Larry Page: Facebook doing 'a really bad job' on products
updated 07:40 pm EST, Thu January 17, 2013
Page questions value of Android suits by Apple
In a new and rare interview with Wired's Steven Levy, Google CEO Larry Page held court on a variety of tasks. On the topic of rival Facebook, Page said that they were "strong" in its market, but also believes that the company is doing " a really bad job on [its] products." He took a moment to take a few shots at Apple, saying that he found the Cupertino business model of doing a few things well "unsatisfying." When asked about Steve Jobs' famous "thermonuclear" comment, he asked "how well is that working?" which dodged the fundamental accusation that Android is a "stolen" operating system.
The interview discusses Page's "Project X" initiative at some length, and he feels that "there are all these opportunities in the world to use technology to make people’s lives better. At Google we’re attacking maybe 0.1 percent of that space. And all the tech companies combined are only at like one percent. That means there’s 99 percent virgin territory."
Most of Page's answers were quizzical, and short on actual content, like most CEO press interviews. When asked to evaluate Google+, he responded with just that he was happy with how it was gone, not providing any additional information. Following the response about the "thermonuclear" threats by Apple, and asked about Android's market share lead, he merely said that Android had been successful and "we're very excited about it."
MacNN Staff
Joined: 08-04-01
1. Actually, Larry, the "war" is going pretty well for Apple, but unlike your AADD-addled brain, Apple is playing a long game. So far, you spent $12B on Moto for nothing, ended up under two consent decrees for your monopolistic business practices, and have legal bills the size of most countries' GNP related to your use of FRAND as a legal weapon to try and hurt competitors. How's that working out FOR YOU?
2. The head of the company that started Google Buzz, Dodgeball, Wave (I think that's what it was called?), Notebook and Page Creator (among MANY OTHER flops, including Google+) really doesn't have any business telling another company (particularly FB) they're not innovating enough or handling their products badly. Except maybe Microsoft, for them I think the comment would be on-target.
3. What I find odd about this whole "war" between Apple and Google is how the press just IGNORES how badly Google is losing. Yes, Android is used on more phones than iOS: I'm not sure it's as "popular" (as in loved) as iOS, but it definitely moves a lot of units in the same sense that most mediocre products outsell premium products (and for the same reason). But GOOGLE ITSELF loses MILLIONS if not BILLIONS on Android annually, and that's BEFORE you count the money they spent on Motorola Mobility for, so far, nothing. They don't make anything from Android, and it bleeds money like a sieve. If MS was having the same problem with Windows Phone, Wall Street would pronounce it dead and turn MSFT into a penny stock.
The only people making serious money off Android are Samsung, the carriers (Google's customer for Android) and (ironically) Microsoft, which earns a TON in royalties from all that um "borrowed" code Google ended up having to license. As a *business*, Android is a DISASTER being propped up by the advertising side. Can't wait to see what happens to Android (and its users!) when Google finally decides to stop losing money on it.