Google I/O - a.k.a. Google O/MG

Posted by JonDeutsch on June 27, 2012 07:37 pm 8

Google seriously threw down today at Google I/O. And did so in virtually all aspects: the production values of the event, the audacity of pulling off a live skydiving technology demo, the amount of stuff released, and the quality, tone and coherence of the presenters & message. Nothing really cringe-y; no facepalms. Just a rolling thunder of software, service, and hardware releases that continually impressed.

So, I'm just going to say it. Google graduated today from a "web search" company to a "connected product" company.

For instance, Google Now seems like the first mature way to respond to Siri. In fact, Google Now feels like the future of Smart. It's a service I want on my phone...now.

Project Butter is a great brand name for a project of this nature, because it shows you that Google is caring about the things that they need to care about... the human/computer interaction experience. It's important that we know that they know that it's a priority.

Project Glass is just classic Google wackiness that just might lead into something really groundbreaking. Audacious use of funds and power that companies like Apple flow into supply chain management. Google funnels their extra funds into wild, crazy, geeky ideas. That's just cool.

Focusing on accessibility for the handicapped in the keynote is so un-sexy that the tech media are sure to skip over, but it shows me that Google still thinks about that "Don't Be Evil" thing today, and it (and the multiple language support, and the instant-translation services of Current) also shows a commitment to diversity of people that I think is not just heartening, but also just humane.

Then there are the little easter eggs like the Nexus Q being made in the U-S-A. And a bunch of Google Play features launched today that didn't even make the keynote. They've done so much stuff that they couldn't fit it all in.

This is one busy, productive, and focused company. And it's one that doesn't seem to be overtly being evil even though it certainly has the market share, money and size to be quite evil if it so desired. Clearly, they are driven by blowing us away with cool stuff. That's a great organizing principal, and it'll serve us, the consumers, well if they continue to be this hungry.

I for one was blown away by today's presentation, especially the overall caliber and tone of the presentation.

Google showed in this event real idea leadership and company enthusiasm that I haven't seen from any technology company at this level since Apple's iPhone event in 2007.

Agree? Disagree? Please share your thoughts!