November 2011: The worst month in Google's history?
by Zack Whittaker | November 13, 2011 4:42pm PST | Image 1 of 11
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Google's difficult November: What went so wrong?
Google has a very difficult month, and yet we're only half way through it. From leaked Gmail designs to a near-mass-exodus over changes to Google Reader, others were more bothered by the fact that their BlackBerry's would no longer be supported, while iOS users felt excitement and disappointment in the space of about an hour.
This topsy turvy month can only get better for the company, surely? Well, we'll see. Let's see what has gone oh-so-wrong this month for the search giant.
Related:
- Google throws stones from its glass house, calls Siri 'competitive threat'
- Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo will partner to fight Google, Facebook's advertising dominance
- Poor sales of Chromebooks won't stop Google from promoting Chrome OS
- Google reneges on Gmail App for BlackBerry support
- Will Google's blind faith in the algorithm doom its future?
- Google+ Pages: The power of search is the game-changer
- Google debuts Gmail's new design
- New, "fresher" Google rankings affect 35% of searches
Just In
I said from the beginning that Chromebooks was a fail. Firstly they're competing directly with Tablets like the iPad and other Windows based Netbooks. Funny enough the Windows based netbook comes in cheaper than a Chromebook. Major fail for an operating system that basically does nothing.
@DreyerSmit
I think the key failure here was in assuming that people would be ready to accept the web paradigm so quickly. Google's of course right that most people use basically just the web, but they failed to realize that it would make people uncomfortable to not have the option of using the client-side tools if they wanted to. Most people don't use much besides a browser, but the people who realize this fact are the few people who DO use non-browser applications. Plus, the people who only use a browser are, for the most part, not tech-savvy enough to know to buy a chromebook.
I think the key failure here was in assuming that people would be ready to accept the web paradigm so quickly. Google's of course right that most people use basically just the web, but they failed to realize that it would make people uncomfortable to not have the option of using the client-side tools if they wanted to. Most people don't use much besides a browser, but the people who realize this fact are the few people who DO use non-browser applications. Plus, the people who only use a browser are, for the most part, not tech-savvy enough to know to buy a chromebook.
@Jalaska13 I think it is even simpler then that. Many consumers did not know what Chrome was? Those that did thought it was a Search site or they thought it was a web browser. Either way Google failed at marketing and pricing Chromebook's properly. Especially to a consumer who's main question was "What is a Chromebook" ?
@Jalaska13
First, these devices are more expensive than they are worth.
Second, even if people use mostly web based tools today, the moment they need another thing, they need another device. Even the iPad offers whatever applications for the user. At that moment, the Chromebook becomes way too expensive, because of it's price/usefulness ration (usefulness approaching zero at that point, or even being negative as it weights something and needs energy etc).
First, these devices are more expensive than they are worth.
Second, even if people use mostly web based tools today, the moment they need another thing, they need another device. Even the iPad offers whatever applications for the user. At that moment, the Chromebook becomes way too expensive, because of it's price/usefulness ration (usefulness approaching zero at that point, or even being negative as it weights something and needs energy etc).
@DreyerSmit Chromebook's needed more average user awareness which they don't have. Geeks are aware of the OS and the Google Apps. But your average home user not so much. All they know Google for is search. Also the cost for what appears to most of use to be a netbook with a Browser was priced too high to be considered. Most people found a better deal with a Full Windows OS and known and familiar applications. Google biggest problem is its full of geeks and not people who know what many consumers want.
@jscott418 I don't think better marketing was going to help Chromebooks. There was just too big a hurdle when you compared price to usability against other available devices. I am connected most of the time but have not use for a device that has to be connected to be of any use what so ever.
"Long-time Google+ fan Robert Scoble blasted the company over its newly released brand pages, a feature that similarly resembles Pages on Facebook, allowing companies and businesses, public figures and the like to amass corporate followings."
He just griped about some missing features that are nice from a business perspective. I'm sure they'll be added in time.
"While some of his comments were valid, Scoble does have one hell of a following that agrees with practically everything he says. "
Why yes, all of ZDNet's bloggers are following him. That's one hell of a following.
"It was enough to dent Google for a day or two -- which is enough when it boils down to the nature of the web. Most things are short lived, but when a controversy kicks off, it ultimately gets turned up to eleven."
I disagree. A day or two isn't going to kill Google, and in the long run they are features they'll add anyways. IMO this isn't as big as, say, the real names controversy.
"Chromebooks suffer poor sales outlook; Another Googleflop?"
They just don't fill any need out there. You simply cannot sell a product based on stripping out features people like. And it's a cardinal sin to release a product with less features at a higher price.
Not to mention the iPad beat Google to this market anyways.
He just griped about some missing features that are nice from a business perspective. I'm sure they'll be added in time.
"While some of his comments were valid, Scoble does have one hell of a following that agrees with practically everything he says. "
Why yes, all of ZDNet's bloggers are following him. That's one hell of a following.
"It was enough to dent Google for a day or two -- which is enough when it boils down to the nature of the web. Most things are short lived, but when a controversy kicks off, it ultimately gets turned up to eleven."
I disagree. A day or two isn't going to kill Google, and in the long run they are features they'll add anyways. IMO this isn't as big as, say, the real names controversy.
"Chromebooks suffer poor sales outlook; Another Googleflop?"
They just don't fill any need out there. You simply cannot sell a product based on stripping out features people like. And it's a cardinal sin to release a product with less features at a higher price.
Not to mention the iPad beat Google to this market anyways.
@CobraA1 They just don't fill any need out there. You simply cannot sell a product based on stripping out features people like. And it's a cardinal sin to release a product with less features at a higher price.
Wait, I am confused here. Didn't you just list everything that people accused Apple of doing with the iPad yet they sell like crazy?
Wait, I am confused here. Didn't you just list everything that people accused Apple of doing with the iPad yet they sell like crazy?
It might have worked if they had done more of an Amazon kindle approach, subsidising the cost through google tie-in. I'd always assumed that was the intention. I went out to buy a cheap laptop this weekend, and bought the windows one, even though I knew I'd be dual booting to Ubuntu most of the time. Id rather have the windows 7 if I need it than ChromeOS and the laptop was cheaper.
@willyampz
When was the last time Google subsidized something?
Google earns money because other people subsidize their services.
When was the last time Google subsidized something?
Google earns money because other people subsidize their services.
Still trying to kill Google I see. Yes the Chromebooks weren't going to do well at that kind of a pitch, but who really cares? Not Google.
management had better care about what Google does and how it performs.
Investors do care about what a company does, and Google is not just about what the founders think any more, and not about it's CEO.
Investors do care about what a company does, and Google is not just about what the founders think any more, and not about it's CEO.
@adornoe@... +1
http://www.curtisneeley.com/NameMedia/2011-2558/08_11-2558_Docket_files/2558%20APPEAL%20BRIEF.pdf
Read the appeal that begins the end of Google Inc. They will be bankrupted by 2020.
Read the appeal that begins the end of Google Inc. They will be bankrupted by 2020.
@Curtis-Neeley Hmmm, I read that "appeal" and I will bet you 1,000-1 odds that it gets dismissed/verdict upheld. I am a little surprised to see that the whole suit surrounds nude images that you made of yourself that you don't want on the internet and then you use what appears to be a nude image of yourself as an avatar.
The suits are taking over. From becoming a 'me too' on patents, they are progressing to 'also ran' behind the more mature suits in the industry.
Time for a new upstart I think.
Time for a new upstart I think.
Google throws stones from its glass house, calls Siri 'competitive threat' - that's routine business strategy; boring, but they all do it.
Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo will partner to fight Google, Facebook's advertising dominance - so what? M$ and Y! already did, and AOL is still AOL. It's not partnerships that count, it's results.
Poor sales of Chromebooks won't stop Google from promoting Chrome OS - Unlike most of Geekland and ALL of Wall Street, Google takes a long view. I agree that Chromebook came too soon; but once the cloud catches up, they'll be there waiting.
Google reneges on Gmail App for BlackBerry support - Wow! Who can blame them? Would you continue to pour cash in that direction? I sure wouldn't
Will Google's blind faith in the algorithm doom its future? No. The algorithm still produces better results for the average searcher, and better financial results for Google - what's the alternative? Pigeons and momkeys simply cannot process searches quickly enough; using a computer is the obvious choice - Wait! That's what EVERYONE does!!
Google+ Pages: The power of search is the game-changer. Early days; reserve comment
Google debuts Gmail's new design - some good, some bad; like everything else, we'll get used to it
near-mass-exodus over changes to Google Reader - I very much doubt it. Let's see some evidence. Three bloggers (who probably didn't use Reader anyway) don't count. Awful scroll control, granted - but mass exodus? ROFL!
New, "fresher" Google rankings affect 35% of searches - and most of them for the better. Don't be swayed by the vociferous minority who are losing their MFA pages. The collateral damage is probably minimal.
And you can balance that with November was the month that confirmed that the Android partners will fight back against litigious limitations on progress.
All in all, a mixed month - but if you think that's calamitous, you've not been watching the other companies' disasters.
And we haven't yet seen the influence of Googler's recent acquisitions on their products - and on the Android market. 2012 will be very interesting.
Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo will partner to fight Google, Facebook's advertising dominance - so what? M$ and Y! already did, and AOL is still AOL. It's not partnerships that count, it's results.
Poor sales of Chromebooks won't stop Google from promoting Chrome OS - Unlike most of Geekland and ALL of Wall Street, Google takes a long view. I agree that Chromebook came too soon; but once the cloud catches up, they'll be there waiting.
Google reneges on Gmail App for BlackBerry support - Wow! Who can blame them? Would you continue to pour cash in that direction? I sure wouldn't
Will Google's blind faith in the algorithm doom its future? No. The algorithm still produces better results for the average searcher, and better financial results for Google - what's the alternative? Pigeons and momkeys simply cannot process searches quickly enough; using a computer is the obvious choice - Wait! That's what EVERYONE does!!
Google+ Pages: The power of search is the game-changer. Early days; reserve comment
Google debuts Gmail's new design - some good, some bad; like everything else, we'll get used to it
near-mass-exodus over changes to Google Reader - I very much doubt it. Let's see some evidence. Three bloggers (who probably didn't use Reader anyway) don't count. Awful scroll control, granted - but mass exodus? ROFL!
New, "fresher" Google rankings affect 35% of searches - and most of them for the better. Don't be swayed by the vociferous minority who are losing their MFA pages. The collateral damage is probably minimal.
And you can balance that with November was the month that confirmed that the Android partners will fight back against litigious limitations on progress.
All in all, a mixed month - but if you think that's calamitous, you've not been watching the other companies' disasters.
And we haven't yet seen the influence of Googler's recent acquisitions on their products - and on the Android market. 2012 will be very interesting.
You're all "googly" eyes, no matter how or where they fail.
@adornoe@... Not so. I'm a proud Google fan (and never denied my views), but that does not automatically make my arguments null.
Leave the Geekosphere and tell one average person that Google is in Dire Trouble, and they'll have you certified.
Or stay here and show me just ONE place that I'm wrong.
Leave the Geekosphere and tell one average person that Google is in Dire Trouble, and they'll have you certified.
Or stay here and show me just ONE place that I'm wrong.
BTW, most people on the outside won't care one way or the other, and they'll choose what works for them. Fanatics will choose their favorite gadget or their favorite company. "Love" is a funny thing.
@adornoe@... Admitting to be a Google fan is simply being honest and upfront (What's YOUR beef, you very obviously have one?).
But being a Google fan does not define me as being blind or stupid, and - unlike you - I have discussed the issues, and continue to do so. You failed my challenge to argue just ONE point of what I said.
This time next year, the only one of these 'Dire Month' criticisms that will even be remembered is the one about the Chromebook; because its road forks. It will either be relaunched or withdrawn. All the rest is ephemera.
If you have have an argument (rather than more spite), I'm ready and willing to deal with it. If you are just another Google-hater, then you might like to consider whther that has blinded you and made you incapable of rationally dealing with Google news. Much Love xx.
But being a Google fan does not define me as being blind or stupid, and - unlike you - I have discussed the issues, and continue to do so. You failed my challenge to argue just ONE point of what I said.
This time next year, the only one of these 'Dire Month' criticisms that will even be remembered is the one about the Chromebook; because its road forks. It will either be relaunched or withdrawn. All the rest is ephemera.
If you have have an argument (rather than more spite), I'm ready and willing to deal with it. If you are just another Google-hater, then you might like to consider whther that has blinded you and made you incapable of rationally dealing with Google news. Much Love xx.
Chromebooks HAD to be cheaper. A lot cheaper. They needed to be the same price as cheap Netbooks. I actually wanted one, until I realised that I can get a FULL Windows 7 laptop with an i3 processor for the same money. If they'd been ??150 or maybe up to ??199, I might not have been able to resist.
The Kindle Fire is what a Network Computer (Hello, Larry Ellison) should be. A Chromebook is a half-arsed pile of crap.
Google need to junk Chrome, and roll on with Android.
Google need to junk Chrome, and roll on with Android.
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