Google is a search company.
OK, Google started as a search company in 1998, when Sergey Brin and Larry Page were doctoral students at Stanford. And fifteen years later? Google is a verb. That's how ingrained it's become into our lexicon, as well as into our lives. If you want to know something, you "Google" it.
On August 10, 2015, Google became part of the umbrella company, Alphabet, with Sundar Pichai taking charge as CEO. The announcement came as a surprise to everyone when it was dropped on Google's blog by Larry Page.
Of course, Google is so much more now. It's an advertising company (which still provides the bulk of its revenue). It's a video-hosting company, with YouTube. It's a social network, with Google+. It's a mobile company, with Android. It's leading the wearables revolution with Google Glass and Android Wear. Google's making inroads into enterprise with its web-based infrastructures, to the point where municipal governments and private businesses alike are ditching the server racks for the cloud. It's seeking to change the way we use computers with its not-quite-a-thin-client Chromebooks.
And that was just the first 15 years.
Where will Google go next? That's a question many of us can't wait to see answered. And, understandably, it's a question many are wary of. Is Google too big? Is it too powerful? Does it know too much? Is it doing the right things for the right reasons? Or is it just trying to become as rich and powerful as it possibly can? Those are all fair questions, and ones that Google should ask itself, and ones that we as its customers should continue to it.
Latest about Google
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Google throws shade at the iPhone 15 ahead of the Pixel 8 launch
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Pixel Watch 2 leak teases big changes for Fitbit integration
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Google Podcasts is shutting down in favor of YouTube Music
All in one Google has announced that Podcasts is going away in 2024, and YouTube Music's podcasts feature will go live everywhere.
New Pixel Watch 2 video gives us a sneak peek of its health and safety features
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Pixel 8 leak suggest price increases are likely
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Google's Weather UI redesign starts appearing on more Android phones
A modern forecast Google is rolling out its revamped Weather app UI on Android phones following its larger screen devices.
Google Wallet is having a breakdown thanks to Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1
Acting up Google Wallet is acting up on the first Android 14 QPR1 beta, and contactless payments are completely broken.
iFixit lists Pixel Fold repair parts, and they're not cheap
Grab a case iFixit starts listing Pixel Fold parts for consumers to grab for some expensive at-home repair.
Google calls the iPhone 'outdated' for refusing RCS messaging
Texting warfare Google's latest "Get the Message" campaign efforts create a fictional "iPager," as it pokes Apple's lack of RCS support.
Future Android TV devices could rock this impressive new chip
Next-gen streaming A new Amlogic chip has been announced, bringing several noteworthy improvements to future Android TV dongles.
Big Fitbit app redesign arrives on Android and iOS devices
Big changes Fitbit's new app redesign arrives ahead of the reveal of some much anticipated Google devices in October.
Nest devices can now only join one speaker group at a time
In the crossfire Google says a recent court ruling means you can't add Nest devices to multiple speaker groups in the Home app.
Bard now taps into the brains of Google apps to get even smarter
Smarter Bard Google has supercharged Bard with 'Extensions' to learn from all the other Google apps, so it can be even more helpful.
The Pixel 9 might not get any worthwhile upgrades from the Tensor G4 chip
Early doubt A report suggests Google's Tensor chip for the Pixel 9 series will feature minimal upgrades compared to the Tensor G3.
Google's Gemini AI inches closer to a showdown with OpenAI's GPT-4
A new challenger Allegedly, Google has given a few outside developers early access to a condensed version of its Gemini AI model.
The Pixel Watch 2 may ship with this eye-catching metal band
A head-turner The Pixel Watch 2 may receive two new metal strap options to give the smartwatch a distinct appearance.
