Google has gone from innovative upstart to fat-and-happy industry leader in what seems like record time. Put simply, the search giant has lost its mojo. That's good news for Microsoft, and it could affect how you use Google's cloud computing services.
Google looks as if it's on top of the world right now, holding an ever-increasing lion's share of the search market. So why do I think it's lost its mojo? Let's start with the way it treats its employees. Google's largesse has been legendary -- free food, liberal maternity and parental leave, on-site massages, fitness classes and even oil changes.
Many people, including me, use Google's services. After search and e-mail, there are documents, spreadsheets, calendars and drawing. In fact I have read about people who now use Google Apps exclusively. Google is their IT department.
But this is not what worries me about Google. Consider that they track everything you do, so even though they may not keep identifying information about you, they do track that user #45EF821F9BC8EA50, for instance, is interested in rock music, the Far Side, Dilbert, lingerie, cars, The Simpsons, cricket, John McCain, etc. In fact they can tie every search you have done to you.
And combine this with them having access to your calendar, documents and spreadsheets, they probably know more about you than you do.
Why would you trust anyone with that information, let alone someone who would have to turn it over to the US government, if asked, and is not allowed to inform you that they have done so?
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