Apple+Google: Now That's Hot
In his post over on Wired.com, Fred Vogelstein channels buzz words like cloud computing to make a case for a deeper and a more meaningful relationship between Apple and Google, one that addresses issues around the dot.Mac and its inability to offer an optimum experience.
My feelings on dot.Mac are pretty well documented, and if Google’s backend infrastructure can fix those issues, so be it.
Imagine all the traffic from the following: You buy a Mac and you automatically get a free Google account.
While that might be the case, my guess would be a more sophisticated offering. If the new YouTube channel on Apple TV is any indication, we should expect more macilicous versions of different Google offerings.
Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, Reader and other such web-based offerings being offered as slick desktop apps (that sync with paid dot.Mac accounts ) – now that would ruin someone’s day up in Redmond. More importantly, these apps could be used on a daily basis. (Robert Young in an earlier piece had outlined how Apple and Google can work together. )
What do you guys think?
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I don’t use macs and tight integration with Google won’t change that. But it’s probably pretty cool for people who DO use macs.
I like using Microsoft Office on Mac, but rest of the gang uses Google docs etc., but they are a different generation of app users. i think something offline with mac goodness could make others think different.
Seems like the enemy of my enemy is my friend going on here. Both companies obviously want to take down MSFT. However, AAPL needs to be careful because as GOOG builds more and more functionality into the cloud, the importance of the AAPL OS will become less and less. Sure AAPL will still win fans because of their designs, but that won’t allow them to sustain their margin structure without the value software brings.
All we need is, google apps (all the cool ones) supported on Macs. Apple’s OS is great and Google apps like Picasa and Reader(offline) will surely bring Apple to mainstream users. I don’t think this combination will penetrate the office world. It will stay right here, at home, where i am writing this comment. Still a lot.
Somebody rightly said, Apple may be a looser in the end.
I think it’s going to be a long while before Google Spreadsheets gets anywhere near what MS Office has (on Windows). I love my Macbook, but honestly, I run Excel in Parallels because even the Office 2004 version just isn’t as refined.
Love or hate M$, the fact is, they’ve got a product they’ve worked years at. Google Sheets is good for basic spreadsheets. Business apps, however, need the full version that supports complex macros, pivot tables, the whole 9 yards.
I think MS needed taking down a few pegs, and, while I love the enthusiasm everyone has, in the end, the goal should be to get MS to conform to standards and to have meaningful competition. Replacing Microsoft with Google/Apple doesn’t help us. It just creates another monopoly.
I don’t think Microsoft is going anywhere, and I quite frankly have grown tired of the fanboy back and forth rivalry. I don’t think the consumer is best served by any one entity—be it Microsoft, Apple, or Google—controlling the space.
Forget the “PC”. Apple dominates the rest of consumer devices. Google provides the apps.
Better the second time around!
The Google Office suite has a long way to go compared to MS Office, but I am hooked on Gmail, Reader and Calendar currently and am all Mac…. I’d like to see .Mac get a complete overhaul or simply merge into what Google can do. Bring it on!
I never thought Steve Jobs ever wanted to rule the word much like Bill Gates did. Instead he wanted to make cool products. He has done this, and the world is a better place because of him. I think Google is the next Microsoft except a kinder gentler one. The strange thing is that it complements what Apple is doing, instead of trying to kill it like Microsoft did.
I guess I’m confused here. Don’t you already get all of Google’s stuff for free?
What’s the sales pitch here? “Buy a .Mac account now we’ll show you how to sign up for Google’s free internet apps!”
Wooptee frickin do. If I wanted adware, I’d already have a Google account. Nothing turns me off faster than ads; that’s why I pay for the services I use.
Google taking over .Mac. Ick,
The Swiss Army Knife of search engines – Google is an amazing, powerful search tool for internet users. Google is so huge and offers so many free apps. Can’t be beat! I love Google…. come on… it’s a verb in the dictionary for goodness sake.