Scobleizer - Latest Comments in It’s the small things at Google that impress

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

greg — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 11:38:00 -0000

It's always been the small things that matter. Glad to see Google is taking notice.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

trucex — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 18:22:27 -0000

I'd love to give you the nitty-gritty on it, but my attorney advises against it saying it might hurt the case.

My point is really that they say "Do no evil" but that isn't neccesarily their standpoint when it comes to money.

I can honestly say that even before this event, I didn't like Google's search results. Anytime I use Google I end up creating queries that include subtracting words that are all over spam pages in the Google index, or subtracting words that Google thinks are related to my query. I think it was Sergey who has said numerous times over the last couple years that he isn't happy with the search results.

Oh, and Yahoo's new maps blow Google's away. The satellite/aerial images line up and match perfectly in Yahoo, whereas Google's have distinct separating lines where photos where taken on different days and don't line up properly. The Yahoo map search interface is much more impressive as well.

And I really can't say I want to start writing my reports on Writely, doing my financial charts on Google Spreadsheet, or keeping track of my life on Google Calendar. By the time Google gets Orkut out for the general population it will be post-social-networking boom and it won't go anywhere. Honestly, I just don't see many great things coming out of Google anymore.

I'm just one person though...everybody is going to see what they see based on their own experiences and expectations. That's why they still are who they are.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

robertne — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:44:28 -0000

Let us hope that what Scoble writes is true

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

arick — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:57:54 -0000

Yup, small things have been proven to make big differences. That's for sure.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Robert Scoble — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:30:12 -0000

Trucex: if you're gonna say something like that, at least link to a post where you give the details. Every company will have its disgruntled partners, customers, and former employees. Even the best ones.

And, on the other hand, while you say Google cost you money I can name hundreds of entrepreneurs who say that Google brings them their customers and paychecks today in far greater numbers than $60,000.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Brian — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:03:50 -0000

"They aren’t the friendly giant they’d like you to believe."

Well they are in business. On the face of it, it sounds like 'just business' from a sour grapes point of view.

Just saying.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

trucex — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 15:31:15 -0000

I must say, I'm not such a fan of Google. They more or less stole $60,000 from my company...

They aren't the friendly giant they'd like you to believe.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

google checkout — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 08:52:40 -0000

yes, we love all the best and free things google provide ... but some times i feel that it is "not so good" that "so many good things" are just held under one brand ...

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

tashfeen — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 07:42:43 -0000

Robert, your blog is very interesting. I'd bookmark it for future visits. Best.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

cvos — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 22:50:39 -0000

um, this is a non post post. I had to read the article twice to see if i missed any information. Turns out there wasnt any. I guess my expectations were too high, or you are recovering from jet lag.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

/pd — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:12:48 -0000

Nice to see you become a google convert - Robert !! :)-

pls continue to say both the good and the bad.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Scott Kingery — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:30:19 -0000

"...every morning is do this search on Google’s Blogsearch service: “Google Calendar.” "
heh..why doesn't he just subscribe to the RSS feed that blogsearch generates?

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Deadprogrammer — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:36:27 -0000

I was always fascinated with Google's search display. I made my own ghetto version once, but I found writing a profanity filter from scratch pretty difficult.

P.S. You should send an email to Helmut Kunze.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Aaron Shear — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:12:57 -0000

Good point, I felt the same thing on my last visit as well. The company has matured in many ways, I think being held accountable to the stock market may have helped.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Robert Scoble — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:01:45 -0000

Al: it works just fine with IE 7 here. It warns you it won't work, but if you click "cancel" instead of "OK" then it'll let you into the calendar and it seems to work just fine.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Douglas Karr — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:00:48 -0000

I still have my Google visitor pass and pictures of their HDTV that had a visual representation of the volume of searches that were occurring. I couldn't take a picture of their whiteboards, but reading the notes was awesome. Cool place!

Doug

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Al Pascual — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 15:36:42 -0000

Google Calendar does not work with IE7
http://alpascual.com/blog/a...

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

John Furrier — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 15:12:34 -0000

I was at Google the day before and I remember that when you sign in you fill out the form then sign that you've read the NDA. So I think that you're signature is executing their standard NDA. If you didn't sign in then I think that you're clear :-)

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

hollyster — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:52:50 -0000

I'm wondering if Mark Jen would have joined Google now, if they wouldn't have terminated him him so quickly. Perhaps times are a changing? His blog could have evolved into a friendly face to Google. I don't know any friendlier face that Google could have than Mark =)... except maybe you Robert =) heh heh...

I leave with a quote from Mark:
"i think blogging is the next big thing on the internet. the web gave people revolutionary access to information; email and instant messaging disrupted the way people communicate with each other; blogging empowers everyone to create new information and connect in a community."

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

LayZ — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:43:44 -0000

@14. I think the only thing free at MS is the soda.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Robert Scoble — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:36:56 -0000

Phil, I'm not sure. It's just anecdotal anyway. Either way it's a good trend and one that should be encouraged.

Rick: no, meals at MS are not free. And the selection of food isn't even close.

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

mamavision — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:58:21 -0000

Hello Robert: I am a rookie blogger. I finally checked out your site after seeing it on several blogrolls. I like your style. I'll keep reading.
Have a good one!

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Phil — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:44:53 -0000

The search scrollbar has been there for a long time. I remember reading about it on Xooglers a while ago.

Robert - regarding the perception change by the Googlers, did you feel that this was because of an acknowledged increase in competition?

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

Rick — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:41:25 -0000

Were snacks and meals not free at MS? And I was under the impression that MS cafeterias were quite high quality, but there's yet another level? Or is it just variety?

Re: It’s the small things at Google that impress

TAG — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:31:30 -0000

Hey man,
Is this a news ? This search queries display in lobby, traffic graph from all over Earth and Moon, food and a lot of other cool things was in Google for a years.

Give us something new !