Cringely's Big Google Thoughts
November 29th, 2005 Posted in Google
Robert Cringelyis such a big, high-level thinker, my brain hurts when I read his
columns - and I mean this in a good way because he raises ideas that
force you to pause to recalibrate your own thinking. Take, for
example, his column on Google Cubes, which comes on the heels of his Google data-centre in a shipping container column
(two must-reads for Google watchers). Cringely believes Google could
establish itself as a key - if not the key - technology within the digital home
with small boxes (they sound like a media or communications gateway) that would connect different devices to the Internet.
Here's his description:
“This embedded device, for which I am
afraid I have no name, is a small box covered with many types of ports
- USB, RJ-45, RJ-11, analog and digital video, S-video, analog and
optical sound, etc. Additional I/O that can't be seen is WiFi and
Bluetooth. This little box is Google's interface to every computer, TV,
and stereo system in your home, as well as linking to home automation
and climate control. The cubes are networked together wirelessly in a
mesh network, so only one need be attached to your broadband modem or
router. Like VoIP adapters (it does that too, through the RJ-11
connector) the little cubes will come in the mail and when plugged in
will just plain work.”
afraid I have no name, is a small box covered with many types of ports
- USB, RJ-45, RJ-11, analog and digital video, S-video, analog and
optical sound, etc. Additional I/O that can't be seen is WiFi and
Bluetooth. This little box is Google's interface to every computer, TV,
and stereo system in your home, as well as linking to home automation
and climate control. The cubes are networked together wirelessly in a
mesh network, so only one need be attached to your broadband modem or
router. Like VoIP adapters (it does that too, through the RJ-11
connector) the little cubes will come in the mail and when plugged in
will just plain work.”
I believe
the Google Cube is way
out there thinking but I'll never dismiss anything Google could do
given its financial strength and the grandiose plans of Mr. Page and
Mr. Brin (If they aren't evil, they are terribly ambitious). In
any event, Cringely believes the Google Cube could become an essential
and ubiquitous part of the digital home by doing what Google does best:
providing a simple-to-use and useful service that would drive consumers
to other Google services and, of course, advertising. If there's a
downside,
it's that Google's grip on consumers becomes even stronger - without
taking into account the normal fears about privacy. Of course,
consumers can choose to use Google Cubes but I think millions of people
would happily take one if they existed.
the Google Cube is way
out there thinking but I'll never dismiss anything Google could do
given its financial strength and the grandiose plans of Mr. Page and
Mr. Brin (If they aren't evil, they are terribly ambitious). In
any event, Cringely believes the Google Cube could become an essential
and ubiquitous part of the digital home by doing what Google does best:
providing a simple-to-use and useful service that would drive consumers
to other Google services and, of course, advertising. If there's a
downside,
it's that Google's grip on consumers becomes even stronger - without
taking into account the normal fears about privacy. Of course,
consumers can choose to use Google Cubes but I think millions of people
would happily take one if they existed.
December 1st, 2005 at 7:11 pm
Excuse me, I thought Google was a software company. This sounds more like a box I would expect from the Linksys division of Cisco … maybe with Google supplying the “content”. Linksys at least has the distribution channels to get it to market! (and they are part way there in developing such products with some of their home multimedia networking devices…)
Sounds like Cringley's high level thinking fell off a cliff…
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:45 pm
Excuse me, I thought Google was a software company.
Why, because Google hasn't sold any hardware yet? Well, let's see…until recently, Google wasn't a VOIP company, but then there was Google Talk. They weren't a map company, but then Google Local was released. They weren't involved in RSS until Google Reader came out. In my humble opinion, Jim, you might be underestimating both Cringley AND Google.
As far as the lack of distribution channels is concerned: so, if Google were to buy a company with “the distribution channels to get it to market” (which is what Cisco did when it acquired Linksys), you'll find this scenario plausible? According to their Q3 2005 fiscal results, “Google had a cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balance of just over $7.6 billion.” I'm thinking Google would have no problem pulling this off.