Miscellaneous > The Lounge

google bails out the web

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piratePenguin:

--- Quote from: worker201 on 20 May 2010, 23:22 ---Facebook's issues are obvious and open, I think.  You see what giving your name will do, and then you decide if it's worth it.  Like meeting an attractive person at the mall or whatever.  Google is more like a creepy uncle.  "Hey, here's a free codec!  Hey, here's a mapping interface that does bicycle routes and contains millions of dollars worth of satellite imagery!  Hey, here's a free browser!  Hey, here's a free mobile phone!  What, no , they're all free!  Here's a place to store your documents!  Here's free email!"  After awhile, you start wondering what his angle is.  Getting that much stuff for free without understanding the workings behind why it's free makes me uncomfortable.

--- End quote ---
Google make their money in ads. You're going to use maps on your phone to find cafes, etc. Therefore google can extract by giving you the maps with the businesses on it (I know they only charge for sponsored ads), and the phone so you have it in your pocket. edit: I may be wrong because I don't know if they do sponsored ads. If they still don't make an income from maps, then I completely see your point.

I'm afraid I don't think you're completely right about facebook. Facebooks obvious issues are open and obvious. Off the top of my head, facebook gathers information about people who aren't even members: ever wonder how it's Friend Suggestions work? If you enter your email login it will keep a record of all your contacts, then if one of your friends register their email will be linked to you, so too will be tags other people tagged them in. Afaik there's no way to opt out (but isn't this illegal?).
Also, Google for "zuckered".
Also, Facebooks aim is becoming more like googles: they already have a map of probably a majority of the developed worlds social connections in big demographics, they have the new "Like" buttons that they want to spread out to the entire web, I noticed recently they want to create a profile page for my class, my hometown (which is a very small village). So, if their aim is just like Googles then why am I more worried about them? That's not just because of their behavior, but their attitude. I simply can't write much about it, I'm not even reading about it anymore. But there is much about the topic you can find on google (or bing!) if you're interested. In fact I'll send you what I've read if you're interested, ironically the easiest way to do this is if you use google reader or buzz. (btw, the facebook google war, now that will be one to watch out for)

worker201:
I've read all that stuff, I know what they're doing.  And although a lot of it is kinda lame, it totally seems transparent.

I don't know why Google gives me the impression that it is interested in more than ads. 

piratePenguin:
I think google do and will thread a lot more lightly than facebook. Google are proven being careful to stay on people's good side. Facebook are proven pushing the bounds, and it's only going to get much much worse.

Kintaro:
This project cost Google probably less than 1% of their projected revenue for the next quarter alone. Why the fuck not do it? It gets rid of the bitching over HTML5 so work can get done.

Google are my Gods.

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