Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#231

Post by woodgrainz » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:51 PM UTC

kerng wrote: post #46

Vic Gundotra (VP Google) said back when Microsoft bought Nokia that "two turkeys don't make an eagle". Google officially has become the Microosft of the mid 2000s. Lack of direction and innovation, buying up companies just for the sake of it. Here is a link to Google's anology: https://www.techspot.com/news/42338-google-attacks-nokia-and...

Apple buys self-driving car startup Drive.ai to compete with the leader Google and others in the autonomous space, as it's own efforts flounder. [1]

It's fun to play this game!

[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/26/apple-buys-autonomous-vehicl...

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#232

Post by iainmerrick » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:51 PM UTC

kerng wrote: post #46

Vic Gundotra (VP Google) said back when Microsoft bought Nokia that "two turkeys don't make an eagle". Google officially has become the Microosft of the mid 2000s. Lack of direction and innovation, buying up companies just for the sake of it. Here is a link to Google's anology: https://www.techspot.com/news/42338-google-attacks-nokia-and...

Vic Gundotra, the Google+ guy?

What makes him a useful authority?

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#233

Post by _ea1k » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:52 PM UTC

jsjohnst wrote: post #162

_ea1k wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tend to agree, but it has also improved Google Maps, so maybe it is still a plus for the business overall?

I agree Google Maps has improved, but I’m not convinced it was directly because of acquiring Waze. Waze UX has dropped so much since acquisition that its almost to the painful point. I also find it’s “user submitted” data (cops, construction, pot holes) has dropped a lot so I feel a lot of folks who were submitting quality data have either left or just stopped submitting as the UX has gotten so bad. Keyhole is anothe…

> I agree Google Maps has improved, but I’m not convinced it was directly because of acquiring Waze.

They often include Waze reported events in Google Maps now. That was the part that I was referring to. I'm not sure if Google Maps reported issues feed back into Waze as well, but I would expect them to.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#234

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:52 PM UTC

vdfs wrote: post #171

taneq wrote: post #29

Reminder for anyone who used a Pebble: Your data will have been sold to FitBit and so Google now gets it. Yay!

That would be a drop in ocean compared to the data they have on you if you are using Android and Google other products

[deleted]

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#235

Post by judge2020 » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:53 PM UTC

izzydata wrote: post #172

criddell wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in the middle of deleting my Fitbit account. It takes 90 days, so hopefully this deal doesn't close quickly...

How does it take 90 days? If that's true then Google is absolutely aware of this and will make sure to take ownership of it prior to then.

Google fully deletes their user data when requested, I'm not sure why malice over data retention is being assumed here.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#236

Post by netsharc » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:53 PM UTC

ameister14 wrote: post #220

jchook wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

80% to 90% of Google’s revenue derives from collecting your personal information, and you think that buying a wristband that tracks the biometrics of 25 million people is “just for the sake of it”?

80-90% of Google's revenue derives from organizing your personal information and selling ad products derived from it. It's not a direct transfer of data into cash. I'm not sure people really need biometrics data to advertise to you more effectively.

Well... what else does Fitbit's cloud store? How often you exercise? Where you do it? What sorts of exercise? Check out these running shorts, keep cool in the summer! Carbon fibre kayak paddles are on sale!

Or, when it's noticed a lull, and kmows you're influencable: Hire this personal trainer to get you back exercising!

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#237

Post by _ea1k » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:54 PM UTC

partiallypro wrote: post #114

kerng wrote: post #46

Vic Gundotra (VP Google) said back when Microsoft bought Nokia that "two turkeys don't make an eagle". Google officially has become the Microosft of the mid 2000s. Lack of direction and innovation, buying up companies just for the sake of it. Here is a link to Google's anology: https://www.techspot.com/news/42338-google-attacks-nokia-and...

I don't think this analogy really works here, the reason the Nokia acquisition didn't work is because it was too late. Microsoft was simply too late to make the necessary changes to compete on the OS level and they kept changing development kits entirely driving away developers and consumers.

I don't see how it could have been too late. Nokia switched to MS way before the acquisition. It wasn't successful for a lot of reasons and I don't think an earlier acquisition would have really changed that.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#238

Post by crb002 » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:55 PM UTC

They might have an X project that could use the Fitbit platform. Hopefully not another Nest mess.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#239

Post by _ea1k » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:55 PM UTC

dboreham wrote: post #219

_ea1k wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the Google acquisition of Motorola is relevant as well. On the surface, it looks like it makes sense, but Google has a horrible track record with these things.

I thought Google acquired Moto for the patent portfolio. On that basis the transaction seems to have paid off given the relative lack of noise on the troll front recently.

That is possible, but it seems like they could have accomplished that for a lot less money.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#240

Post by scarface74 » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 2:55 PM UTC

gman83 wrote: post #214

scarface74 wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular is $329. How much cheaper can you get a smart watch with cellular, gps, health sensors, etc?

Yeah but you really need to buy the IPhone to go with it.

Point taken.

You can see the same thing happening with the Apple Watch needing an iPhone as what happened with the iPhone needing a computer early on.

It wasn’t until iOS 5 that you didn’t need a computer running iTunes to activate and update an iOS device.

Apple has slowly been detaching the Apple Watch from the iPhone. First with a cellular connection and then with an independent Watch store and adding better APIs for third party apps.

Right now, you can get away with only having the Watch with you in day to day use and the phone company already assigns a dedicated number to the watch (even though you can’t use it), I can see in the next couple of years not needing a phone at all to use the watch.