Google Bubble!

The hype about Google is just unbelievable. The Google bubble seems to be getting bigger than the dot-com bubble in terms of expectations.

I have heard even the average non-IT and IT people say with a certain expression on their faces, "Google will take over the world!" As for real geeks and techies, they literally have mental orgasms when they talk about Google and its products/services.

Don't you guys feel it is a little too much hype based solely on future potential? I mean, what concrete things has Google delivered until now? Just these as far as I know:

1. Search Engine - we accept that there are almost no competitors who come close to this service.

2. Specialized search engines - Image search, blog Search, local search, etc.

3. Google Tools & Services - Gmail, Google Maps, Picasa, Talk, Toolbar, Earth, Desktop, etc.

All of these tools and services are great. I don't deny that. All of these have shown some innovative improvements over other products in the same category/market. I totally agree to that. Even their specialized and relevant advertisements philosophy is effective. Their approach goes beyond just bombarding the general audience with general ads, like it is done on TV or even some unevolved websites. Google's ads are very specific and relevant to the context. There is a difference between watching general ads for a restaurant on TV, and getting specific restaurant recos on your mobile device in a strange town.

But which one of these tools and services have truly changed the way we compute, use the Internet or live life? I don't think any of them have truly created a paradigm shift.

Like everybody else, I too am hoping and waiting for Google to shift our personal computing paradigm. Meanwhile, I accept with thanks and happiness, the small free tools which Google puts out periodically. And I hope to God, the Google bubble does not burst!

Unfortunately, all bubbles burst at one point or the other. The important question is, how will Google change the world before the inevitable burst happens. So far, Google has not changed the world, the way Microsoft or Intel-based computers have, although it is often touted that Google will will replace Microsoft, the way Microsoft replaced IBM.

Google's biggest service continues to be the search engine. The impact of all other tools and services they offer is much smaller in comparison.

IMO, Google should concentrate more on doing the "next big thing" - on par with or better than their search engine. The smaller applications are nice, but Google should not spend too much time or energy on those.

The question is, what could be this "next big thing". Unlimited wi-fi access around the world and the associated applications could be that big thing. That does have lifestyle altering potential.

We'll wait and see. Meanwhile, even this blog post is yet another mouthful of air which blows up the Google bubble!