Autodemo Throwback Thursday: Google (2005)

Autodemo Throwback Thursday Heads Back to 2005

Autodemo throws it back to 2005, when we were crafting a demo video for Google’s Gmail service. The video focuses on how potential consumers could begin the move over to the Gmail service. Beginning with a walkthrough of the email contact migration, this video expounds upon this through direct demonstration. Watching this demo allows all consumers to work from the same level of understanding, as opposed to having to call tech support. That change alone saved an immense amount of time and money for Google.

Gmail took the world by storm in 2005.

Looking back on working with Google

Gmail was not quite a year old, when Autodemo produced this video for Google. Taking slightly less than 2 1/2 minutes, Autodemo showcased the freedom of moving to a new personal email account. While a great deal of these actions are now automated directly in the service, the fundamentals of importing contacts still remain relevant for Gmail. That being said, the video was very much a product of its era. The holdover services from the 1990s-early 00s were giving way to the popular broadband favored applications.

The video specifically targets Hotmail as an older service to transfer to Gmail. Hotmail in 2005 was just as popular as Gmail is now. However, both services use similar means to launch and display particular aspects they have to offer. Many similar e-mail services of the era lacked even these basic functions, so they were naturally lost to time. For younger readers, the detailed steps involving CSV and Windows XP commands will feel archaic. Due to the rapidly changing needs of business, an 11-12 year tech jump will do that. Therefore, look at this video as a slice of history.

What Else Was Happening in 2005?

Autodemo Throwback Thursday is taking another trip back in time. How well do you remember 2005? Feel free to share our Top 10 Happenings of 2005 with your friends and fellow industry influencers.

10 Ways That The World Changed in 2005

  1. The world’s largest commercial jet, the Airbus A380, is unveiled in France.
  2. Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State, becoming the first African American woman to hold the post.
  3. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger elected Pope Benedict XVI on the second day of the Papal conclave.
  4. The Huffington Post is launched.
  5. Mark Felt, former FBI high ranking official revealed as “Deep Throat” source during Watergate investigations in “Vanity Fair” article.
  6. Hurricane Dennis slams into the Florida panhandle causing billions of dollars in damage.
  7. Hurricane Katrina makes its 2nd landfall as a category 3 hurricane devastating much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida panhandle. Kills more than 1,836, causes over $115 billion in damage.
  8. The teen lit vampire novel Twilight is first published.
  9. NFL plays first regular season game outside United States when the Arizona Cardinals defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-14 in Mexico City, Mexico.
  10. Angela Merkel becomes the first female Chancellor of Germany.

Where will we go next? Autodemo will keep throwing it back every other Thursday for you.