Google fans (myself included) love to try out what Google is up to. In this spirit, I am sharing some news.
Google bought a company called up startle that makes a web text editor called Writerly.
Both Google and Writerly had little to say in their blogs other than that the deal was done and Google is pleased to have the team on board.
I went to check both blogs this morning, and they are completely stuck, so I can't see what was written. I attached them for you to look at when the heat is off.
I often smile, laugh, or laugh out loud when I read Google News. This deserves a laugh out loud.
Google bought up startle because it wants to enable people to do office tasks over the Internet.
That's a nice way of saying it wants to kick Microsoft's ass, which makes me laugh.
I think kicking Microsoft's ass is a good part of their strategy. Money Magazine agrees with me, but thinks there's more to it.
Google has always expressed a desire to move from client-based computers (PCs) to network-based computers (the Internet).
This basically means that only a small part of the program you use is located on your computer (the so-called thin client) and the rest remains on the server.
I've been hearing for twenty years that thin client computing is going to take off.
Sixteen years ago, when Oracle's Larry Ellison was pushing down broken computers that used the network to work, I thought it was a stupid idea, and I still do.
At that time, a powerful computer cost a few thousand, and USB dongles that could hold a gigabyte of data had not yet been invented (I don't even think USB had been invented yet).
The reason was that an inexpensive network computer costing a few hundred bucks could simply connect to the network and use its computing and storage power.
Now, a powerful computer costs a few hundred bucks, so who needs a stripped down version?
In addition, I want to control my own resources, files and software. I don't want them sitting on a big, giant Google hard drive to use to decide what kind of ads to show me.
And that's what Money thinks is the end of the game. However, competing with Microsoft is more of an afterthought for Google, which is struggling with Wall Street's high expectations for further growth.
Browser-based apps like Writerly could feature Google's contextual ads, a business estimated to grow to $9.5 billion this year.
Listen to this: For Google, which values the mathematics doctorates it has among its employees, the calculation is alarmingly simple.
Google earns around $16 per user per year from advertising. Today, there are more than 300 million users of Microsoft Word.
If Google convinces some of these users to use its web software instead of Word, and as a result spend more time using other Google tools, Google could increase its ad sales per user.
Even a $1 increase per user translates to $400 million in additional revenue. I'm not sure I want to use a web word processor that inserts ads based on what I type.
Wait… I'm sure. I do not. Gosh… with all that crap in one place on Google, plastering pop-up ads all over the web word processor is the best they can come up with?
I'm starting to smell a one trick pony. I hope I missed something because I'm still not sure I understand what Google is trying to do, but it's fun to watch.
I like to visit Google Rumors for more laughs. You should take a look.
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