4 ms·

Despite its actions historically, Google has shown the ability to incubate a startup and provide the resources it needs to reach levels of success previously un

by Oculus 12y ago

Despite its actions historically, Google has shown the ability to incubate a startup and provide the resources it needs to reach levels of success previously unimaginable. Two such examples are Google Maps [1] & Android [2]. 1 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps#Acquisition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps#Acquisition 2 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)#History http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)#Hist...

eridius 12y ago
I didn't realize Google Maps was an acquire. But that was Google from 10 years ago, which is a very different company than the Google of today. Google does what's best for Google. Google doesn't do what's best for its users. Its users aren't its customers (its customers are advertisers). If Google does something that appears to be good for its users, it's because it's good for Google as a company. Furthermore, when Google acquires a product/company, it does not do so because it wants to further that product/company's goals. It does so because it wants to further its own goals. Basically, Word Lens is joining the Google Translate team. But that does not necessarily mean the Word Lens functionality will be put in the iOS Translate app. Google will do that if they think it's good for Google, but I would not be in the least surprised to see them reserve that functionality for e.g. Android or Google Glass. Edit: Whomever downvoted me, care to explain your reasoning?
- cageface 12y ago
  Google does what's best for Google. Google doesn't do what's best for its users. Unlike every other for-profit business in the world? (I didn't downvote, BTW)
  - eridius 12y ago
    Unlike every other for-profit business in the world? For most companies, their users are their customers. Doing right by their customers means doing right by their users. But Google's customers are their advertisers, and their users are their product. Facebook and Twitter are the only other examples I can think of of companies with massive user bases who consider their users to be their product (except Facebook and Twitter are relatively focused on their core product, whereas Google seems to be trying to do pretty much everything under the sun).

by Oculus 12y ago

eridius 12y ago

I didn't realize Google Maps was an acquire. But that was Google from 10 years ago, which is a very different company than the Google of today. Google does what's best for Google. Google doesn't do what's best for its users. Its users aren't its customers (its customers are advertisers). If Google does something that appears to be good for its users, it's because it's good for Google as a company. Furthermore, when Google acquires a product/company, it does not do so because it wants to further that product/company's goals. It does so because it wants to further its own goals. Basically, Word Lens is joining the Google Translate team. But that does not necessarily mean the Word Lens functionality will be put in the iOS Translate app. Google will do that if they think it's good for Google, but I would not be in the least surprised to see them reserve that functionality for e.g. Android or Google Glass. Edit: Whomever downvoted me, care to explain your reasoning?

cageface 12y ago
Google does what's best for Google. Google doesn't do what's best for its users. Unlike every other for-profit business in the world? (I didn't downvote, BTW)
- eridius 12y ago
  Unlike every other for-profit business in the world? For most companies, their users are their customers. Doing right by their customers means doing right by their users. But Google's customers are their advertisers, and their users are their product. Facebook and Twitter are the only other examples I can think of of companies with massive user bases who consider their users to be their product (except Facebook and Twitter are relatively focused on their core product, whereas Google seems to be trying to do pretty much everything under the sun).