Google

Three times the trouble

SamsungS4

Samsung’s press relations people sent me a test unit of their new Galaxy S4 phone, even though my colleague Kevin Tofel did a pretty in-depth review. And while, I am unlikely to do a review, I wouldn’t mind sharing my impressions, since Apple vs Samsung is the real story.

First impressions: it doesn’t look anything like the iPhone 5 ( or 4) and it is distinct enough to stand out in a sea of Android (devices.) Beyond the looks, there is a lot more “stuff” going on here, which to an iPhone user can be overwhelming. For instance, since I already have an Apple ID, in order to sign-on for my iPhone, I just need to put that ID and I am all set. The new iPhone wants you to create a new Apple ID. In the case of S4, when I used the device for the first time, I

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Musings
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iWatch or iNot?

We have been privately musing that Apple’s iWatch might just be a head fake, a way to throw off the rivals (and even insiders at the company) and send them on a wild goose chase. Our theory is that we might see something else that is along the lines of a watch, is wearable on a wrist and is focused on health. Why? Because we think that is a bigger market, regardless of what techno-watch wearing friends of ours say.

Apparently we are not alone in our conspiracy-theory like thinking. Jean-Louis Gassee (formerly of Apple) also mused about this on Twitter. He was of course reacting to this article about Google’s watch plans, just like Samsung’s watch plans. Not to be mean or anything, one has to wonder why Samsung (and Google) have not invented (or reinvented) a new category since you know, the iPad launch. Maybe waiting for Apple

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Musings
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My highly complex social web(s)

The social web is very complex and crowded. It made sense to let you know where to find me and what to expect. 

I am on these six social networks, if you would like to follow along. 

I write about technology trends and offer analysis on current (tech events.) I sometimes write about interesting, relevant and engaging companies on GigaOm. I occasionally (but rarely) review products. However, I write a weekly newsletter, Om Says: Weekend edition — a collection of 7 stories I recommend you sit back and read. 

Here on Om.co, you can find me musing about baseball, clothes, movies, music, my many

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Musings
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Sitting & Writing

I am sitting in my favorite SF location & thinking about the events of this past week and writing my reflections on Facebook’s initial public offering and comparing it with Netscape and Google. Much as it is about change in the Internet landscape, it is also apt reflection on how the media has changed. It is one of those really long pieces and it might take longer than I thought it should. In the interim, feel free to leave comments or your own recollections.

Musings
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Burnout & Resentment

Marissa Mayer (senior VP at Google) tells Businessweek magazine burnout is a consequence of resentment.

I have a theory that burnout is about resentment. And you beat it by knowing what it is you’re giving up that makes you resentful. Find your rhythm. Your rhythm is what matters to you so much that when you miss it you’re resentful of your work. So find your rhythm, understand what makes you resentful, and protect it. You can’t have everything you want, but you can have the things that really matter to you.

That said, I wonder if people burnout from having false expectations of themselves and living someone else’s life and dreams. Thoughts?

Musings
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Schmidt, Seriously!

I was sitting in the San Francisco office of Bloomberg when Charlie Rose came on the screen. He was interviewing Eric Schmidt, chairman and former CEO of Google. Schmidt was waxing eloquent about Steve Jobs, who sadly passed away earlier this week. It was the start of incessant barrage of “commentary” by Schmidt, in all sorts of media outlets. It is kind off ironic.

Sure Schmidt knew Jobs! At some point they might have been friends. However, the way he has been taking to the airwaves and giving interviews, you might think they were co-stars in a buddy movie. That is just not true. He got bounced by Steve and Apple once they realized Google’s smartphone ambitions. He was unceremoniously dropped from the Apple board. Jobs had little or no time for Google and its chairman. “Make no mistake: they want to kill the iPhone. We won’t let them. Don’t be

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Where Search is Going

At the time of Google’s founding, search was broadly defined as a sifting through a directory of websites. As the web grew, search became all about pages. Google, with its PageRank, came to dominate that evolution of search. Today, search is not just about pages, but also about people and the relevance of information to them. Google’s realization — however late – that it needs to use social, location and other signals to enhance its core search platform is welcome.

Why? Because the the internet (and information) are expanding with such rapidity that there is no room for assumptions, and as such our systems need to adapt to this world of no (or alternatively infinite) assumptions. Google needs to adapt, and getting social and location signals is important for the company. Search is now search relevant to you in the context of your world — and that is where Google+

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