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How long until the "don't trust Google to not kill a product" feeling becomes so widespread it begins to hurt them? I don't know any historical precedents...
Precisely as long as it takes YouTube to fail, which is their last remaining meaningful cash cow (besides advertising).
Any recommendations on registrars? I may have to move a couple of domains off Google Domains / Squarespace. Edit: I am located in the US.
Because it's not being killed, it's being transferred to another company. (If this reporting is correct.)
Which is something to celebrate, not criticize. With Reader/Stadia/etc., wouldn't users prefer that it had been transferred rather than killed?
How long until the "don't trust Google to not kill a product" feeling becomes so widespread it begins to hurt them? I don't know any historical precedents...
The turning point for me was when they killed Google Music, which I had been using for a decade, forcing me to move my large catalog of songs elsewhere. I self host via Plex now. Strike 1.
Then they killed the "free domain email", which became freeish (grandfathered) "google workgroups", which became pay up or we kill it. I spent many hours back and forthing with their email support trying to get admin access to my account to no avail. They claimed I needed to reach out to my domain admin. Uhhh sorry I own it and I'm the only guy thats on it or ever used it. There's no one else but me (I never had an admin, as I was just somehow transitioned during the grandfathering). No luck. I (nervously) let Google auto-kill the account, after quickly migrating everything to Fastmail via IMAP (and hand moving my calendar!). Strike 2.
Then (long story short) my Google Fi and Google Pixel experience was fine, until it suddenly wasn't. No human to complain to. Top of the line Pixel phone died like 14 months from purchase, no recourse. Buy a new phone or else. Strike 3.
The pattern is clear, Google services are fine up until the moment they aren't. At that point you're up a creek, as there are (by design) no humans to complain to.
All that is left now is my domain on Google Domains (well that and a free gmail account which I forward), which I figured was safe-ish (as they can't possibly pull the rug out from underneath domain owners can they?). But secretly been monitoring for signs I need to drop that as well. Looks like the time is now.
So.... any thoughts on whether Squarespace will be an improvement? Or should I start looking for another domain name registrar?
How long until the "don't trust Google to not kill a product" feeling becomes so widespread it begins to hurt them? I don't know any historical precedents...
I remember this[1] article from a few years ago on the subject of Google's shutdowns hurting its brand. It's even funnier to read now with it being written shortly after Stadia's launch. The author and everyone else were pointing out that they have little expectation for the service to be around in a few years. And it turned out we were right!
[1] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/04/googles-constant-pro...
Any recommendations on registrars? I may have to move a couple of domains off Google Domains / Squarespace. Edit: I am located in the US.
Gandi served me well for last 10 years:
* Plenty of zones supported with reasonable prices.
* Have team account access for companies.
* In case of emergency there is an option to renew domains registered with Gandi even without being owner.
Does this mean GCP users will have to use a third party registrar now? What a joke.
What are the top recommendations to migrate to these days?
This is so disappointing. I never had an issue with Google Domains. It offered free WHOIS protection, easy to buy a domain and set it up. Nothing fancy. No BS fees. Shame