Google already has its finger in dozens of pies. It rules the Internet advertising and search kingdoms, while competing in mobile operating systems, VoIP, social networking, and more. If the rumors are true then Google is about to go head-on with Facebook and iTunes with Google Me and Google Music, respectively.
Google has attempted two major social networking projects that never really went anywhere: Orkut and Google Buzz. While it’s still supporting Buzz, the company realizes that it has to do more. Will the third time be a charm with Google Me? Perhaps…but I seriously doubt it can put a significant dent in Facebook. Maybe being a strong number two — and serving tons of targeted ads — is more than enough for the company.
I believe Google has a slightly better opportunity with Google Music. Although iTunes is immensely popular thanks to millions of iPod and iPhone sales, Apple has never been good at leveraging cloud computing. Google, on the other hand, has been great at it. There are rumors that there’s a cloud-based iTunes in the works, but I wonder if Apple can pull it off. While Google has a ton of work to do in order to match the elegant iTunes experience, at the very least I expect it to get the cloud part right.
What do you guys and gals think? Can Google compete with Facebook and iTunes? Or are Google Me and Google Music destined to fail?
I think google already has an amazing music service.
1. Go to http://www.google.com
2. Enter your request: "such and such band torrent"
3. Download torrent
4. Drag to torrent manager
5. Voila
Seriously though, I'm all for it though. If Google gets a head of steam they can definitely leverage the entertainment industries to not be so anti evolution when it comes to content distribution.
I think Apple's iCloud (patent pending) will do fine.
Social networking…I'm pretty meh on that idea. People only stalk one another on those places, they don't care who has the best hand cream or whatever an ad says. I'm surprised they don't just make a play to buy Facebook.
@smartguy Microsoft has preferred stock in Facebook. I'm sure MS would, at the very least, make it difficult for Google to buy Facebook.
@Ray
I did not know that MS had a significant amount of stock in FB. I wonder if their preferred shares are voting shares then? Typically preferred shares are not lol. That would be pretty funny if they lost their grip over that haha.
@smartguy The amount isn't large (pretty sure it's under three percent), but Facebook gave MS all sorts of favorable rights.
Anything to compete with Itunes is good news for me. Love the mobile site BTW.
oh, when using the mobile themed version it's telling me there is an error commenting, but when I look at the site desktop style it's there. Does anyone know why?
@Hrolf
I know that you must refresh the mobile version in order to see what you posted. Are you using the Pre? The browser could just be rendering incorrectly or communicating incorrectly.
@Hrolf I'm guessing it might be a quirk with the Pre's browser. So far, you're the only one with this issue. I appreciate the heads up!
I think it has a much better chance competing with iTunes if the go with a cloud based service. As for social networking…it will get the geeks but not go mainstream.