21–30 of 68 posts
I am doubtful this is to take on Google directly, and I am sincerely doubtful that they'd be able to pull it off if it was. Microsoft funneled billions in to competing, and it has mostly fizzled. Google has had too much of a head start to be competed with head-on.
If its built in as the default search on iOS, they can make significant strides. It may take some time, but I wouldn't bet against it.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree, Apple has a lot of efforts going on right now, I doubt they want to tackle Web Based Search (ala Google)... though it's just one position.
If anything, web search would be counterproductive for them. Google likes search because you see ads on search results then go to other pages and see more ads. Apple doesn't have that incentive; if anything they want to keep you in the App Store's curated experiences. Why send someone to an Open Street Maps website instead of one of the various OSM clients on iOS where you can get extra features via in-app-purchase?
It could benefit Siri making the built in web search more intelligent instead of leveraging a 3rd party API who might even charge for access since there's no ads.
It might even sell more devices if they make it an Apple device exclusive service, or at least as a gateway to lure new customers kinda like the online versions of icloud/pages/numbers/keynote.
I am doubtful this is to take on Google directly, and I am sincerely doubtful that they'd be able to pull it off if it was. Microsoft funneled billions in to competing, and it has mostly fizzled. Google has had too much of a head start to be competed with head-on.
Google screwing with phones, Apple will screw with search. Apple isn't running out of money or smart people, so they probably have a shot if they want it.
If there is one company that has the pockets and audience big enough to compete it is Apple. They will have to a hire an enormous number of the best search people to do it though.
As with a few of their other skunkworks (POWER->X86) we have no way of knowing if they've already been hard at work on it for years and years.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
As with a few of their other skunkworks (POWER->X86) we have no way of knowing if they've already been hard at work on it for years and years.
The Apple Maps experience is evidence against that, though. We know that they were working on maps for years and things like PoI search were among the biggest issues. I find it hard to believe they would have done that badly if they had an in-house search team (if only because such a team would have been good at flagging problems and suggesting solutions).
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If its built in as the default search on iOS, they can make significant strides. It may take some time, but I wouldn't bet against it.
They could capture the high end of the market doing this, if not the whole market.
It could be app search, pretty much everything about discovery on the App Store sucks right now.
I am doubtful this is to take on Google directly, and I am sincerely doubtful that they'd be able to pull it off if it was. Microsoft funneled billions in to competing, and it has mostly fizzled. Google has had too much of a head start to be competed with head-on.
This isn't a rational decision, this is war. Google screwing with phones, Apple will screw with search. Apple isn't running out of money or smart people, so they probably have a shot if they want it.
Apple operates as though they do not have competitors, they only care about making the best possible devices they can, which is why they are so profitable. Chasing Google is the opposite of The Apple Way.
Apple has a very hard time attracting and keeping the best people, just like Google, Facebook, and everyone else. By definition the best people are always going to be scarce. Not everyone can be above average, and only a few can be the best.
Just curious, but what salary do you think an "engineering product manager" at Apple makes?