Google vs Bing on Easter

Slate ^ | March 31, 2013 | Matthew Yglesias

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Google vs Bing on Easter By Matthew Yglesias March 31, 2013

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Conservatives' longstanding complaints about Google's choice of "Google doodles" are only going to be reenforced by today's decision to commemorate Easter as the birthday of Latino labor leader Cesar Chavez.

Google's main competition in the search field, Microsoft's Bing, offers a more Easter-themed graphic for today but one that highlights the secular traditions that have grown up around the holiday rather than its religious themes:

But for those seeking a little more Jesus with their Easter, here's a portion of Rafael's "Resurrection of Christ":

The doodles are, obviously, not significant in and of themselves. But Google's ability to indulge the whims of its staff rather than cater to mass opinion on them is a highly visible signpost of its extremely strong market position. The same phenomenon is why it can plow search-related operating surpluses into speculative ventures from Android to Glass to self-driving cars.

[FredZarguna]

Telcos want as many options as possible, because that means they can pressure hardware/os vendors at the price and content points somewhat. That doesn't translate into: Telcos want Blackberry to succeed. Telcos certainly have no interest in pushing an OS perceived as providing a poor customer experience knowing they'll also be caught up in the wash.

One of the big selling points to Smartphones is Mapping/Navigation. I have not seen one review that had positive things to say about the Maps app in 10. As even Apple very quickly learned, your Maps app must be as good as Google Maps or you're in trouble.

Most reviews overall have said, "10 it's a 1.0 release." Meaning, if you've been waiting for Blackberry to catch up, it hasn't happened yet. That's not good news.

The big danger isn't that Blackberry will die. The big danger is that Blackberry won't die, leaving loyal customers with an increasingly hidebound mobile device with the company living off one disappointing marketing ploy after another as it slowly spirals around the drain.

[FredZarguna]

Yeah, but this is like Apple fanbois constantly pointing out that "Apple is still the BIGGEST single SmartPhone maker." Well, I believe Samsung's numbers, so that claim is probably untrue, but even supposing it is, so what? Apple is a hardware company, and Google isn't, so every non-Apple Smartphone sold hurts them, and if it's Android it not only passively helps Google by harming a competitor, but actively helps Google (as you point out) by selling more of what they really sell, which is "searches."

Is it an accident that the network with the most color programming and earliest adoption of color technology also "just happened" to be owned by a corporation that made and sold TV's? Nope. Aint nothing wrong with that.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"That doesn't translate into: Telcos want Blackberry to succeed. "

That's correct -- and that's why I never suggested that Telcos want Blackberry, specifically, to succeed. They do want at least 3 players in the market, for the reasons you state. Or, turning that around, they don't want to become totally subservient to a single vendor. My point was, and remains: even if Android, and (say) Apple had 95% of the market between them; the Telcos would continue to offer the products of at least one other vendor. That vendor might be Blackberry. We'll likely know in a few months.

[dennisw]

I like your sagacity!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"The big danger isn't that Blackberry will die. The big danger is that Blackberry won't die, leaving loyal customers with an increasingly hidebound mobile device with the company living off one disappointing marketing ploy after another as it slowly spirals around the drain."

Having the "best" device (or the illusive "optimal" solution) doesn't matter to everyone. Many of us are "satisficers", rather than "optimizers", or "maximizers". (E.g. do you really need a million apps?) I don't rush out to buy a new computer, cell phone, TV, etc., unless the one I currently have quits working, or doesn't meet all my needs. If I had a Blackberry 10 (I don't), and it did what I needed a smartphone to do, I wouldn't care how "hidebound" it was.

[freekitty]

The apartment was for show. He actually lived in a very nice house. I am not sure if his daughter lived there or not. He was a scammer.

[for-q-clinton]

I completely agree with you on developers matter.

But the rest I’m not so sure about. ARM Windows RT exists because it has excellent battery life and very light weight. Read reviews of Surface Windows 8 and you’ll see why it exists. It’s lighter and has excellent battery life. Even Apple is considering ditching x86 for Arm.

Also Microsoft’s marketing does stink and that’s their albatross. But their products are very solid even though their marketing isn’t.

[for-q-clinton]

Uh Bill Gates is not really Microsoft any longer so try again. That’s like trying to say Steve Jobs is still at Apple.

[nascarnation]

Well Ballmer certainly is.

[FredZarguna]

Try reading it again.

I made it clear that he's an emeritus board member. Nevertheless, the corporate culture at Microsoft is still that of a typical left-leaning corporation.

[for-q-clinton]

I did read what you said accurately. And once again why even mention it if not for presenting a false argument?

[for-q-clinton]

Ok, so?

[FredZarguna]

Because it’s not a false argument. He is still involved with the company.