Comments on: Google Gadget Goldrush http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/ Insight and Analysis from North of the Border Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:49:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Hsien Lei http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/#comment-6188 Hsien Lei Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:46:26 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/#comment-6188 I don't think Google needs to monetize the gadgets specifically since people will use them on their personalized Google pages and other Google services. It's a way to make Google sites more sticky which in turn will generate revenue. As for Bill Gates sitting on his billions, he's not exactly doing that. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made some significant inroads in public health. And I believe Bill Gates has said in that past that, like Warren Buffett, he doesn't intend to leave his children all his wealth. I don’t think Google needs to monetize the gadgets specifically since people will use them on their personalized Google pages and other Google services. It’s a way to make Google sites more sticky which in turn will generate revenue.

As for Bill Gates sitting on his billions, he’s not exactly doing that. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made some significant inroads in public health. And I believe Bill Gates has said in that past that, like Warren Buffett, he doesn’t intend to leave his children all his wealth.

]]> By: Mark Evans http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/#comment-6185 Mark Evans Thu, 28 Jun 2007 22:28:44 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/#comment-6185 Google is getting involved in a variety of venture capital activities so this seems like a pretty interesting - if relatively low-cost - to get deeper into the start-up landscape. Google is getting involved in a variety of venture capital activities so this seems like a pretty interesting - if relatively low-cost - to get deeper into the start-up landscape.

]]> By: Paul Butler http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/#comment-6182 Paul Butler Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:29:57 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/#comment-6182 It strikes me that Google Gadgets are similar to Facebook applications in that they are hosted by third party developers, and it is easy for them to become popular, but there is no easy way to monetize them. In other words, the best reward a developer can look forward to for making a popular gadget/application is a high hosting bill. Google's solution is a cash grant, I wonder what Facebook's will be. It strikes me that Google Gadgets are similar to Facebook applications in that they are hosted by third party developers, and it is easy for them to become popular, but there is no easy way to monetize them. In other words, the best reward a developer can look forward to for making a popular gadget/application is a high hosting bill. Google’s solution is a cash grant, I wonder what Facebook’s will be.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/#comment-6181 Anonymous Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:10:46 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/06/28/google-gadget-goldrush/#comment-6181 This is just another example where I think Google follows the "don't be evil" mantra. They provide money to spark innovation and at the same time they create some bit of dependency on their technology to power the gadgets. It is possible to expand your business and feed innovation at the same time. I think more companies need to explore this business model and maybe value their employees in the process. In the whole process their employees love working there and love the benefits/lifestyle it creates. I think Google is creating a special kind of harmony... make employees happy, they spark innovation, you make money on the innovation, and its dependency on your company, which then you use to make your employees happy. Google wins, the employees win, the public wins, and advertisers win. Now only if my company can give me 1 day a week to do my own projects like they do at Google. Then perhaps I would be happier and more innovative too. This is just another example where I think Google follows the “don’t be evil” mantra. They provide money to spark innovation and at the same time they create some bit of dependency on their technology to power the gadgets. It is possible to expand your business and feed innovation at the same time. I think more companies need to explore this business model and maybe value their employees in the process. In the whole process their employees love working there and love the benefits/lifestyle it creates. I think Google is creating a special kind of harmony… make employees happy, they spark innovation, you make money on the innovation, and its dependency on your company, which then you use to make your employees happy. Google wins, the employees win, the public wins, and advertisers win.

Now only if my company can give me 1 day a week to do my own projects like they do at Google. Then perhaps I would be happier and more innovative too.

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