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What I Want from Google for Christmas
By Mark Evans | December 22, 2008
Dear Google,
I’m writing to let you know that I’ve been well behaved this year. I’ve worked hard (and now focused on finding a new gig), blogged diligently, embraced Twitter and microblogging, and continued to sign up for dozens of betas to support the whole Web 2.0 ecosystem.
With Christmas on the horizon, I’m hoping you and your army of PhD elves within the Googleplex will bring me some gifts. They include:
1. Launching a Mac version of the Chrome browser. Mac is the hottest platform and the OS of choice among the cool people so I still find it puzzling Chrome is still Windows-only even though Chrome has escaped from beta purgatory. Since I’m not allowed to download anything onto my wife’s Windows-powered laptop, I’ve only seen Chrome from afar. (Note: Firefox says its relationship with Google has become “complicated” since Chrome was released.)
2. Improve Google Blog Search. It’s works but it could be a lot better. You seem, well, obsessed with GMail these days, maybe because you’ve got Yahoo Mail and Hotmail as rivals. But GBS could use some more TLC so it rocks as well as Google Search
3. A blog publishing tool that works with multiple platforms, including Blogger, Wordpress and Moveable Type. Microsoft is getting rave reviews for Live Writer so it would be great if Google could come up with Google Writer.
4. Continue to acquire startups. With the economy stalled and venture capital at a stand-still after Sequoia declared the party over, it would be great if Google could keep shopping to give entrepreneurs hope that their hard work would be rewarded some day.
5. Fight the good fight for Net Neutrality. In the U.S. and Canada, Net Neutrality is going to be a major issue in 2009 as ISPs look for new ways to monetize their high-speed networks in addition to squeezing consumers with higher fees. As the biggest kid on the block, Google needs to flex its political muscles otherwise the Internet as we know it is doomed.
6. Tighter integration between Google’s application portfolio. For example, Picasa should play nice with Google Docs and Blogger.
7. An address book in GMail. While you’re at it, why not buy Xoopit to add some multi-media features.
8. Jump-start Google Sites so you can create Web site with some pizzazz. Sure, it’s a snap to create a Web site using Google sites but it could be so much better. For example, some design options would be great.
9. Some love for Jaiku, the micro-blogging service acquired more than a year ago. At the time, it caused great excitement that Google was going to make a splash in the micro-blogging market. Instead, Jaiku has done little while Twitter has become the dominant micro-blogging service.
10. More transparency and focus on not becoming Big Evil Corp. Google has thrived because it makes really good products AND people believe in it. But as TechDirt warns, Google risks losing its status as one of the most trusted companies.
Update: Google Operating System has a long list of predictions for Google in 2009.
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Topics: Google |