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True. I think the other person mixed that up with the paid links, that you get next to the search results. These you can buy.




Actually, it can. It's not important for the definition of a monopoly, if people are forced by external, unintentional circumstances to use a certain product (like it is the case with Windows or Office).
In several major countries Google has >90% market share. Their global dominance is so strong they coined a verb of their own, and if you ask any random person in any random place on earth, chances are they know and use Google every day and haven't heard of other search engines.
Also don't forget that Google doesn't just have a monopoly among users but also among ad space sellers. In that respect their stranglehold is as strong as Microsoft's. Most companies are forced to buy Google ads if they want to get noticed, just because Google is so ubiquitous.

You are right, users could switch to another search engine with a simple mouse click, but chances are they won't. Most people wouldn't even notice worse or biased results, because for them Google results ARE the internet. They would never even suspect wrongdoing.
Just look how long it took other, far better browsers to overtake IE. People are lazy.

Yeah, very valid point :)

I dont know though, I just dont see anyone wanting to try and start regulating search engines. For one thing it opens up a whole can of worms as to who would do it. Nobody owns the internet, so it would mean that each country would need to regulate it, which effectively ends up being the great firewall of China if you aren't careful. I dont think Google would ever risk something like this, so tend to not mess with search, it runs smoothly and gives fair and accurate results. As long as it keeps doing that, I dont think we really need anyone stepping in. Hopefully we never will.
 
Are iTunes Links Being Downranked by Google?

Apple better release their own search service and be done with this ****. Youtube app removed zoom to make the iphone screen appear small. Google leadership's behavior is immature and sleazy
 
Oops...
shemademe.gif


http://appleinsider.com/articles/13...inks-on-technical-difficulties-fix-on-the-way

:D
 
What a shocker. Anyone has done anything on the web knows that Google changes their algorithms on a daily basis. You can go from being 1st to 1000 in one day. How about Apple create a real web presence so users can search and install apps and maybe this will not affect them.

Well said.

Ever heard of iTunes, the App Store, et al...

This is nothing more than sensationalism against Google. Much ado about nothing. Those who believe Apples never done anything to gain competitive advantage, fail to understand business.

Apple has billions, you don't become that successful by being a victim.
 
So, Google messing with the search results of their search engine according to their interest, is actually a breaking news ? Are you kidding me ? That's their main business model.
 
Nah just use MS bing and partner with MS.

I don't think that would benefit Apple so much...

Do you have evidence to the contrary. Glitches happen. They happen to Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and lots of companies that provide online services.

Are you familiar with Occam's razor?

No reason to be so pedantic... I don't trust Google. In my opinion they offer low quality services and treat their own customers as products. Google is under intense scrutiny here in Europe for anticompetitive business practices and data theft...

European data watchdogs target Google over privacy

Good idea - suddenly Android and Samsung would disappear from the fanbois' sights. ;)

And, it would trim a dozen or so billions off Apple's cash horde to build a worldwide search infrastructure that wouldn't be laughable compared to Bing or Google. Think 20x the Apple North Carolina data centre.

They would recover their investment through ad packages and the like just like Google does... right?
 
No reason to be so pedantic... I don't trust Google. In my opinion they offer low quality services and treat their own customers as products. Google is under intense scrutiny here in Europe for anticompetitive business practices and data theft...

[

low quality services? How do you figure?
 
low quality services? How do you figure?

It is my personal opinion. I don't find any of their products to be either elegant or very functional. Everything they do is simply the cheapest and most basic alternative.

What data theft?


This data theft

How Google lied over street spies: Watchdog relaunches inquiry into search engine's data trawl
Search giant harvested information from unsecured wireless networks
Websites visited, emails, usernames, passwords and IP addresses all collected
 
It is my personal opinion. I don't find any of their products to be either elegant or very functional. Everything they do is simply the cheapest and most basic alternative.




This data theft

How Google lied over street spies: Watchdog relaunches inquiry into search engine's data trawl
Search giant harvested information from unsecured wireless networks
Websites visited, emails, usernames, passwords and IP addresses all collected

Good find, doubt you'll get an answer though.
 
No reason to be so pedantic... I don't trust Google. In my opinion they offer low quality services and treat their own customers as products. Google is under intense scrutiny here in Europe for anticompetitive business practices and data theft...
And Apple provides the highest of quality products and does not do any unauthorized data mining.
 
It is my personal opinion. I don't find any of their products to be either elegant or very functional. Everything they do is simply the cheapest and most basic alternative.

Yes. Clearly personal opinion. You can probably argue aesthetics - that's in the eye of the beholder. But I'm not sure how you can justify saying their products aren't very functional. Which products are you referring to? Search? GMail? Translation Services?

Cheapest? Well yes. For the individual (not business accounts) - their products are free. Of course they're the cheapest. But basic alternative? How so? Again - which products are you referring to?
 
This data theft

How Google lied over street spies: Watchdog relaunches inquiry into search engine's data trawl
Search giant harvested information from unsecured wireless networks
Websites visited, emails, usernames, passwords and IP addresses all collected

That was not data theft, you have to read better the allegations and what was collected.
 
Good find, doubt you'll get an answer though.

I'm sure someone will try to discredit either me or the source... ;)


And Apple provides the highest of quality products.

The vast majority of their offerings are unparalleled.

Yes. Clearly personal opinion. You can probably argue aesthetics - that's in the eye of the beholder.

From a software engineer's standpoint Google's applications are the least elegant. They're always buggy when released and the burden of improving them and sorting out the kinks always falls on the users. Aesthetics are also important.

If this comes as a shock to you, I can provide references.

But I'm not sure how you can justify saying their products aren't very functional. Which products are you referring to? Search? GMail? Translation Services?

Again the examples are countless. Google Docs, Google Sketchup (now sold), Earth, Maps, Translation services, Android (up to 2.3.7 in particular) etc...

I'm sure you're shocked by all this too but again I can provide references if needed.

Cheapest? Well yes. For the individual (not business accounts) - their products are free. Of course they're the cheapest. But basic alternative? How so? Again - which products are you referring to?

Basic alternative as in incompatible to their paid counterparts and offering a fraction of the functionality. Microsoft Office or iWork vs Google Docs...

----------

That was not data theft, you have to read better the allegations and what was collected.

Google has been accused of misleading Britain’s privacy watchdog over the scandal of personal data stolen from millions of home computers.
The Information Commissioner last night dramatically reopened its inquiry into how the internet giant’s Street View cars harvested vast swathes of personal information from unsecured wi-fi networks.
During its first investigation, Google told investigators that the downloading of data was a ‘simple mistake’. It escaped with no punishment.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ft-alleged-misled-watchdog.html#ixzz2PPiBP8wm
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
 
Google has been accused of misleading Britain’s privacy watchdog over the scandal of personal data stolen from millions of home computers.
The Information Commissioner last night dramatically reopened its inquiry into how the internet giant’s Street View cars harvested vast swathes of personal information from unsecured wi-fi networks.
During its first investigation, Google told investigators that the downloading of data was a ‘simple mistake’. It escaped with no punishment.

Posting a link from the Daily Mail twice won't make your claim of data theft more real.

I repeat, you have to read what was accused Google of before saying they are data thefts. Some clues: OPEN wifis, payload data.

By the way, what said the UK authorities?

----------

Good find, doubt you'll get an answer though.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 


The vast majority of their offerings are unparalleled.

From a software engineer's standpoint Google's applications are the least elegant. They're always buggy when released and the burden of improving them and sorting out the kinks always falls on the users. Aesthetics are also important.

If this comes as a shock to you, I can provide references.

Again the examples are countless. Google Docs, Google Sketchup (now sold), Earth, Maps, Translation services, Android (up to 2.3.7 in particular) etc...

I'm sure you're shocked by all this too but again I can provide references if needed.



Shocked, no. It's your personal opinion. You're entitled to it. Just like I'm entitled to think you're wrong. I don't need references. You're stating your opinion. I was just curious what products you were referencing.
 
I am seeing this recommendation across the board and I think people are ubserestinating what it takes to just build a search engine. Think of maps as a a search engine for just maps. Apple didn't even get that right. The problem with competing with an already mature search engine is, well, it's already mature. And people are used to it. One does not simply make a search engine and receive worldwide acceptance. Microsoft is learning this currently.

On top of that, didn't MS already have Windows Live as a quasi-search engine back in the Windows Mobile 5/6 days? So it's not like they're completely new to this yet they haven't unseated Google, so I don't see Apple doing it anytime soon...

----------

So what this report really says is that people who cannot use a search engine will apparently be dumb enough to click on whatever is shown on screen.

If I don't find exactly what I want I change my search entry. I don't just randomly click on whatever Google throws out.

Not to mention that the first result is always the creator's Web page. So why should they care? They get hits and contain the link to send users to iTunes.

Search for Appsfire and you get the creator page top ranked. Same for Twitter, Keynote AND Numbers. The last one is particularly amusing considering it's an Apple product that's coming up first and not a description of a mathematical element that's been around almost since the dawn of humanity. :rolleyes:

Best answer ever. And yes the Numbers bit is a little sad... :rolleyes:
 
Mod note:

Thread open again. Please folks, let's keep discussion civil and friendly. If you make a claim, please back it up with a source, such as a legitimate URL to what you're stating.

If you feel someone is violating the forum rules please do not take action yourself. Rather, please use the report button and allow the moderator team to handle the issue.

It may be worthwhile to review the Rules For Appropriate Debate as well. :)

/Mod note
 
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It is my personal opinion. I don't find any of their products to be either elegant or very functional. Everything they do is simply the cheapest and most basic alternative.




This data theft

How Google lied over street spies: Watchdog relaunches inquiry into search engine's data trawl
Search giant harvested information from unsecured wireless networks
Websites visited, emails, usernames, passwords and IP addresses all collected

Instead of spreading fear, you could have spread info. The data gathered weren't user specific. They were just aggregate data, meaning they have no way to link it with individuals. And to be frank, if you have an unsecured network, then you shouldn't expect any safety/privacy. End of discussion!
 
Was thinking about this a bit..

Let's say Google gives or would give equal treatment to iTunes links. Even in that case, I think Google Play would typically rank much higher. This is because that interface is the primary way of installing Android apps via your PC to your Android device. The Google Play pages are basically far more used by Android user than the iTunes pages are to an iOS user. Therefore, the relevance/rank should be much higher.

Probably not so relevant for searches of "Angry Birds iPhone" or "Angry Birds iTunes", but definitely relevant for searches of "Angry Birds."
 
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