What's the matter with Google?
(Credit:
Google)
A few days ago, it seemed like the big predictions for '07 would almost inevitably include some brave start-up--or collaboration--stepping up to the plate and challenging the most juggernautish of the Internet's juggernauts: Google. The predictions were less adamant about whether or not said challenger would actually succeed; after all, Google has recently established itself as pretty darn ironclad. But in 2006's eleventh hour, a string of mishaps, criticisms, and embarrassments have left the Mountain View, Calif.-based company with some exposed vulnerabilities that may make it somewhat easier for an "anti-Google" to emerge this year. I'm not going to lie: I expected something like this to happen, but certainly not so quickly or at such a normally "slow" time of year.
First, there was Blogger. The publishing platform, arguably Google's most high-profile acquisition until they bought that little video-sharing site this year, was in need of a revamp as easier-to-use blogging services threatened to steal its thunder. Unfortunately, Blogger's full release of its facelift was plagued by problems and customer support was apparently somewhat MIA.
But then more negative buzz began to spread about Google's homegrown products. Several Gmail users complained of mass e-mail deletions, and the methodology of its year-end Zeitgeist list came under fire when people began to wonder why the top spot was held by..."Bebo." (Sure, it's a social network on the rise. But wouldn't more people be searching for, say, "Britney Spears?") But perhaps most glaring is the criticism from Firefox co-founder Blake Ross, who recently chastised Google for plugging its own products in search results. The criticism was shrugged off by some as one of capitalism's inherent unpleasant bits, but it nevertheless has resulted in a lot of blog posts that display Google's logo next to a less-than-savory headline. Any tech company, no matter how big, is going to have more rough patches than they'd like to admit. But when that company is as high-profile as Google, it can get uglier.
Personally, I don't mind the "tips." At least Google is pointing to its own products, with "Google" in the title, rather than making shady references to advertisers that have inked back-room deals to bring them to the top of the search results pile. (Not saying that happens or anything...) And I'm still a big fan of Gmail, Google Reader, Google Calendar, and Google Groups. But numerous small complaints about a big company are the sort of thing that could snowball, and negative press can make it tough for successes--like Google Blog Search's recent surge past Technorati--to shine through. Just look at Sony and its not-so-awesome 2006. The recent issues with Google are probably far too trivial to actually have an immediate impact on the company (unless the Gmail deletions get worse), but there's a chance that they'll create a nasty chip in the Mountain View armor. A small but well-exposed set of vulnerabilities could be turned into something much worse if, say, a promising challenger to one of Google's products does come along in 2007 like plenty of bloggers have been predicting.
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Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline. 
Thanks for thiz
Point is that the internet is now a garbage network...just a fancy shopping channel....Zdnet and Cnet both went this way...once the money guys take over they trash the content and clutter up with shopping channel content. That's too bad..and really frustrating if you're actually searching for something YOU CAN'T BUY..CONTENT
being only a vague memory...
1)The Roman Empire was the biggest and strongest ever to
exist on the face of the earth...and look at it now...nothing!
2)The record disc used to be the most popular and most widely used
(now it is...but only on turn-tables)
3)Remember Pluto, it used to be the most popular planet...look at it now...nothing!
They're all vague memories of the past, never to be
visited again except by those who live in the past...
Then there's Google...Webmaster-Giant...most popular...most used...
soon to be, biggest collapse in web history...well at least thats my opinion...
why you ask...let me explain:
When you create something soo great, people admire it, use it, try to copy it,
and eventually succeed at making a better product or service...
1)Look at Ford, awesome car...fallen to Toyota...
2)Atari, awesome gaming system...fallen to Sega(remember that)and Nintendo
(Xbox and Playstation weren't around)
3)And now look at Mozilla Firefox...slowly taking IE's place
The fact is...over time people become jealous of someones success
and try to steal some attention (and money for that matter)to profit and be reconized...usually they succeed
to the #1 spot(like Toyota), sometimes they don't(like eBay)...but it works itself out in due time.
Do I think Google will ever go under completely...well no, but they wont be #1...
people are trying to take away business...and with recent flaws in their systems and tougher,
more competitive opponents...I for-see a future downgrade(not downfall)
...but I'm no fortune teller.
-FoxFantom
bowsermeister@gmail.com
bowsermeister@gmail.com
Jim
jemd@wcvt.com
- Google is still good regardless of what they say..
- by EngDrewman January 4, 2007 10:33 AM PST
- Regardless of what other people say I am still very impressed by google's stuff. Gmail is the best email service I have tried, and, as we all know, their search engine is the best one out there.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(9 Comments)My one and only complaint about google is the size of their applications. With the exception of maybe google talk, you can expect that any program you get from google will take up at least a gigabyte. (of course the actual program is small, but they just build such HUGE indexes and databases on your hard drive)