You might also enjoy:

--Dear Google, Please Allow Users to Merge Accounts or Build Account Switching into Chrome. --Internet Explorer users click ads 5x more often than Google Chrome users [DATA] --Google Voice Asks Users to Donate Voicemails --Google Voice Lite Users Can Now Pick a Number [Instructions] --Apple Field Testing Next-Gen iPhone

The primary area where Apple outshines Android is in app count and, arguably, app quality (footnote 1: better Google integration with Android tips the scales the other way for me). The past six months have seen the number of Android apps skyrocket. Current unofficial counts have reached 100,000. With App Inventor rolling out to the general public, I expect Android to approach Apple’s App Store count, roughly 225,000, within the next year (footnote 2: a much higher percentage of Android apps are free than the percentage of Apple apps).While many of App Inventor apps will be novelty items and unappealing apps, it looks like App Inventor is capable of producing some really powerful apps.

You must register through Google to gain access to App Inventor.

Here’s a video that illustrates how easy it is to program a basic app with App Inventor:

You might also enjoy:

--Sony XPERIA X10 meets Google Visual Search [VIDEO] --Google Docs, New and Improved [VIDEO] --Best. Browser. Ever. Google Chrome. [Video] --Unbelievable 3D Google Earth with Street Views [VIDEO] --Apple iPhone dual-booting Google Android… Really. [Video]

[If you are on the main page of the blog, click the title of this post to load a clickable link.]

[via Ryan IT Lab on Buzz]

You might also enjoy:

--“Who’s Stalking My Profile?” on Facebook Doesn’t Work --Google testing allowing some users to login to multiple Google accounts; Thank You! --Google to Launch Facebook Killer, “Google Me” [Rumor] --Where Google is heading… Google Translation for Android

Ok, umm, huge rumor: Google to launch facebook competitor very soon “Google Me”, very credible source

TechMiso picked up the tweet and the rumor is gaining steam on Google Buzz.

I believe there is room in the Google ecosystem for a new social network. While Buzz is still fresh out of the box, it really isn’t ideal for keeping up with friends and family. Buzz is somewhat more like Twitter in terms of the relationships between users, although discussions tend to be more fulsome than those on Twitter. Google does already have a Facebook like service, Orkut. However, Orkut is significantly behind Facebook in terms of features and it never really caught on outside of Brazil and India. Some point to Wave as a social network of sorts but it’s really a different animal. Wave is more like a collaboration service that better suits business purposes than social purposes.

If there really is a Google Me, I’m really curious what the service will look like. Surely, it will incorporate many Facebook features but I would expect some significant departures from the mold, and not just better privacy settings. Surely, there’s room for improvement upon the Facebook format.

I believe the biggest obstacle to any Facebook competitor is that many Facebook users have invested significant time amassing their group of Facebook friends. Even if an large group decided to defect from Facebook, it’s not easy to export Facebook contacts to Google. It actually requires a Yahoo! account to pull from Facebook and export to CSV file. From there, the CSV file can be imported into Gmail. Instructions can be found here.

I’m hoping Kevin is right. It’s about time someone shakes things up and competes meaningfully with Facebook.

You might also enjoy:

--Google Music to launch this Fall [Rumor] --Skype Killer: Google Voice + Gizmo5 App Soon, Place and Receive VOIP Calls --Why Google Buzz is targeted at Twitter… not Facebook yet. --Updated: Google Chrome OS to Launch by Next Friday? --Google Teaming up with HTC to compete with Apple Tablet? [RUMOR]

You might also enjoy:

--LinkedIN for Blackberry… Finally! --Google Voice definitely going VOIP --Students: Register for Google Voice, Get it Within 24 Hours --Google Voice Asks Users to Donate Voicemails --Google Voice: “Lite” is a Myth — Pick Your Number

Click to Visit Stratus0s.Org

It’s been awhile since I last wrote about Chrome OS. I’ve already covered hexxeh’s build back in February. Well, there’s a new kid on the block, Stratus0s, and it’s good, really good. It’s a more recent build and has some neat bells and whistles, including an improved log on system. It has a lot of potential and runs fine (meaning damn fast) on Acer Aspire One hardware. It’s a free download, of course, and touts the following advantages over other OSs:

• No installation. You simply copy the image to a USB stick or an SD card and boot it. Tip: I found the installation somewhat cumbersome in Ubuntu and easier in Windows. YMMV.
• Enhanced look. The UI looks better than Hexxeh’s build, particularly the logon screen. However, there’s not much room to really make Chrome OS shine since it’s almost nothing more than a Chrome browser UI.
• “No HDD. It’s a Cloud.” The OS is designed to rely entirely on cloud storage. Although files can be downloaded locally to a file shelf (space permitting on the USB stick or SD card), fundamentally the idea is to shift everything to the cloud. One advantage of having everything in the cloud is that you can install the OS right on top of the old OS on the USB stick or SD card without data loss, provided you don’t rely on the file shelf. It also protects you against hardware failure.

Stratus0s is a product of Nate Taylor, Steve Pirk and Jordon Wii.  Steve Pirk is active on Google Buzz and Stratus0s has an official Buzz account.   Download Stratus0s from http://stratus0s.org/ and begin using Google’s Chrome OS today.

You might also enjoy:

--Why Google won’t have antitrust issues with Chrome OS… --Google Chrome OS Business-Style in 2011 --Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Google Chrome OS [Netbooks] --Chrome OS Netbooks — Hell Yes, Google will give away computers. --Chrome OS World Weakest Link… Google Docs

In my 2009 year end post on this blog, I cited several ways Google and Apple would lock horns in 2010. I understated the music battle that was brewing but I wrote:

This is a relatively minor attack but Google now streams music through its web interface. If you Google for an artist, some songs will appear and you can stream them in their entirety. In some cases, you can  purchase the tunes as MP3s through the providers of the streams. I speculate that Google is merely dipping its toes in the water at this point but you can expect a full blown music search and billboard rankings in the not-so-distant future.

The Fall launch of Google Music rumor almost certainly has to be true. Why? Because Google Chrome OS, which launches this Fall lacks the ability to install software and cannot, by itself, play MP3s. Current rumors suggest that the music service will support cloud-hosting and music purchases. This is somewhat similar to GrooveShark or the service formerly known as Lala that was acquired by Apple and hasn’t been relaunched yet.

I expect that Google Music will be tied tightly into the Google ecosystem. Perhaps it will be intertwined with YouTube, Buzz, Orkut and other social aspects of Google.

You might also enjoy:

--Google to Launch Facebook Killer, “Google Me” [Rumor] --Updated: Google Chrome OS to Launch by Next Friday? --Google Teaming up with HTC to compete with Apple Tablet? [RUMOR] --Music (Video) Mondays on Google Buzz --Dell Mini 3 Smartphone Featuring Android to Launch in China Later This Month

I’ve been blogging less lately. I haven’t lost interest but I have been allocating my time differently. Among other things, I’ve been playing around with KIN 1 and KIN 2 (short review coming soon); I’ve been customizing the heck out of Ubuntu linux to make it look more like this video; I’ve been catching up on Google Reader which has been redlined at 1,000+ articles for weeks; oh, and I’m still playing on Google Buzz.

I wrote on May 17 that Google Buzz deserves a second chance. It looks like I’m in good company; now, some tech heavyweights have written similar posts.

• Yesterday, Robert Scoble wrote “Is it time to reconsider Google Buzz vs Facebook or Twitter?” It’s a great read and he’s an avid Buzzer.
• Pinging off of Scoble’s post yesterday, Matt Cutts wrote a post entitled, “Give Buzz another look.” Matt works for Google so you couldn’t expect dissent but I still think it says something about Buzz that he’s prominently featuring a Buzz endorsement on his personal blog.

If you haven’t been to Buzz lately, check it out. Simply load up Gmail and click Buzz in the left-hand pane. Do some searches for topics that interest you and begin following people. I’ve been fortunate to have grown my followers on my personal account to over 530 and I’m always welcoming new followers (http://www.google.com/profiles/jonathan.mallin). I also have a blog account with another 215 followers (http://www.google.com/profiles/techbottle).

P.S. I shipped my Blackberry Tour off to Australia to reward a loyal RTer for his generous efforts. #payingitforward

You might also enjoy:

--If you missed Buzz this week… all the buzz is about… Buzz. --Salomondrin Posts Pics and Video of Blackberry “Stratus” 9100 --Google, why Buzz? This is probably the answer. --HOW-TO: Send a Google Buzz from your Blackberry --Google Buzz — Complaints and Suggestions

Oddly, I started a Buzz last night about the implications of Google Voice going fully VOIP. If device manufacturers step up to the plate and create Wifi-only phones, Apple will be faced with a heck of a dilemma. It could either approve the Google Voice app that it has denied admission to the App Store before or lose ground to Android-based iPod alternatives. It will also be very interesting how Google Voice + VOIP will shake up the mobile space.

P.S. Google Voice users still want number porting! Please.

You might also enjoy:

--Google Voice to Offer VOIP — Acquires Gizmo5 --Skype Killer: Google Voice + Gizmo5 App Soon, Place and Receive VOIP Calls --Google Voice finally opens up to all (in U.S.) --Students: Register for Google Voice, Get it Within 24 Hours --Google Voice Asks Users to Donate Voicemails

I’ll start with the awesome announcement. The mobile version of Google Buzz now works on virtually all smartphones, including Blackberry, WebOS, Android <2.0, Nokia S60, and Windows Mobile. Previously, only iPhones and Android 2.0+ could access the mobile site. The Blackberry version can even support location based searches by following some simple instructions. The inclusion of Blackberry specifically should help build the Buzz user base because 43% of smartphone users are toting Blackberries, as of Jan. 2010.

The so-so news is that Buzz now has a native rebuzzing feature which is called “reshare.” Some people are wild about this but I’m not. While it’s only been out a few hours, it seems to fragment meaningful discussions into multiple tidbit buzzes. Also, who wants to read the same blog post 30 times in their Buzz stream? Nonetheless, the eagle has landed and rebuzzing is here.

[via Official Gmail Blog]

You might also enjoy:

--If you missed Buzz this week… all the buzz is about… Buzz. --mIQ Backup from Best Buy Mobile for Blackberry and Mobiles --HOW-TO: Send a Google Buzz from your Blackberry --Blackberry and Google Buzz Notifications & Gmail Dupe Emails [Workarounds] --Google, why Buzz? This is probably the answer.

• Android 2.2 “FroYo” debuted at Google I/O. Many people have it up and running on rooted Nexus Ones. It supports the creation of mobile hotspots which basically turns a FroYo device into a wireless router.  IntoMobile has been providing good coverage. It recently reported that the “leaked” version is not the final version, according to Googler Romain Guy, but it is apparently very stable.
• Google I/O attendees found HTC Evo 4Gs in their goodie bags, Oprah style. I’ve written about the Evo 4G before (which should have stayed with the codename “Supersonic” but, anyhow…).  What happens when you give an hot Android phone to hundreds of developers? Well, someone figures out how to gain superuser access by rooting the device (video). Robert Scoble started a high traffic Buzz comparing the Evo to the iPhone platform. Many newly minted Android fans weighed in and dueled with Apple fanatics. The iPhone 4G (or HD or whatever they decide to call it) has a fierce competitor comprised of Google and virtually every major device manufacturer.
• Mark Zuckerberg conceded by email (which he agreed to make public): “I know we’ve made a bunch of mistakes….” Captain Obvious? I wonder, however, whether they did as big a land grab as possible with a slight retreat in mind from the onset. Don’t know.  In any event, it remains to be seen what Facebook intends to do about the mistakes. I suggest that they include a lockdown button in the privacy settings which basically toggles off all information sharing except with friends. In my opinion, that would be a step in the right direction for Facebook.
• Gizmodo found or stole another prototype, depending on your perspective. This one appears to be the Motorola Shadow which runs Android. The story goes that a gym employee found one laying around and Gizmodo got ahold of it (follow link for pics). This phone looks great and it’s almost certainly Verizon bound. It could be branded as the “Droid 2.”
• The Google Orkut experiment is still ongoing. A number of Google Buzz users are playing around with Orkut and enjoying it. If you’re at all interested, check out my post about it.
• Finally, this blog has been getting very heavy traffic lately compared to historical numbers. I attribute that primarily to my posts about the HTC Incredible which is still back ordered at Verizon. I’ve loaded up on apps and if you don’t know where to start, check out my AppBrain page. Also, I redid the TechBottle logo in the header of the blog. Do you like it? Be honest. I’m on the fence about it but I’d rather read and write to the blog than tinker with the logo more.

P.S. I have something brewing with a major carrier. Expect good but very honest hands-on cellphone reviews.  It’s also possible I’ll have some leaked info about upcoming phones soon. Stay tuned!

You might also enjoy:

--Mashup of Best Tech Stories of the Past Few Days --Apple’s Lesser News of the Day… VOIP on the iPhone --Bad News for Blackberry [Survey] --If you missed Buzz this week… all the buzz is about… Buzz. --Google Finance Updated… Real-Time News Streams

Facebook support waivers and A list bloggers like Mashable speculate about the fate of MySpace, but nobody seems to be reporting on Google Buzz. Sure, it faltered out of the gate with a privacy misstep. To briefly recap: users were set to auto-follow their Gmail contacts and those auto-follows could be seen by other Buzz users. However, this was done inadvertently and the problem was patched faster than a speeding bullet. This issue was addressed quite well at SXSW. Google apologized. (It differs significantly from Facebook intentionally taking what was previously private and unapologetically broadcasting it to the entire 400 million plus Facebook community but that’s another post altogether.) Now, in case you were wondering, Buzz doesn’t have any known privacy bugs. You can buzz publicly or privately. You can show or hide your list of people you follow and people who follow you. Has anyone in the media or blogosphere been reporting on this?

To me, this is what makes Google Buzz appealing and more so than competing social networks:

• Building a Buzz environment to your liking: It is easy to build followers and to reciprocate follows. My Google Buzz followers are largely active Buzz users. I have more Google Buzz followers than Twitter followers and I joined Twitter ages ago. I enjoy both reading and writing on Buzz.
• Twitter falls short: Twitter is often difficult to follow. Conversations, which rarely develop, need to be decrypted because of the 140 character limit and the lack of meaningful organization of Tweets. It doesn’t help matters that many active Twitter users tend to be get-rich-quick schemes and pure follow-back whores.
• Facebook is a different animal: Facebook isn’t really about expanding horizons. Sure, I like keeping in touch with people and Facebook makes that easy. I suggest you ask yourself these questions if you think Facebook is the be-all-end-all of social networks: How many new people have you met on Facebook? How many real conversations have you engaged in on Facebook? What is the signal to noise ratio on Facebook? Are you content with Facebook governance and frequent changes in policy?
• The Buzz platform is well designed. Sharing information from Google Reader, YouTube and by URL has never been easier. We are expecting to see the Buzz API opened up at Google I/O which should benefit the platform and accelerate Buzz growth.
• Community support and mobilization: We’ve taught each other how to use Buzz and some conventions for Buzz use have developed. We’ve mobilized to support Buzz and provided feedback to the Google Buzz Team. The Google Buzz Team has responded with improvements and is currently privately beta testing new features.
• Buzz is a community. I have met new people near and far (very far) and joked, shared opinions and debated. Buzz users have engaged and thoroughly discussed many topics. My posts and ideas have generated more discussion on Google Buzz than any other platform. I’m not alone in this regard; other people report the same. It’s nice to have feedback every once in a while from a diverse group of people.

Buzz is social media at its finest! If you were scared off by the privacy glitch and haven’t experienced Buzz recently, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Give Buzz a second chance.

You might also enjoy:

--If you missed Buzz this week… all the buzz is about… Buzz. --Google Buzz — Complaints and Suggestions --Why Google Buzz is targeted at Twitter… not Facebook yet. --Google Buzz: Effects on the Blogosphere and Digital Media --Google, why Buzz? This is probably the answer.

These are my impressions: Orkut’s interface blends Facebook and MySpace both circa 2008. Users follow one another (requiring the followee’s consent) and status updates appear in chronological streams. In this regard, it functions pretty much like Facebook and MySpace and differs from Twitter and Buzz. Like MySpace and unlike Facebook, users can customize their experience by selecting themes and completing detailed and risque profile information (turn ons, turn offs, things you can find in your bedroom, etc.). Many of us tame folks just pasted a link to our Google Profiles that we use for Buzz. One feature that caught my eye today is that users leave “tracks” when they view other people’s Orkut pages. Some might find that objectionable but Orkut otherwise provides significant control over your information, moreso than Facebook does.

Where do I think this is heading? Probably nowhere outside of Brazil and India but it is a Facebook alternative that some people might consider. Some of the Orkut plumbing was probably integrated into Google Wave and Google Buzz. Speaking of Buzz, apparently the API is going to be released at Google I/O, per a buzz by Robert Scoble, which could boost activity. In my opinion, Buzz is alive and well despite the hiccups at launch and dearth of media attention since then. Leo Laporte, Louis Gray, Robert Scoble and other tech notables routinely hang out on Buzz. It’s really become an interesting platform because headlines, excerpts and full posts become launchpads for in depth discussions that don’t (couldn’t?) occur on Facebook and Twitter. Also, some users have reported that improvements are being privately beta tested on Buzz, although details are scarce.

If you click over to Buzz, feel free to follow me or if you want to try out Orkut send me a friend request.

You might also enjoy:

--Google, why Buzz? This is probably the answer. --Google Buzz deserves a second chance --Google Buzz Tips for Newbies --HOW-TO: Send a Google Buzz from your Blackberry --Google, Buzz could replace Blogs if…

Reasons you might want Google Voice:

• A second phone number
• A vanity phone number
• Simultaneous ring
• Free long distance to U.S. and Canada
• Free SMS
• Bulk SMS
• Voicemail transcription
• Voicemail archives

Android and Google Voice, not surprisingly, integrate amazingly well. Just head over to the Market or load up AppBrain and install the official Google Voice app.

[via Official Google Blog]

You might also enjoy:

--iPad Jailbreak happens in under 24 hours; more appealing now? --Google Voice Asks Users to Donate Voicemails --Google Voice definitely going VOIP --Google Voice finally opens up to all (in U.S.) --Google Voice: “Lite” is a Myth — Pick Your Number

I don’t think we’ll see anything surprising with Chrome OS other than possible improvements in speed. Afterall, it’s just an OS that boots a browser. It doesn’t support software installation. Chome OS will appeal to enterprises and anyone looking for a really inexpensive netbook (think: WebTV replacement).

It’s been confirmed that Google’s tablet will run Android, not Chrome OS. This makes perfect sense because the gesture/multitouch support is already built into Android. Also, Android is all about widgets and customization. Chrome OS can barely be customized because, as I always repeat, it’s just boot up to a web browser. Sure, you can install a Chrome browser theme but it’s fairly plain vanilla.

Hexxeh’s build of Chrome OS continues to garner media attention, including an impressive mention by the New York Times — Not too bad for a 17 year old computer hobbyist. You can download it today and begin playing with it.

[via Chad Catacchio at The Next Web via VentureBeat]

You might also enjoy:

--Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Google Chrome OS [Netbooks] --Chrome OS Netbooks — Hell Yes, Google will give away computers. --OnLive Broadband Gaming coming June 17, 2010 --Civilization Beta Tests on Facebook in June --Chrome OS Flow by Hexxeh Review

What is Google?

It’s a conduit through which advertisers reach people who have shared their personal preferences with Google. While Google was initially purely a search engine, that is no longer true today. As I wrote yesterday, Google wants to know everything it can about each and every person. Reiterating yesterday’s musings:

Whom do you phone? Google Voice.

To whom do you write? Gmail, Google Wave and Google Buzz.

What do you buy? Google Checkout and Google Product Search.

What do you watch on television? Google TV, which is anticipated to launch with Sony next month.

What do you read? Google Reader and Google Scholar, despite some bumps in the road.

Where do you eat? Google Maps, 800-GOOG-411, Google Places.

What ailments do you have? Google Health, although it appears to be a flop.

Where do you work? Google Profiles.

Where do you live? Google Maps.

What do you look like? Google Profiles and Google Visual Search, perhaps tied together one day.

Where are you? Latitude, Google Buzz and Google Places.

Where did you go and where will you go? Google Calendar.

While the search business fits into this overall picture, it is important to note that very little of the preference harvesting today relies heavily on it.

What is Facebook?

Similar to Google in a sense. Facebook is a conduit through which advertisers reach people who have shared their personal preferences with Facebook. This really begs the question, what do we share with Facebook? Not much when compared to Google. Facebook is far less efficient at harvesting information and has fewer tentacles. These are the questions Facebook may be able to answer about a particular user:

What is your name?

What do you look like?

What is your birthday?

And so on. Facebook also knows what social games you enjoy playing and what you “Like.” Facebook cannot answer most of the questions above that Google can answer. Facebook doesn’t have an email client, a calendar, mapping software, voice transmission, video transmission, etc. Google is much more efficient at harvesting information because it has many more web properties and, not surprisingly, they happen to be the best in most areas.

As an aside, this is where Facebook has truly gone off the deep end: Facebook is giving away the crown jewels. It is now divulging your preferences (“Likes” cannot be made private, for example) to third parties who can archive them indefinitely. This is contrary to the Google platform that seeks to obtain everything tidbit of information about you but tries to lock down that information for Google’s use only. (Buzz was a notable, accidental exception but that mistake was remedied within a couple of days.)

Implications

Search vs. Social is bullshit. Google is social. Google services allow me to communicate with friends and family by Gmail, Wave, Buzz, Voice, etc. I can read their thoughts in emails, hear their voices, see their faces, etc. What makes Facebook more “social” than Google? The fact that someone I went to elementary school with posted about her breakfast food and that she spilled orange juice on her new shoes? Now, there’s the “search” issue. This deserves emphasis:

Facebook does not have a map of the entire internet; Google does.

Google is a better platform for other reasons. It is better organized. I know where to find information I seek. My appointments are on my calendar, my emails are in my inbox, etc. I can archive everything. Facebook provides us, primarily, with a stream of crap that tells me about my friends’ virtual farms, mafias, fish, etc. I see a bunch of happy birthday posts too. The Facebook stream is entirely disorganized and it is not archived in a useful way.

The argument that Facebook will somehow whip Google in the near future baffles me. Google is way out of Facebook’s league in so many different areas. It harvests information better. It protects information it harvests better. It offers utility to its users. If provides us with services that Facebook cannot even come close to providing any time soon. So, this Facebook > Google argument that is being tossed around the internet seems like nonsense to me. I put my money where my brain is. I’m holding my GOOG stock and maybe building the position especially since some people were recently fooled by the blogosphere into believing that Facebook is a serious threat to Google. It isn’t right now and couldn’t become one for a very, very long time.

You might also enjoy:

--Google Diversification, Search Fading? --Why Google Buzz is targeted at Twitter… not Facebook yet. --Why Google Visual Search for Android is Ingenious… --Google Visual Search… Snap Your Phone’s Camera at Anything --Sony XPERIA X10 meets Google Visual Search [VIDEO]

I predict that the next decade will be less about one single theme and significantly less about search. Obviously, I am on the outside looking in but these are my thoughts: Google is keenly aware of the fact that this transition is already occurring. To counter this anticipated reduction in traffic, Google has diversified into, well, just about everything relating to your preferences. Google continues to focus on its mission of organizing the world’s information. To do this, it needs to collect information. Where is lacks information, it devises a solution for obtaining it. In no particular order:

Whom do you phone? Google Voice.

To whom do you write? Gmail, Google Wave and Google Buzz.

What do you buy? Google Checkout and Google Product Search.

What do you watch on television? Google TV, which is anticipated to launch with Sony next month.

What do you read? Google Reader and Google Scholar, despite some bumps in the road.

Where do you eat? Google Maps, 800-GOOG-411, Google Places.

What ailments do you have? Google Health, although it appears to be a flop.

Where do you work? Google Profiles.

Where do you live? Google Maps.

What do you look like? Google Profiles and Google Visual Search, perhaps tied together one day.

Where are you? Latitude, Google Buzz and Google Places.

Where did you go and where will you go? Google Calendar.

And, I’m sure I’m missing more than a few fronts where Google is amassing information. As we all know, Google collects this information to sell advertisement space on your screens and mobile devices tailored to you. The genius of this all is that people actually trust Google, perhaps rightfully so. Advertisers do not have access to the answers to every question above, only Google does. Google has been and will be fundamentally an advertising intermediary. The game has changed: it’s no longer about finding something.com hidden away somewhere in the deepest depth of the internet but it’s more likely about giving you what you want, often for free, in exchange for your preferences. What do we receive for free? Search, email, voice transmission, video transmission, web apps, operating systems (albeit not directly but, rather, by eliminating the OS “tax” on devices), news, financial information and the list goes on and on. Most of the world has decided that we benefit from this exchange of preferences for free services. It’s really a unique and fascinating model. Eric Schmidt, Google CEO, recently used the term “platform provider” to describe what Google wants to become. It’s a unique type of company unlike any other.

[As an aside, contrast the Google model with Facebook which simply wants to collect your preferences and share them with the world. The Facebook model is a far less comfortable compromise for the person the least bit concerned about privacy.]

Google is diversifying in other ways too. Google Apps, the enterprise version of the free online office suite, will probably meet with tremendous success. This arena is monetized differently. No business enterprise wants to share its confidential information with Google in exchange for advertisements. Instead, for a reasonable cost, companies pay for the cloud-based services. Google Apps fundamentally differs from just about every other Google property in this regard.

Google sits on a boatload of cash right now and could diversify into other areas as well. It dipped its toes into the hardware water with the Nexus One but I do not anticipate a significant push in the hardware direction. Google simply wants more, better information and faster. By diversifying, Google has solidified itself as the conduit through which we deposit our preferences and information and donate some eyeball movements and mindshare to advertisements that we might find appealing.

[I will likely write a follow-up piece regarding competition in the "platform provider" business with a focus on Facebook.]

You might also enjoy:

--Facebook vs. Google isn’t about Social vs. Search --Why Google Visual Search for Android is Ingenious… --Google Visual Search… Snap Your Phone’s Camera at Anything --Sony XPERIA X10 meets Google Visual Search [VIDEO] --Google Scholar Legal Search…Nipping at the Heels of Westlaw and LexisNexis

Crowdsourcing is the outsourcing of tasks to a large community. An example of crowdsourcing is a cellphone app that reports gasoline prices and asks users of the app to report back prices they observe. Facebook is attempting to crowdsource the internet. Instead of crawling the internet with sophisticated spiders that follow every link, they shift the task to the website owners who must install a “Like” button and to the Facebook populance who must click the buttons to make the system work.

This fundamentally differs from Google’s approach to indexing the web in a few ways. Google spiders the web to detect new content. This approach is changing somewhat through advancements like PubSubHubBub (say that ten times fast) which allow content providers to push their updates to Google and burn real-time RSS feeds. Google also crowdsources the internet in a way but it does so seamlessly and, more importantly, privately. When you search for pages on Google and click links, Google learns both what you like (without clicking a button) and also uses this information to target advertisements and even rank pages in your own search results. In the aggregate, this information (your clicks) is used to rank pages.

So, what’s the difference? Facebook has slowly chipped away at users’ privacy. For example, Facebook updates are now public by default. Perhaps Twitter paved the way for that change but it was not a welcomed change by many. Now, Facebook users are being asked to essentially display their internet preferences and browsing history to their “friends” and the general public. The privacy implications of this scheme are profound. Imagine if Google’s Chrome browser or Google.com asked users to opt-in and make their browsing history public (even on a per-click basis). People would be, rightfully so, outraged. Facebook is being raked over the coals by privacy groups and many people who actually understand what is being proposed. However, the cuteness of “Like” concept and the appeal of the Facebook brand have blinded some people from questioning the entire concept. Frankly, I don’t plan on clicking Like buttons and I believe that people should really think critically about the system that is being implemented.

Somewhat uncomfortably, this website has a Facebook button in the upper right. This enables those who click to see posts in their Facebook stream. This button was created long before we were asked to rank the entire internet. It was intended to serve an entirely different purpose and it wouldn’t bother me one bit if you choose to unlike Tech Bottle but follow the posts another way (by e-mail, Buzz, Twitter, RSS readers, etc.). While on the topic of unliking, I have read that unliking something might pluck the logo off of your profile but there will be other ways to determine a user’s past likes. So, if you Liked Coke last week but want a job at Pepsi this week, you might have sunk yourself.

P.S. Another major issue with the Facebook scheme involves sharing your personal information with other Facebook partners across the web. You probably saw a small box about this at the top of your Facebook stream. This is another somewhat confusing change to Facebook and I have opted out of it. I don’t think it is clear what data will be shared and exactly how it will be used. Perhaps I will become more comfortable with a personalized internet and opt-in at some point but for now, I prefer the internet the way it is.

UPDATE: Matt Cutts, a high profile Google employee, just suspended his Facebook account. http://searchengineland.com/matt-cutts-deactivates-facebook-account-40543

You might also enjoy:

--Facebook vs. Google isn’t about Social vs. Search --Why Google Buzz is targeted at Twitter… not Facebook yet. --Chat Roulette — The Circus of the Internet --Internet Explorer users click ads 5x more often than Google Chrome users [DATA] --Today’s Facebook Privacy #FAIL

Wicked; Bad/Good, depending on your vernacular; Sweet; Awesome.  Pick your favorite superlative. You get the point.

Watch the video and do it in full screen mode. Crank it up to HD resolution if your bandwidth and monitor can support it.

Told ya so.

[via MobileWack]

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Speed and responsiveness were made better by, among other things, improving the javascript used for Docs. My biggest peeve with Google Docs was the lag between choosing some option and seeing an on-screen response. Now, Google Docs truly competes with desktop software in a meaningful way.

These improvements are very important for Google Apps to succeed. Why? Google Docs has competition on the horizon. Microsoft will release an online version of its popular Office suite later this year. This could be a real winner for Microsoft who has struggled with revising Office. The Ribbon and other recent updates have yet to catch on with many. I’m just guessing but I expect the online version will support the semi-familiar Ribbon but it could also have an option to run with drop-down menus. We’ll have to wait and see.

More important than trying to eat up Microsoft is speeding the adoption of Chrome OS. Remember, Chrome OS is simply a web browser. It does not support the installation of software or local apps. It relies entirely on cloud services. I wrote back in November 2009 that Google Docs was the weakest link to adoption of a Chrome OS world. Despite the most recent improvements, Google Docs remains the weakest link in the chain but the progress announced today is substantial.

P.S. Here’s the video I almost forgot to add to the post:

[via Official Google Docs Blog]

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--Chrome OS World Weakest Link… Google Docs --Best. Browser. Ever. Google Chrome. [Video] --Google App Inventor… the Cat’s Meow. [VIDEO] --Unbelievable 3D Google Earth with Street Views [VIDEO] --Sony XPERIA X10 meets Google Visual Search [VIDEO]

To the extent new releases of operating systems or other third-party products, platforms or devices, such as the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone or iPad, make it more difficult for our products to perform, and our customers are persuaded to use alternative technologies, our business could be harmed.

Rather than take the Apple assaults lying down, Adobe has fired back, albeit in an unofficial way. Lee Brimelow just posted to the Flash Blog:

Speaking purely for myself, I would look to make it clear what is going through my mind at the moment. Go screw yourself Apple.

As I wrote before, Apple is concerned with its App Store revenues. Flash is capable of replacing some apps through the browser, thus bypassing the Apple gatekeeper status and taxing authority.

Google backs open platforms like Android and recently opted to include Flash Player in all Google Chrome installations. Flash Player will now automatically update through the Chrome updater. Also, Google welcomes the addition of Flash on the Google Nexus One phone. In case the Apple loyalists want to see what they’re missing, below is a video of a Google Nexus One running a Flash-enabled browser. Coming soon to Android:

[via IntoMobile via BusinessWeek]

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--Apple iPad vs. Adobe — what’s going on and why Adobe is playing the porn card… --Five ways Google is taking a bite out of Apple (The Story of 2010) --Apple iPhone dual-booting Google Android… Really. [Video] --iPhone 4G, was it a hoax set up by Apple? --Apple Field Testing Next-Gen iPhone

P.S. I’d still like to see the ability to port your existing number to Google Voice and voice responses to caller presentation for safer hands-free operation. I suppose I’m not done whining.

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--Google Voice to Offer VOIP — Acquires Gizmo5 --Google Voice definitely going VOIP --Google to Launch Facebook Killer, “Google Me” [Rumor] --Google Voice Asks Users to Donate Voicemails --Google Voice Lite Users Can Now Pick a Number [Instructions]

UPDATE: Still down. The Register in the UK is now reporting the same: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/07/google_checkout/

1:30 PM EST UPDATE: Google acknowledges problem with web interface. Ability of customers to purchase via Google Checkout unaffected.

We are currently experiencing issues with the Google Checkout web interface. These issues do not affect your customer’s experience with checkout, or your ability to accept and process orders via our APIs. Please refer to http://goo.gl/Byi6 for additional details and updates.

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--Apple iPad vs. Adobe — what’s going on and why Adobe is playing the porn card… --Google testing allowing some users to login to multiple Google accounts; Thank You! --Google to Launch Facebook Killer, “Google Me” [Rumor] --Where Google is heading… Google Translation for Android

• A new browser instead of Prism for the web apps. It’s called “Nickel” and it’s based on Chromium, the open source project behind Google’s Chrome browser. Nickel is HTML5 ready.
• New support for up 100+ 3G keys for connectivity.
• VPN support for enterprise. Jolicloud now supports the following VPNs: Cisco OpenConnect, Cisco Concentrator VPN, Microsoft VPN, and OpenVPN.
• Desktop switcher mode. This enables Jolicloud to change from the Ubuntu Netbook Remix-style UI to the traditional Ubuntu-style UI. This is a significant step in making Jolicloud more than just a netbook OS.

There’s a Jolicloud installer for MS Windows and for Linux. The pre-Final version was released two days ago. To download: http://www.jolicloud.com/download#jolicloud-express.  It’s free. Why not try it out?

P.S. Check out the related posts below for my preliminary assessments of Jolicloud.

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--Linux Netbook Showdown: Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Jolicloud Pre-Beta --Put Jolicloud Alpha Linux on your Netbook.. Now available for download --Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Google Chrome OS [Netbooks] --No Nexus Two; Nexus One Major Success for Android, Says Google

Versatility could be Android’s greatest strength but also its greatest weakness. At this point, Android has only Apple as a significant competitor. Blackberry, Palm and Nokia’s platforms are significantly lagging in app development and mass appeal. All the hype coming out of CTIA revolves around Android and Android alone. As of mid-February, 60,000 Android handsets were shipped per day. Now we’re seeing demos of tablets that run Android, cars based on Android and even home appliances. So, what can be wrong with an operating system this versatile?

Compare Android with Apple which has tightly controlled its user experience. Apple designs the hardware and software. It now rules the App Store with an iron fist. This approach, distasteful to some, has created a consistent user experience. Apple has dominated marketplace in terms of apps and hardware sales (especially if you lump together iPod Touch sales with iPhones). Contrast that with Google’s approach with Android.

Android is primarily an outgrowth of Google’s “openness” doctrine. It’s a way for Google to insure that it can get its advertisements to your eyeballs. The development of Android was ingenious because Google has virtually eliminated the risk of being shut out of the mobile market. While it appears likely to lose the Apple faithful’s eyeballs, it will clearly clean up on the rest of them. The central question remains: Will Android rule the world as Google intends?

Some have criticized Android for “fragmentation,” which means that different handsets are running different versions of Android. While this has been a serious problem, it appears that most newer handsets will launch with Android 2.1 and the underlying OS will be consistent across manufacturers and carriers.

I believe the single biggest threat to Android is simply branding. Unlike Apple, which controls the user experience, Android can be molded into just about anything. The ability to mold Android is a great strength, on the one hand, but a serious weakness, on the other hand. Awful Android hardware is bound to make it to market (like the upcoming Kyocera cheapy phone demoed today at CTIA). Say a person purchases an Android phone with a defective antenna. That person may become soured towards Android even though the fault was unrelated to Android. Or an Android car made in China is known for engine fires, etc.  I’m not saying the public is dumb enough to blame the OS for every hardware failure but this “open” user experience could actually harm the Android brand vis-a-vis a closed Apple-like ecosystem.

Further, the “open” user experience leads to significant inconsistency. When Android is molded, the software can take on completely different forms. A Sense UI experience on an HTC handset varies considerably from an experience on a Sony Xperia 10 which differs from an experience on a Kyocera cheapy phone. This further diminishes the brand.

Android was probably primarily developed to keep the pipeline open between Google services and phones, just as the Chrome browser does on the computer. Nonetheless, the brand remains centrally important to its widespread adoption. This leaves Google in a dilemma. It could regulate the Android experience and regulate the ecosystem (i.e., toss out traditional “openness”). This could lead to better branding and a consistent user experience. Perhaps Google would have better marketshare if it took this approach. However, the “do no evil” company would probably drive up the cost of handsets, alienate the open source community and slow the adoption of the OS in favor of marketshare. Instead, Google chose a completely different approach but primarily out of necessity. It released its own hardware with HTC that satisfied Google employees who rigorously tested the Google Nexus One. It set the bar by which other Android devices are measured. Google wasn’t looking to necessarily outsell the upcoming HTC Incredible, for example. I believe it was simply looking to protect the brand by demoing Android on well designed hardware and avoid regulating the ecosystem it has fought so hard to keep “open.” Think of the Nexus One as the model by which Android should be measured. That’s what Google wants you to do.

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--No Nexus Two; Nexus One Major Success for Android, Says Google --Google Nexus One being reviewed in the blogosphere… --Confirmed: Google Nexus One Phone Coming to Verizon in the Spring --Hacker Porting HTC Desire ROM to Google Nexus One Phone… --Where Google is heading… Google Translation for Android