bulky than your laptop. It will easily sit on your lap anywhere without getting hot, and you can leave in the morning with a full battery and not worry about bringing a charger.

Do You Love Google?

If you already use lots of Google services like Gmail, Docs and the Chrome browser, you won’t have any problem transitioning to a Chromebook. The Google brand is reliable and always improving. Google is constantly designing new features, and they’ve done wonders with the Chrome OS.

Do You Primarily Use the Internet?

When you’re on your computer, if your primary use of it is accessing the Internet, the Chromebook could be for you. Everything on the Chromebook is web-based, and you’ll access all of your files from your cloud storage. It’s not a great option for people who need to do a lot of photo or video editing, but it has plenty of functionality for people who rely on the Internet for most of their needs. If your only other needs are things like Microsoft Word or Excel, Google Docs has you covered. The Chromebook doesn’t have a whole lot of use if it’s not connected to the Internet, so make sure the places you would use it have Wi-Fi access, or you’ll need to pay for 3G. If you like to listen to music while you work, don’t worry because Google Music will let you access your library from the cloud, too.

Image by slgckgc via Flickr

Do Computers Confuse You?

Even though we live in the technology age, many people are still confused by computers or reluctant to learn, especially senior citizens. The Chromebook is a great option for people who want a simple and straightforward way to access the Internet. It’s very user-friendly, and there isn’t a whole lot else to worry about.

Image by slgckgc via Flickr

Do You Dislike Maintenance? 

The Chromebook requires little maintenance. The Chrome OS will automatically install updates, and you don’t have to worry about time-consuming updates and restarts. You also don’t have a need for extra antivirus software or constantly backing up your work, because the majority of your data will be stored on the cloud. Because of the cloud, you can also access your files anywhere and eliminate the need for saving your work to a disc, USB or other storage to transport it.

Terry Ford is a technologist and a professional freelancer. This article was proofed using one of Terry's favorite tools Grammarly grammar checker.