4 ms·

Why doesn't Google just charge for this? This is the only thing that makes printing off of an Android phone even ok. I have a Pixel and for the life of me I can

Why doesn't Google just charge for this? This is the only thing that makes printing off of an Android phone even ok. I have a Pixel and for the life of me I cannot print easily from it, and I have tried multiple different printer manufacturers.

inapis 7y ago
Revenue generated from charging for products such as this would be probably chump change for Google. Google is a mass market company thus chump change is irrelevant to them. Plus they are used to operating at a scale by providing products for free. Consumers are used to Google providing products for free. Thus it’s jarring for a lot of users to suddenly pay for basic functionality. Enterprises probably don’t need this because they’ve already figured out network printing decades ago. Plus when you start charging people “money,” you’re expected to provide “human” support. Google won’t come near products where “human” support is necessary even with a 10ft pole unless you’re spending gajillion dollars with them. In a strategic sense it makes sense for “Google” to shut it down. Companies like Readdle will probably fill in the spots
- hinkley 7y ago
  But Google isn’t Google anymore. They’re Google, an Alphabet Company. So there should be more space for this. The problem is that Page and Brin, the authors of the perverse incentives at Google, are still in charge. Alphabet would have been a great place to bring in some people who are good at maintaining projects. Hell Google could learn a thing or two via osmosis about efficiency from them. Maybe cut the ageist bullshit down a notch and hire some people who come with experience instead of making the same mistakes over and over. But no, it’s still the Larry and Sergei show.
  - vonmoltke 7y ago
    > Maybe cut the ageist bullshit down a notch and hire some people who come with experience instead of making the same mistakes over and over. Hey, they're more than happy to hire anyone who can pass a four-hour CS undergrad final as a mid-level engineer, regardless of age or experience.
    - hinkley 7y ago
      Fairly sure that was sarcasm, in which case I approve. One of the things that people learn in college is that college is way harder than high school and a bunch of things that didn’t matter much in high school are super important. Same thing happens when you leave college. College teaches a bunch of skill that will absolutely save your ass once a month, maybe once a week at first. Then you have to learn a bunch of skills that save your ass every single day. It is rare that I compliment Microsoft, but somehow they managed to hire people right out of college and not give them Peter Pan syndrome, while Google has failed at this. And I think it starts with the interview process. MS looked for improvisation. Google focuses on book learning.

inapis 7y ago

Revenue generated from charging for products such as this would be probably chump change for Google. Google is a mass market company thus chump change is irrelevant to them. Plus they are used to operating at a scale by providing products for free. Consumers are used to Google providing products for free. Thus it’s jarring for a lot of users to suddenly pay for basic functionality. Enterprises probably don’t need this because they’ve already figured out network printing decades ago. Plus when you start charging people “money,” you’re expected to provide “human” support. Google won’t come near products where “human” support is necessary even with a 10ft pole unless you’re spending gajillion dollars with them. In a strategic sense it makes sense for “Google” to shut it down. Companies like Readdle will probably fill in the spots

hinkley 7y ago
But Google isn’t Google anymore. They’re Google, an Alphabet Company. So there should be more space for this. The problem is that Page and Brin, the authors of the perverse incentives at Google, are still in charge. Alphabet would have been a great place to bring in some people who are good at maintaining projects. Hell Google could learn a thing or two via osmosis about efficiency from them. Maybe cut the ageist bullshit down a notch and hire some people who come with experience instead of making the same mistakes over and over. But no, it’s still the Larry and Sergei show.
- vonmoltke 7y ago
  > Maybe cut the ageist bullshit down a notch and hire some people who come with experience instead of making the same mistakes over and over. Hey, they're more than happy to hire anyone who can pass a four-hour CS undergrad final as a mid-level engineer, regardless of age or experience.
  - hinkley 7y ago
    Fairly sure that was sarcasm, in which case I approve. One of the things that people learn in college is that college is way harder than high school and a bunch of things that didn’t matter much in high school are super important. Same thing happens when you leave college. College teaches a bunch of skill that will absolutely save your ass once a month, maybe once a week at first. Then you have to learn a bunch of skills that save your ass every single day. It is rare that I compliment Microsoft, but somehow they managed to hire people right out of college and not give them Peter Pan syndrome, while Google has failed at this. And I think it starts with the interview process. MS looked for improvisation. Google focuses on book learning.