Sharpes-R-Us

What Makes Google Tick?

Google has been busy recently.

They have released new products and enhanced existing ones, once again shaping the way you and I use the Internet. In the last week they have:

Added additional detailed info for over 100 cities to the amazing Google Earth application. Now many cities have satellite images with detail down to 6 inches per pixel! You can actually see people outside when the photos were taken.
Opened Gmail up to the public (last paragraph in article) - no invitation required, but apparently they're doing this validation that requires an SMS-capable cell-phone to prevent Gmail accounts from being used as spammers. Kinda restrictive, but given the fact that basically everyone with a current Gmail account has 50 invitations they're probably dying to give away, it's still easier to just ask someone who has one.
Added a "Send Mail as..." feature to Gmail where you can use the Gmail interface for sending, but have the message appear to have originated from any of your other email accounts. Now even if you're limited to a particular email service or don't want to give up an old one, you can effectively use the Gmail interface instead. This goes further than the previous similar feature of setting your own "Reply-To" header. It actually changes the "From" header.
Announced Google Talk, a free Instant Messenger chat and voice application. Talk or type to anyone, anywhere (with a Net connection), anytime, for free.
Announced a new version of Google Desktop with a cool Konfabulator-like Sidebar feature where your desktop can display news, stocks, weather, photos, any RSS feed, etc. It updates for you automatically and can even learn what news you like to read (similar to TiVo Suggestions).
And there are rumors of Google gearing up to offer free WiFi for everyone

I've always liked Google and their products. They're simple, they work, they aren't intrusive, and they solve real problems, oh, and they're FREE. All this and their stock price is through the roof and many are projecting it will hit $500 or even $900 in the next 1-2 years.

So if a company like this can do no wrong, what are they thinking? How are they thinking? Luckily, Google took some time to share a bit with us. Here's some insight into what they believe and how they work:

The Google Culture - sounds like the dream place to work, doesn't it?
The Google Philosophy - these are real things you can understand and identify with, simple concepts that drive everything they do and remain at the forefront of development
Google Software Principles - design requirements for everything they do, all to benefit us, and make them the company that they are
Google engineers have "20 percent time" that they are encouraged to pursue other projects that interest them. Many of these fledgling projects have turned into Google staples. All because the company enabled their employees to innovate.

BTW, I don't even own Google stock, and I certainly don't work for them, but I do rely on them each and every day in my work and personal life. They've changed things.

For the better.

Posted by Chris on 8/24/2005 11:17:00 AM :: Permalink