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Has Google's dominance already peaked?

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Ironically, Youtube was working out to be attractive then Google's little fingers ruined the content system in hope of boosting Google+, which STILL no one uses. Some recovery on comments but no where where it was before.

Google is a great example lesson of the need to focus on your primary business, not badly in 20 others

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I wish the net was like the old days. When you used to search for something and it said for example, 2,876,873 pages were found, you could actually see all those pages if you had the time and will. Cannot do that anymore. The net is out of control.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Google is a great example lesson of the need to focus on your primary business, not badly in 20 others

Not exactly. They've always focused on their primary business, and done it well. They've also branched out into others with varying levels of success. Businesses that put all their eggs in one basket sometimes realize two late that they should have had another basket. Google is smart in trying to find other revenue sources. It would be stupid if they abandoned their original bread and butter to do so, but they haven't. They are constantly improving their search algorithms.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Short answer: no. They are going to be around for a long time. They have many other profitable ventures besides just search.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I used to like Google when they were the underdog but now I try to use alternative services where possible. (Written using an android phone and chrome browser) :-(

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@JapanGal

Maybe I'm missing something, but why can't you do that anymore?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Google's readiness to manipulate search results to suit their own ends is well established and legendary. They came onto the marketing pledging to improve the quality of search but instead took it upon themselves to decide who should appear in the search rankings, and heaven help any website whose commercial aims conflicted with theirs. The moves they made to downgrade sites with affiliate links, spread search related propoganda using Matt Cutts, and their launch of Chrome with which to try and monopolize the market in a similar way that MS originally tried to do with IE, and then of course their wholesale breach of copyright using their capability to spider every publication they could, has become increasingly indicative of an arrogant approach to business. I remember the days when Yahoo ruled the roost and then their downfall. Google's time will surely come. Sadly when a viable alternative shows its face, Google will no doubt use their financial strength to try and buy them out. As for the comments about improving their search algorithms, they will only ever do what is required to achive their own commercial objectives rather than provide a better product for the market.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Strangerland

When all their secondary products are about control away from people it's not much of a secondary business. They're taking the wrong lesson from their computer controlled search. Google Glass was about loss of privacy, literally monetizing your vision. Google Cars about loss of driving, monetizing your license. Anything Google = loss of something for their profit. It's not so much about adding value, but subtracting yours and everyone else around you like a vacuum. This crazy model doesn't translate to human economies.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Strangerland: The Google Glass (which they aren't actually even developing anymore)

They posted a bunch of Google Glass job postings on linkedIn in the last week or so. And opened a new campus in Mountain View a few weeks ago. The original news articles about that campus said Google Glass would be moving there.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

'Pandabelle'

It's kinda quaint that you think in 2015 cutting Google out of your life increases your privacy.

Even more quaint that you believe in doing nothing because it's 2015 and it's too late. I would have suggested more ideas but I know for now the 80/20 rule most likely applies and the 80% will panic when faced with what they'd need to do. It's not going to make you 100% invisible or even 50% if you cut Google out of your life but not doing so will only make it worse. Then again ignorance is bliss so don't worry about it, you have nothing to hide. Leave your blinds or curtains open day and night!

FYI, I find it mildly amusing after I have typed this that I need to press a button that says 'SUBMIT'.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Google Glass was about loss of privacy, literally monetizing your vision.

All the better for you to be able to see that half-empty cup.

Google Cars about loss of driving, monetizing your license.

All the better for you to be able to get to that half-empty cup.

Anything Google = loss of something for their profit. It's not so much about adding value, but subtracting yours and everyone else around you like a vacuum.

You are using a computer. Unless you are using it in private mode with a proxy/vpn, or an onion router, you have already agreed that some loss of privacy is acceptable for access to the internet. The Google Glass (which they aren't actually even developing anymore) was just a different way to give up some privacy.

The self-driving cars 'loss of driving' is only a loss if you enjoy driving, and/or if you are able to drive. Some people can't drive, and some don't want to. Should these people not have the option of self-driving cars simply because you are able to drive and like doing so?

And as far as monetizing your license, you could extend that to every car company, every company that sells accessories to cars, taxi companies and more. There is nothing special here about self driving cars.

This crazy model doesn't translate to human economies.

It's very doubtful that self-driving cars won't make money for google at some point.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Cut down your use of Google products and use other browsers and search engines. Or don't and don't worry about the fact that some people out there know everything about you and could do harm but are most likely just selling that information onto hundreds of others for profit so they can do whatever please them.

It's kinda quaint that you think in 2015 cutting Google out of your life increases your privacy.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Interesting that this article claims Google's dominance may be slipping due to mobile, when Google is the prime mover behind by far the most widely adopted mobile ecosystem.

Self-driving cars are very much an up-and-coming thing, too.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Google is out of control and now is FAR WORSE THAN MICROSOFT ever was.

If you use Google's Chrome browser, you are being tracked and even if you have nothing to hide as most will say, think again. It's not about hiding illegal acts but the very fact that EVERYTHING you do is tracked to get a better idea of what you are and what you do so that Google can market more and profit from that data. Things that you think have no value (your internet habits tracked) are being sold by Google to third party companies that do marketing but think about the fact that everything you do is tracked.

If you think that cameras in public places watching you walk around from your parked car to the ATM and then to a store and then another store and then talking with people in a food court and so on and so on is an invasion of your life, that's NOTHING compared to what Google is doing if you use their Chrome browser and use Google to search the internet.

Nothing to hide now doesn't sound like anti paranoid slogan. People in the US and Canada lost their minds when 'smart meters' were installed into the homes to monitor electrical use (meter reading billings) because these meters can map out when by hour you are using more than other hours. In short, people were saying that with these meters the power company would be able to tell when you were most likely not home and someone would be able to rob you when you were on holidays away from your home. Seems pretty silly that just one activity (using electricity could freak people out but ALL YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITIES DON'T?!?

Really, not worried about your online activities being collected and monitored?!? Your social sites activities, shopping online (what and when you buy), banking online (which companies you have accounts with), travel bookings (where and when you're travelling), auto (make/model and location of servicing), government services (taxes, health, etc.)?

Next time you forget where you left your wallet or purse, just think about how much information is in there and now imagine you left a diary/time book of EVERYWHERE you went and what you did with that wallet of purse.

Cut down your use of Google products and use other browsers and search engines. Or don't and don't worry about the fact that some people out there know everything about you and could do harm but are most likely just selling that information onto hundreds of others for profit so they can do whatever please them.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

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