Customers have a reason to be mad at Google. They promised a product and for some, failed to deliver. This is more than just a breach of service; it's a breach of trust. The truth is that Google can afford to fix its mistakes, but it's getting an acute dose of reality and sharp backlash. Nobody can complain when their free Gmail account goes out, but people that pay for the service with the bells and whistles have all the right in the world. READ MORE
Don Reisinger at CNET posted a very good theory explaining Google's current dominance in search, something that was underscored by a recent Neilsen study. He says Google counters conventional Web wisdom: Rather than trying to keep visitors around, it focuses on getting rid of them as fast as possible.
Google plays politics at party conventions08/21/08Google announced that it is sponsoring an 8,000-sq.ft. "Big Tent" for bloggers attending next week's Democratic convention in Denver, and will be duplicating the effort at the Republican convention in September. While the tent caters to new media types by providing a host of nice services--including workspaces, couches for napping, food and beverages, Google-sponsored massages, smoothies and a candy buffet--Google's efforts aren't just to give bloggers and new media journalists a hand in covering the convention. They're also aimed at coloring that coverage in a Google-friendly light, Google Watch's Clint Boulton notes.
Google seeks Android security help08/20/08In another sign that Google's approach to Android will be more open and transparent than that of other phone OS makers (think Apple and its iPhone) Google's Android security team reached out to the security public at large for help in securing the nascent OS.
Survey: Google tops in customer satisfaction08/20/08Google is far and away the most satisfying search experience on the Web, according to the University of Michigan's annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). While it had dropped below Yahoo on the index last year, this year's survey shows Google surging ahead of all comers, garnering an unprecedented 86 on a scale of 100 for customer satisfaction.
Google's real white spaces strategy08/20/08Google's advocacy of white spaces devices--wireless devices that work via unused spectrum currently set aside for TV stations and used by some wireless microphones--makes sense. On the face of it, Google appears to be favoring wider Internet access, especially for rural areas currently underserved by today's broadband technologies, and that's a good thing. But Google's not being simply altruistic--it's also making a savvy business play.
FCC approval sets stage for Android launch08/19/08It's now a bit more concrete: The FCC formally approved the first Android phone, clearing the way for its September unveiling and October release, according to this posting at engadget. As expected, the phone will be offered by HTC and work over the T-Mobile network. Instead of the G1 or the Kila, however, the formal name is the Dream DREA100.
Missteps hurt rivals to Google search08/19/08When gunning for the market leader, it pays to get everything just right. Unfortunately, for Google rival Cuil at least, the converse is also true. It really hurts when you get things wrong.
Google finally updates Android SDK08/19/08After much waiting and wondering, Android developers finally got a real response to their gripes about the mobile phone OS's lack of direction: Google released an Android SDK beta update to all developers, not just a chosen few, along with a timeline for future releases. Google says it expects to launch the first Android 1.0-compatible SDK in the third or fourth quarter of this year.
Google news from Network World
Growing PainsCustomers have a reason to be mad at Google. They promised a product and for some, failed to deliver. This is more than just a breach of service; it's a ...Read more
Garett Kopczynski is an IT professional for the City of Keene, N.H. His hands-on involvement with Google Apps gives him unique insight into other applications of Google within (and beyond) a corporate office environment.
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