I've always thought that the Google Ideas projects page was a bit frightening since many of projects are closely tied to defense.
Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
21–30 of 76 posts
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am much more complex than my search history- I find that "relevance" to me can depend on things as diverse as my current mood. I too am torn because I know that increased relevance means I am giving away more and more of myself- I'm pretty sure that G has no limits in this pursuit of "relevance."
I hate this so much -- I'll search for some topic, and start getting ads all over the internet related to that topic. Case in point -- a few weeks ago I clicked on an article regarding "Computer Scientist Barbie", and clicked through the Amazon link. Guess how many Barbie advertisements I'm getting now.
Why are you getting ads ? Install adblock and/or ghostery.
Fewer distractions, fewer cycles going to adware. I don't see ads in search results or gmail, and not a lot of other places either. Noticeably different on a tablet though, where it doesn't run.
At the other extreme is adnauseum, which clicks on every ad link in the background (so you don't have to).
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
Given their ad sales model, they're working on ways to serve you ads you're more likely to click on.
We try to show ads that people will click on AND THEN buy/use whatever's on the other end. This maximizes advertiser value, long-term Google profit, and user experience all at once. So we're trying to show you ads that you want to see, rather than ads that try to provoke you into clicking (like Buzzfeed articles)
I have a better idea. How about turning the tables and making a service that collects info about advertisers instead of users? Then let users browse your database of companies (and/or the products they're pushing) and actively search for what they went. Filters could be ecological stance of the company, color or style of the product, user reviews, published "expert" reviews, etc. Turn all that data over to the user and let them be in control of what ads they see. Let them spy on advertisers instead of vice-versa. It would also be way cheaper since you don't have to maintain this vast data-collecting network.
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#24I see no biotech projects. Kind of strange, because it is a hot field, possibly the next big thing.
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
We try to show ads that people will click on AND THEN buy/use whatever's on the other end. This maximizes advertiser value, long-term Google profit, and user experience all at once. So we're trying to show you ads that you want to see, rather than ads that try to provoke you into clicking (like Buzzfeed articles)
Maximized user experience would be no ads.
Not if price is factored in to the user experience. Plus the small amount of value of discovering something you wouldn't have heard of otherwise.
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Given their ad sales model, they're working on ways to serve you ads you're more likely to click on.
I'm perpetually torn about this -- on the one hand, the way they want to serve relevant ads is by knowing everything about my life, even if I don't want them to. On the other hand, I'll get really relevant ads. That's kind of nice.
The limit of "really relevant ads" is automatically emptying your wallet and delivering things you "want". Even if you didn't want them until you saw the ad.
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maximized user experience would be no ads.
Not if price is factored in to the user experience. Plus the small amount of value of discovering something you wouldn't have heard of otherwise.
I'm not at all convinced that's true. I pay for Ars Technica because I want them to have money but I don't want to see ads.
Edit: looks like Google might be thinking the same https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Contributor
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#28If Google wants to offer "Whatsapp competition" in 2015, it should have 2 things, that Hangouts doesn't right now: 1) fast (instant) performance 2) end-to-end encryption (I wouldn't mind if they used the same Axolotl protocol as TextSecure and Whatsapp) If it doesn't have any of those, I won't be using it.
3) completely independent of Google+
I'm still confused why Google+ even exists as a separate component.
I mean, I have a Google account. Why doesn't that just automatically include the Google+ infrastructure? Why do I have to enable a service even if I don't use it?
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#29If Google wants to offer "Whatsapp competition" in 2015, it should have 2 things, that Hangouts doesn't right now: 1) fast (instant) performance 2) end-to-end encryption (I wouldn't mind if they used the same Axolotl protocol as TextSecure and Whatsapp) If it doesn't have any of those, I won't be using it.
And one thing Whatsapp does have right now:
Support every platform. Not just Android 4 and iOS. You need to go right down to Android 2.3, Windows Phone, Symbian, Blackberry, Nintendo DS, PSP, etc. Even IE6.
Re: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year
#30If Google wants to offer "Whatsapp competition" in 2015, it should have 2 things, that Hangouts doesn't right now: 1) fast (instant) performance 2) end-to-end encryption (I wouldn't mind if they used the same Axolotl protocol as TextSecure and Whatsapp) If it doesn't have any of those, I won't be using it.
3) focus on text instead of video
4) a ux that deserves the name ux
5) minus google+