Google is taking over the world

Does Google have a monopoly in the advertisement business? Will Google finally topple Microsoft's throne in the technological sector? These questions are recently coming to my mind as I think about Google. Socialnomics , a book written by Erik Qualman, came to my attention through Guerson Meyers blog. It poses the idea that we are living in a world far different than the one we used to live a fews years ago, essentially it says that social media is the biggest thing since the industrial evolution (see below link for a great video on Socialnomics).

http://guersonmeyer.wordpress.com/2010/05/08/new-vocabulary-word-found-socialnomics/

Even though Google is not a social media site, it is for now the platform of choice for companies and people looking for exposure and advertisement. In this "Brave New World", it seems to me that a company like Google will be an unstoppable force that dominates every aspect of the online experience. If you believe for a second in this concept of Socialnomics, which by the way makes a lot of sense, then you begin to realize that sooner rather than later advertisements through TV and radio will become extinct, gone, a thing of the past. Several studies clearly show that people skip commercial while watching TV and consumers don't like being bombarded by advertisements. So with this in mind companies more and more are relying on Google for advertisements. Google's advertisement revenues in 2008 was $21 billion and it is showing no signs of slowing down.

Google is a monster in the advertisement arena, no one even comes close to compete with them. It is the Microsoft of the 90s in the online advertisement industry. A company's worst nightmare would be to be banned from Google's search list. In fact, in a recent class lecture of Enrique Dans he mentioned the idea of being banned from Google as an end of the world scenario. In my mind I actually felt an actual fear from his part to have something like this happen, and I think there is good reason for this concern. The fact is that in a world where TV is no longer the platform for advertisement, Google will be the markets main advertisement tool. To be banned from a platform like this could represent millions of USD. Who ever heard of a company being banned from advertising on TV? Granted there are other alternatives like Microsoft but they are so far behind that there is just no way to compare them to Google. I wonder when government regulators will start to look into this?

Dont start to think that I am by any chance against Google because I am a huge fan. In fact, going back to my second question, I think Google has the possibility to actually challenge Microsoft in its core business something that was thought to be impossible just a few years ago. Microsoft's biggest source of revenues still to this day remains its Windows and Office programs and Google is actually making a run to directly compete with Microsoft in this field. Google launched Google docs as an alternative to Office and after testing it for myself I have to say that it can easily serve as an adequate substitute to Word. Most of the features in Word are extra features that are seldom used and this is where Google focuses its strengths on, delivering solid basic features with the ability of allowing several users to work on the same document at the same time. To think that these are the first versions of these programs leads me to believe that eventually Google docs will be a major contender against Microsoft.

As for the OS, there is one main feature that has captured my attention. My biggest pet peeve with PC's was their long boot up time. According to some sources like the one below, one of Chromes OS main features will be speed booting and internet access in 2 secs. This is a dream! One of the reasons I was considering buying a Mac was because it had a much better boot up time but if Google is able to achieve this, then I am already converted. I mean who needs the glamour of a nice desktop background? Give me speed and fast performance any other day of the week and I'm happy.

http://changeishappeningnow.blogspot.com/2010/05/will-google-operating-system-change-way.html

In the end, I am curious to see how Google will continue to grow and what it will be like 5 years from now. My guess... bigger, better and scarier.

Turning of the Tides

I am expecting a lot of "I told you so's" but as a long life PC/Microsoft advocate and user I am starting to imagine life without Microsoft. I guess the reason is simple, I am just disappointed that they have not been able to innovate as the competition has. Critics have been predicting the end of the Microsoft era for a while now yet it continues to be a monster with more than 50 billion in revenues a year and an ever expanding product base (Xbox, mobile phones, etc...)

Why am I now starting to think that maybe Microsoft's dominance is coming to an end?

I guess the answer came to me in Enrique Dans lecture. In the past, a computer without a word processor, excel, and other office tools was just another decoration accessory in the office or home. Today, as the professor highlighted, a computer without internet connection is really just useless. As I reflect on this statement I notice that I can perfectly survive without any Microsoft influence in my life something I thought was imposible to do in the past. No Microsoft no problem, I have Google and Apple.

Microsoft's bread and butter business continues to be its Windows and Office software sales. Both software applications have remained essentially the same for years now and with no significant improvements. People continued to flock to these products because of a lack of other options.

Today that is not the case. Google has developed Google docs an application software that can serve any type of business whose basic needs are the essential functions of a word, powerpoint or excel program. Given that an internet connection is a given now a days this is a very good second option to have and is sure to cause Microsoft some headaches. Microsoft recently responded to this threat by offering its Office programs online as well. Maybe its just too little too late.

Then we have Windows. We all know that Vista turned out to be a complete failure. Even a Microsoft advocate at the time recognized that. Now we continue to see more of the same and some copying from Apple features. In order for Windows to run adequately you need to purchase a super computer with all the memory and processor capacity possible. Not the case with Apple computers. What I dont understand is how is a company who spends 10 billion a year in R&D continues to be behind the curve. Moreover, Apple computers reliability over PC continues to grow exponentially. Again this is Microsoft's bread and butter business, if they start to falter in this area the company as a whole could be in jeopardy.

Before I started my master here at IE I purchased a laptop counting on Windows 7 and hoping it would make me proud. I feel this could be my last Windows/PC laptop, and if I am starting to feel like this then I'm thiking others will do the same eventually.

Below please check links comparing Microsoft Office with Google docs and another comparing Apples OS Snow Leopard to Windows 7.

http://www.cmswire.com/cms/document-management/smb-rollup-office-2010-vs-google-docs-debate-cloud-payment-options-007517.php

http://reviews.cnet.com/2722-19589_7-314.html

The price of oil

Its time to take altenative energy solutions seriously!!!!

We all have to do our part in order to push these technologies forward.

Solar

Wind

Elctric (cars)

Loopt vs Foursquare

How I love a good debate:)!!

So, to start I want to thank my good buddy Guerson and Ksxenia for correcting me and stating that foursquare also includes zagat ratings.

Secondly, I am going to tackle this debate from a business model analysis as our professor suggested (thank you Enrique).

I think the biggest difference when analyzing the preference of foursquare and loopt is that they are both location apps but foursquare incorporates a gaming experience. Foursquare members go into battle as to which person goes to a certain place more often. Kind of how Guerson wants to dethrown our beloved professor Enrique as he wrote in his blog(http://guersonmeyer.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/about-foresquaress-and-its-business-model/#respond). Good luck with that...

Now taking this into account we come across demographic issues meaning that foursquare caters more to a younger crowd which may prove to be a success because younger people are more active than older people on the online community. This also stimulates people to register each time they go to a certain place to get more points and so on.

Now, why do I like loopt more? You all know that I am more inclined to privacy from my previous blog. Loopt is better for those who want to share there location but not advertise it to people they dont even know. Loopt is a location app that limits your exposure to friends, which is more attractive to people like Mr. privacy over here. Loopt also has Loopt pulse which is more of a dedicated app to receive reviews on millions of places with pics and other stuff. Now lets say, I want to meet a complete stranger and even hook up with them like some sort of blind date thing. Loopt has Loopt mix which links you to people you want to meet or people with the same interest.

Loopt is design for a different demographic (more adult) and it is more exclusive because you share more with people you know unless you choose not to and use loopt mix. Maybe I should not have compared loopt to foursquare because loopt is not a location/gaming app (yet) while 4square is. What I wanted to transmit was that if I were to get a location app it would be loopt for all the reason mentioned above.

Now, I am not that tech savvy but let introduce you to someone who is... Mr. Chris Voss. I think he can explain better how I feel about these location apps and why I might only choose to share my location with friends.... Please watch, its informative and kinda funny (mentions Tiger Woods having a location app)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBOdC_63xaI&feature=player_embedded#!

Foursquare... not so different after all.

After seeing what foursquare is all about I was a bit disppointed because I really didn't see anything much different than what was available before. I know Blackberry users where able to know where their friends were in a map through a google application, and that was a while ago. However, foursquare allows you to see not only where your friends/members are but possibly what they are doing or just good places to go when you are in a certain area.

How is foursquare different? Well, the biggest difference you will find in foursquare that you cant find on any other similar app is that the more you go to a certain place the higher "ranking" or "points" you get. This can lead to potential discounts or other types of rewards.

I have to admit when I heard about the app at first I thought it sounded great but after I experienced it a little I think it fell short of the competition. In my opinion, I think Loopt is much better. You basically get the same thing you get from foursquare but the content is much much better.

Loopt is different because it is more exclusive, meaning only your friends and people you accept see your location and recomendations. In foursquare you rely solely on the recomendations of friends or members, however in Loopt, you also get recomendations from well renowned rating guides like Zagat for restaurants and suggestions of important events happening nearby. It even gives you pictures of the menus of the places which I thought was really good. Loopt goes even further, allowing you to meet strangers like some sort of dating platform with Loopt mix.

Another similar app is Gowalla. This one I did not like that much and in this case I do have to say that foursquare is better. I think this location social businesses war will come down to a matchup of foursquare vs. loopt. It kind of reminds me of the facebook vs myspace battle. It the end Facebook had more class and well myspace is not what it once was. Im thinking loopt will do the same to 4 square.

In conclusion, I am a consumer who prefers quality content and service rather than a questionable or posible discount at a certain place.

Find out for yourself which you like best.

Go to the website and tell me which you find better...

http://www.loopt.com/

http://gowalla.com/

http://foursquare.com/