Already this year, Google has released new mobile and tablet devices, started a quarterly newsletter, brought forth the +1 Button to Google search, and are gearing up for their open-source operating system: Chrome OS.
Google, probably the largest Internet giant, has provided us with e-mail services, cloud computing, and the world’s most popular search engine for more than a decade, but it is clear they are not satisfied yet.
Google released their Xoom alongside their latest version of Android 3.0. In the mobile market, Google is working with Motorola, Samsung, HTC and many other companies to come out with faster, stronger, brighter and better functioning smartphones this year.
In the corporate world, Google published its first quarterly magazine, appropriately named Think Quarterly. In its first issue, Google focuses on the complexity of data through data obesity, information overload, mobile sources of data, and the history of data capture. Google’s Managing Director Matt Brittin describes the magazine’s purpose as being “a breathing space in a busy world. It’s a place to take out and consider what’s happening and why it matters.”
The next item up Google’s sleeve is what they call +1. +1 is Google’s attempt at socializing search results in order to provide more personalized results to the user. The way it works is when you search on the Internet for a product, you will see your friends’ +1 search preference. The more friends who prefer an item, the more relevant your search result will be to you. In order for +1 to be beneficial, you will need to create a social circle on Google. It will be interesting to see how Google’s +1 ends up changing search results. If people get on board with it, Google +1 will indeed be the new social search.
This year, Google will start shipping its open-source (meaning free to use) operating system: Chrome OS.
If you use Google Chrome as your web browser, you are already familiar with it. Chrome OS, or Chromium, uses the browser as its operating system and uses web applications and cloud computing to power it (for those wondering what cloud computing is, it is similar to a Northwestern student’s G: drive, except it is online). Google Docs is an online Google G: drive where you can store documents, spreadsheets and any other file worth storing.
Chrome OS isn’t going to be some breakthrough operating system. Instead, it is being built and optimized for the web use. Chrome OS is Google’s attempt to provide a seamless operating system that aims to provide a faster, simpler and more secure experience without all the headaches of ordinary computers.
The year is only a quarter of the way through, and Google has already come out with some beneficial services. As the year continues on, you can bet that Google will keep bringing forth new products to simplify our everyday digital lives.