It's hard to pinpoint when, but I think at some point last year I stopped viewing Google as "special" and started considering them just one of many companies.
To me, Google was special because all their early products were made to solve very hard problems that me, among many other people had: search sucked, webmail sucked, etc.
That Google is dead, I'm afraid. Wave, Buzz, and now (probably) Google Me.. all products created with shady goals, terrible execution, disdain for privacy. Most importantly, they are products that NO ONE FUCKING NEEDS.
I'm still continuing using Gmail and Google for search because they are the best (although DDG is close, and I'm rooting for them). But I'm definitely looking elsewhere for anything close to innovation.
To me, Google was special because all their early products were made to solve very hard problems that me, among many other people had: search sucked, webmail sucked, etc.
That Google is dead, I'm afraid. Wave, Buzz, and now (probably) Google Me.. all products created with shady goals, terrible execution, disdain for privacy. Most importantly, they are products that NO ONE FUCKING NEEDS.
I'm still continuing using Gmail and Google for search because they are the best (although DDG is close, and I'm rooting for them). But I'm definitely looking elsewhere for anything close to innovation.
/rant