Google Page Creator
Encyclopedia
Google Page Creator was a website
creation and hosting
service by Google
. It was a tool for basic website design, requiring no HTML
knowledge. During development, it was codenamed Trogdor, a reference to the popular Homestar Runner
website. As of August 2008, Google Pages had over 3 million users according to Google's own index.
In September 2008, Google announced that it would not accept new sign-ups to Page Creator, instead encouraging users to use Google Sites
. The service had been shut down in 2009, while existing published pages migrated to Google Sites. Google Sites have URLS now such as http://sites.google.com/site/example/
Lacking the ability to link to external CSS means in-page CSS had to be utilized, and such style code could not change the basic structure of the templates. Some critics had claimed that the templates and limited customization would lead to similar problems (such as large numbers of sites with uninteresting, 'identikit' designs) as were experienced by the GeoCities
service in the late 1990s. An earlier criticism that Google's own Adsense
program and similar services were not available in the Page Creator and required a hack to work. It had been addressed by the ability to include JavaScript in Page Creator.
Google launched a product called Google Sites
in February 2008 and had stopped accepting new sign-ups for Page Creator. Google's About Google Page Creator page states that: "If you are currently a Page Creator user, you can continue to use Page Creator and your pages will automatically be transitioned to Google Sites later this year."
Google Sites has fewer templates than Page Creator. Another disadvantage is that Google Sites does not allow importing an independently created HTML file. Google has also not explained whether the transition to Google Sites will include transition of any presence in the Google index of Googlepages sites.
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
creation and hosting
Web hosting service
A web hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to make their own website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server they own or lease for use by their clients as well as providing Internet...
service by Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
. It was a tool for basic website design, requiring no HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
knowledge. During development, it was codenamed Trogdor, a reference to the popular Homestar Runner
Homestar Runner
Homestar Runner is a Flash animated Internet cartoon. It mixes surreal humor with references to retro pop culture, notably video games, classic television, and popular music.The cartoons are nominally centered on the title character, Homestar Runner...
website. As of August 2008, Google Pages had over 3 million users according to Google's own index.
In September 2008, Google announced that it would not accept new sign-ups to Page Creator, instead encouraging users to use Google Sites
Google Sites
Google Sites is a structured wiki- and web page-creation tool offered by Google as part of the Google Apps Productivity suite.- History :Google Sites started out as JotSpot, the name and sole product of a software company that offered enterprise social software. It was targeted mainly at...
. The service had been shut down in 2009, while existing published pages migrated to Google Sites. Google Sites have URLS now such as http://sites.google.com/site/example/
Suggestions for Improvement
Spammers could harvest gmail addresses by editing "username.googlepages.com" to "username@gmail.com". Perhaps to address this vulnerability to spammers, Google allowed the user to "Create another site", which would be a new address within the googlepages.com domain. To avoid spammers, one could create a new site and hide the default site, which contains one's gmail username.Lacking the ability to link to external CSS means in-page CSS had to be utilized, and such style code could not change the basic structure of the templates. Some critics had claimed that the templates and limited customization would lead to similar problems (such as large numbers of sites with uninteresting, 'identikit' designs) as were experienced by the GeoCities
GeoCities
Yahoo! GeoCities is a web hosting service, currently available only in Japan.GeoCities was originally founded by David Bohnett and John Rezner in late 1994 as Beverly Hills Internet . In its original form, site users selected a "city" in which to place their web pages...
service in the late 1990s. An earlier criticism that Google's own Adsense
AdSense
Google AdSense which is a program run by Google Inc. allows publishers in the Google Network of content sites to automatically serve text, image, video, and rich media adverts that are targeted to site content and audience. These adverts are administered, sorted, and maintained by Google, and they...
program and similar services were not available in the Page Creator and required a hack to work. It had been addressed by the ability to include JavaScript in Page Creator.
Google launched a product called Google Sites
Google Sites
Google Sites is a structured wiki- and web page-creation tool offered by Google as part of the Google Apps Productivity suite.- History :Google Sites started out as JotSpot, the name and sole product of a software company that offered enterprise social software. It was targeted mainly at...
in February 2008 and had stopped accepting new sign-ups for Page Creator. Google's About Google Page Creator page states that: "If you are currently a Page Creator user, you can continue to use Page Creator and your pages will automatically be transitioned to Google Sites later this year."
Google Sites has fewer templates than Page Creator. Another disadvantage is that Google Sites does not allow importing an independently created HTML file. Google has also not explained whether the transition to Google Sites will include transition of any presence in the Google index of Googlepages sites.