Google Sets Its Sights on Apple

[macsmurf]

Say what you will about Apple, but they've got a focus that allows them to execute a new idea better than nearly any other company. Watching the Google keynotes, it seemed everything they did was a reaction to Apple. Just because you paste "open" on top of all you do, doesn't make it any different than what Microsoft has been accused of doing, and that's shadowing Apple.

What open means in this situation is that Apple (or any other company) can copy Android OS for free, make changes to it they don't have to share, and put their own GUI on top that they also don't have to share.

You know, just like when Apple copied FreeBSD to make OS X.

 

[elppa]

Ahhh, so the secret to Apple's success is that they don't "give a damn" about their customers!

Apple sells directly to customers and lives and dies by their customers. In Apple's world customers are preserving user experience is more important than developers. Hence some of the app store conflicts.

Microsoft => Sells to businesses and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers)
Google => Sells to Advertisers (mostly) and Businesses (Google Apps)
Apple => Sells to end users

Google already caught up Apple: more Androids are sold each day than Iphones.

In North America. Although I imagine a buy iPhone, get iPhone free offer would fix it.

If there hadn't been competition, we probably wouldn't have got as far as cut and paste yet with the iPhone.

Or be able to see how bad the implementation on the other platforms actually is.

 

[ValSalva]

Yeah, Macs are selling in record numbers for the past dozen or so quarters but Apple has conceded the market.

No Mac app awards at this year's WWDC. No update to the MacBook Air. No update to the Mac Pro. Underwhelming update of the MacBook Pro. Unlikely that there will be OS X 10.7 news at WWDC in June.

I'd love to be proven wrong but it doesn't appear that Mac and OS X are that much of a priority in Cupertino right now.

 

[elppa]

Two things that irk me and I find quite curious:

[1] Open v Closed. The irony is that Chrome OS, Chrome and this new Google TV (which uses Chrome) are all built on the open source Webkit project, which of course came out of Cupertino.* Apple isn't adverse to open, which is why large parts of their OS are open including the recent Snow Leopard technologies OpenCL (duh!) and libdispatch (Grand Central).

[2] Google's got a lot of people convinced Android has is overtaking the iPhone in share (as in it's only a matter of time before the results we see in the US being extrapolated to the rest of the world). This just plain false. In one territory, the USA, where Verizon is encouraging it's employees to push Android, offering 2 for 1 deals Android has passed iPhone.

* I know this itself was based on KHTML, but you're not telling me KHTML would be where Webkit is today without Apple's resources?

What open means in this situation is that Apple (or any other company) can copy Android OS for free, make changes to it they don't have to share, and put their own GUI on top that they also don't have to share.

You know, just like when Apple copied FreeBSD to make OS X.

NeXTSTEP 1.0 => September 18, 1989
Free BSD 1.0 => July, 1994

 

[weev]

No Mac app awards at this year's WWDC. No update to the MacBook Air. No update to the Mac Pro. Underwhelming update of the MacBook Pro. Unlikely that there will be OS X 10.7 news at WWDC in June.

I'd love to be proven wrong but it doesn't appear that Mac and OS X are that much of a priority in Cupertino right now.

Whose waiting for an iPod update, eh? I think you have seen the sun through the clouds, ValSalva.

There is a new gold mine but we are not invited.

What is up, are they calling time on static input devises.. ? Is there an implant I can get, cause I really just don't want to be an tawdy adopter, again!

 

[appleseed76]

When Google alludes to Apple being like Big Brother, are they referring to their closed system approach, or their success in taking over certain markets? Apple really isn't an underdog by any means, but neither is Google. It's kind of like calling the kettle black. And why do people keep referencing a 26-year-old commercial, as if Apple is the same company it was over 3 decades ago. Move on people, Apple has changed. They've been changing, like any successful company should. That's how you keep up, for better or worse.

If Google and Apple had teamed up any more than they already have then people would say that Google was riding the coattails of Apple, just like Sony did to Nintendo back in the day. Perhaps a similar breakdown occurred when Apple got wind if Google's plans to move into their markets.

 

[charlituna]

apple entered the mobile business, google can enter whatever business they like too...

While this is true, there is an issue that could bite Google in their butts.

Their motives.

Apple has always done and not done by three basic rules
1. What is the best fit for our intended audience, particularly the majority audience
2. What can we do better than has been done before
3. Can we, at this time, do X right with minimal issue for our audience

So no blu-ray because they felt it wasn't needed by the majority audience (ie, the common user v the geeks who will gripe but still get Toast and an external to burn those disks and pay on their 50" tvs)
No multitasking on the iphone because it couldn't be done well until now. Same for no 3rd party apps on day one, etc
No behind the scenes hot switching of the dual graphics cards right away because it couldn't be done 'right' until now
and so on

Google on the other hand seems to all about 'what is Apple doing?'
in a few cases, yes they may have done something better, but mostly they look like the younger brother of the pair and a very whining one at that. and in their race to one up Apple on everything they could bite off way more than they can chew

 

[Chuushajou]

If Jobs enables wireless syncing in iPhone OS, I really couldn't be any more happier. This is something I've wanted from day one, and I shouldn't have to pay $10 on Cydia to get this.

 

[macsmurf]

NeXTSTEP 1.0 => September 18, 1989
Free BSD 1.0 => July, 1994

What is your point? It is a well known fact that Apple copied large parts of the FreeBSD codebase and put it in OS X.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing. In fact, it's one of the reasons I use OS X. The primary point was to explain that "open" wasn't just a word Google picked out but that it has actual meaning. I admit I was being facetious with regards to the "who's copying who", but that's just because it's pointless to take the discussion seriously.

Of course, that might be true of any discussion on MacRumors.

 

[androiphone]

phew it's a damn good job that android supports HTML5 h.264, WebM/VP8, AND flash cause TBH I (like 90% of the people who watch online video) dont give a damn which is best/is going to win out, I just want to be able to WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE SITE, when I want, without the damn 'cannot display content' because of the narrowmindedness of 'no we want this to win so we will not ever never support the others, if it causes hardship for the customers the screw them' while throwing their toys out of the pram

peace out

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

I vote google

 

[lazyrighteye]

Google is EXACTLY what Mac and Apple product users should LOVE!

I want Google to battle Apple fiercely on all fronts.

Competition will force Apple to actually consider its users. A Google Chrome OS and Android could force Apple to continually update its products to be not slight improvements over the former models but rather products that actually compete with Google's at every step. Frequent updates with better components that provide substantial updates.

I hope Google truly battles Apple on every product Apple sells. I don't care whether it's MP3 players, routers, displays, smartphone OS, mobile computers, professional computers, tablets, and etc. I want Google to truly go for it and make Apple give a damn about its customers by forcing Apple to provide better products in comparison with Google. Chrome OS could really be the start of something big and benefit all of us Mac users more than OS X could benefit us.

I look forward to this new Google gunning for Apple at every step of the way.

An emphatic +1.
I was coming here to post very similar sentiment.
Thanks.

This will only make Apple and their products better.
I very much welcome the challenge from Google.
Now we'll really find out what Apple's made of.
This should be fun.

 

[macsmurf]

If Flash is allowed on the iPhone, the terrorists win.

 

[musiciscool]

Big Brother?!

Google is calling Apple Big Brother?! Are you kidding me?! That's like Beijing accusing the U.S. of human rights abuses as they harvest organs from political dissidents. Google is the most Big Brother entity on the planet! All that's missing is the Google chip, but with their cell phone OS give-aways, they are on their way to tracking our every move and speech.

 

[nanotlj]

while it is sad to see apple and google's hostile relationship, I also would like to see apple competes with google head to head. In business, no friends forever; no enemies forever either. Remember google pays apple 100 million a year to carry its search engine.

 

[chaosconan]

Apple TV

How to make Apple TV even better!

Provide 4 types of contents.

1. Rent Movies and TV Shows (already there)
2. Buy Movies and TV Shows (already there)
3. Rent Movies and TV Shows with iAd at a reduced price (maybe 50% to 75%)
4. Watch TV with iAd for free (Like they do it on Televisions and hulu).

 

[tigres]

Google wants your DNA. Those who play, sign over their personal nda's.

When we all wonder in the future how googles intel became bigger than our own governments; remember these diversions- or deserts.

Open your minds people. Try to see the forest through the trees.

 

[Alith]

When they are done raging at each other can we please get Chrome bookmark syncing in MobileMe?

Ta.

 

[rococoloco]

Two things that irk me and I find quite curious:

[1] Open v Closed. The irony is that Chrome OS, Chrome and this new Google TV (which uses Chrome) are all built on the open source Webkit project, which of course came out of Cupertino.* Apple isn't adverse to open, which is why large parts of their OS are open including the recent Snow Leopard technologies OpenCL (duh!) and libdispatch (Grand Central).

* I know this itself was based on KHTML, but you're not telling me KHTML would be where Webkit is today without Apple's resources?

Everything came from something,
Apple is very adverse to open, Apple only co-operates/flirts with open when it has something to gain, as opposed to actually open advocates for whom open means for everyone, all the time, not when some oligarchical corporation (here's looking at you Steve) decide.
Some may see Googles open-sourcing of VP8 with suspicion as to their motives and a possible middle-finger to Apple and it's fast tracking H.264.

But there have been many petitions since Google bought On2 to do so, from open-source advocates and Linux users.

It's not a feud, it's not unprecedented, not all of Googles actions are reactionary.

 

[doctor-don]

The LAST place I want to download music to is my phone.

Animosity? It's simply business competition.

Google cannot succeed when its customers realize how much of their privacy will be given up to Google.

 

[Bonte]

What open means in this situation is that Apple (or any other company) can copy Android OS for free, make changes to it they don't have to share, and put their own GUI on top that they also don't have to share.

You know, just like when Apple copied FreeBSD to make OS X.

And that is exactly what all the handset-makers will do, slap there own GUI on it and take control of the app-store. 'Open' will splinter the market and make it useless, Google will need to make it closed again and force the hardware and features in the same direction.
Won't be easy because providers and handset-makers don't want to be the dumb link in the chain, they want control over features and software.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

"I agree that no single company can create all the hardware and software. Openness is central because it's the foundation of choice." - Steve Ballmer

I disagree. This is basically why Apple "Just Works" They monitor their hardware and software to work seamlessly with one another. That's like shipping an Erector set without the instructions. Yeah you can build whatever you want but in the end there will be many left over pieces....

 

[nrodriguez55]

The *******s at Google

Honestly, why the hell is google all of a sudden an enemy of Apple?

It's like they have nothing else to do other than to try and counter Apple at every turn, operating systems, phones, company acquisitions and the like.

Google has no business entering any other business other than the one that made them their fortune.

Then they have the nerve to compare Apple to Big Brother...Google does not see that they, in fact, are ones with the Big Brother complex.

They don't want competition, they want to be top dog.

I can't wait until Google's sudden rash of stupidity comes back to bite them in the ass.

I no longer use google as a search engine, by the way.. I wont support a company that has a superiority complex and wages wars on other successful companies just because they want to capitalize on their successes.
Hopefully people will soon see Google for what it is and stop supporting them.



Googles track record so far:
- a very successful search engine
- a failed operating system
- a failed phone operating system
- a failed phone designed to compete with the iPhone ( nexus one)







What else can Google suck at? I'm sure we will see...

Stick to what you know Google. Leave Apple and the rest of us alone

 

[kenypowa]

Seriously, what has Apple done to Google to deserve being treated like the evil empire?

Rejecting the insanely useful Google Voice App?

Googles track record so far:
- a very successful search engine
- a failed operating system
- a failed phone operating system
- a failed phone designed to compete with the iPhone ( nexus one)

LOL. A failed phone OS. Where have you been this year?

 

[elppa]

What is your point?

Because you made it sound like it was exclusively copied. I'd say that Mac OS X owes as much to it's NeXTSTEP heritage as anything.

Apple is very adverse to open, Apple only co-operates/flirts with open when it has something to gain

This is how most companies operate and this was my point.

Is calling people "fanboy" (as you have me) not the same thing?

EDIT: AAh, it's not fanboy, it was "Android Kool Aid" drinker.

I believe the term now is “fandroid”.