Stuff to check out.
Google Checkout: Google Checkout™ is a new way to process online transactions. Checkout can work independently to pay for or accept transactions or, in tandem with Google’s AdWords search advertising program, to increase sales and minimize expenses throughout the online purchasing process. Google Checkout also offers fraud protection as well as a unified page for tracking purchases. An added benefit, merchants can process sales from Google Checkout for free until the end of 2007.
Snap Preview Anywhere: Snap Preview Anywhere provides link previews for site visitors. Users can get a glimpse of the link destination without needing to click on the link and leave your site. Snap Preview Anywhere is a complimentary service and supports nine languages — English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, German, Spanish and Portugese. In a world of information overload and short attention spans, tools like this are providing value to end-users and advanced functionality for websites.
ClipSyndicate: A new Web publishing platform that enables users to find relevant video clips for use on their sites. Search by keyword or browse content providers like AP, Bloomberg and others, or through pre-defined channels such as News, Entertainment or Health. Then reformat video content for your website or blog through various integration formats like HTML, JavaScript or RSS. The ClipSyndicate Media player is launched directly upon click, allowing users to view a selected video and browse deeper into a channel. Still in beta, ClipSyndicate presents an interesting alternative with an opportunity to share in revenue. It might be a competitor to big players like YouTube that will ultimately release a competing service.
AnswerTips: If your website is loaded with jargon or complex terminology, you may want to look into AnswerTips — a free product from Answers.com that displays small “bubbles” of information when users double click on a word in question. It’s quick and easy to integrate and won’t distract readers or cause site owners to lose visitors, as new browser windows are not initiated. Make sure your users are aware of the feature so that it does not get overlooked.