The World of Google: Everything You Want to Know but Were Afraid to Ask

[NorthSky]

In this thread we are going to explore Google and all that is related, and it is wide because Google has many apps, a store, a browser, and much much more. It is one of the largest companies this side of our planet.

Let's start with Google Maps apps. If you are like me you know how important a good navigation system is when you're driving and looking for the best direction with estimated distance and time to reach your destination, and all clearly articulated from your friendly vocal assistant. You don't need distractions, you are already happy listening to Tidal with MQA from your iPhone plugged into your car's hi-end sound system USB port.

• https://mashable.com/article/google-maps-bloated-mess-new-features/

If you are driving a Tesla you certainly don't want any interference to distract the auto pilot system.

 

[Grave]

I like Chrome.

 

[NorthSky]

I like Chrome too; I'm using it right now. It's my favorite web browser.

But let's have a look to some stats:
• https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-web-browser
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers
• https://fossbytes.com/best-web-browsers-for-pc/

 

[NorthSky]

Chrome is definitely the world's leader when it comes to global searching.
Everyone else just wishes ...

* I like your avatar, did you Google it?

 

[Blumlein 88]

Waze is the best app I know of for driving. It was purchased by Google. If you live in a high traffic metropolitan area you almost have to have it.

I mostly use Chrome. I have an Android Google Fi phone. I don't always like being the product instead of the customer.

Chrome computers can be very nice for regular folks not computer savvy. Yet I always feel like Google is holding back just enough to keep someone like me from being happy with the Chrome OS. And they know it. They know it with precision. And they will not let it be any other way. I don't like being the product and not the customer.

I feel like Google has been a poor, poor citizen by leveraging open source, and yet not giving back enough for it to be a fair trade. Yes, they've given back tremendously (but in context of their size it really isn't that much). I feel like they've been very, very clever to leverage open source to their benefit and not return the favor so well. It reminds me so much of a super high tech, super slick version of the Tragedy of the Commons. Comments about that were part of Garret Hardin's Filters Against Folly. All profit of the open source approach to Google, all costs born by everyone else.

I couldn't even call it a love/hate relationship. Their results are too good to forego, and yet I don't love them for it. They always keep me on edge about tip toeing right up to the line I'd have reason to hate them. I don't like being the product.

And most of all, I wish Google products weren't so piss poor for so many audio uses. They are the pits among all of your choices if you care about real audio quality.

Oh, and my recent purchase of a Pixel phone: damn what a camera! They achieve incredible results with extra computational efforts on the imaging. I wish I could buy a top of the line Canon that had the same computational efforts using the best image sensors and true quality lenses instead of getting results that compare (or sometimes exceed those) while using mediocre hardware.

 

[NorthSky]

Who are the brains behind Google?
• https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/062515/who-are-brains-behind-google.asp

 

[NorthSky]

Check the last one; the R17 Pro
• https://www.androidauthority.com/oppo-r-series-918956/amp/

It has:

• ColorOS 5.2 with improved Google Assistant/Lens and gesture support

 

[Grave]

Wow.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/01/tech/google-employee-walkout-andy-rubin/index.html

 

[NorthSky]

Yes I saw that yesterday, I thought it wasn't a big deal, just a bit unusual for Google employees.

 

[RayDunzl]

The Top Trending Google Searches in Every US State Throughout the 2010s

... or how shallow is the curiosity of the average denizen of Nu-Perfect-America?

Gee, I forgot all about Snooki...