不完美的Google产品和Evil的基因?

不完美的Google产品和Evil的基因?

(本文有些标题党的嫌疑，呵呵，写完才发现的，就不改了．　此外声明本人是Google Fans, 不是Hater.)

从OPML分享想到的Google Reader的缺憾

月光在共享了他的OPML列表，接着 Src 发动了 OPML 共享运动，然后看到小众软件也在分享他的OPML. 看来也是时候来清理和分享我自己的数百个feed阅了。

从这个OPML分享的行动，我还看到了一些题外的隐喻 -- 那就是Google Reader在分享方面做得实在太不够了。诚然Google reader是目前我认为最好的RSS Reader, 让我离开了很久前一直喜欢的Bloglines, 但google reader还有很大的空间可以提高。

RSS Reader可以提高最多的一块的，正是其社会性相关的部分。 RSS Reader的主要作用就是把一个个blog，用使用者的“眼睛”给串联起来； 这一个个的blog表面上是文字，而其背后却是一个个有血有肉的人。RSS Reader目前只是聚合了内容，却没有在人上多下功夫，只是不痛不痒地提供了几个blog widget和把tag下的内容web/rss输出分享。　我希望RSS reader能具有：

• Social Network的基本功能，用户能很容易分享自己的定阅列表的全部或者部分(有没有“朋友列表”倒并不重要)


• 类似CoComment的基本功能,或者采用trackback的接口,能在reader中阅读comments, 留下comments (当然要贴到原来的地方去)


• 再blog的功能, 看到文章要有感而发可以方便书写发表到自己的blog中去


• ...

可以做得(但却没有做得)更好的GMail

GMail无疑是Google在Search以外最成功的产品之一，　但GMail离完美还有相当的距离，　而就其用户数量等离Hotmail, Yahoo Mail也还不是一个数量级的．

在Life Hacker上有一款Better GMail Firefox extension, 提供了一系列扩展Gmail的功能，我一直在使用他们：

What it does: Adds a menu of optional extra features to
Gmail. To view the enabled features and get more information on each,
in Firefox's Add-ons dialog, click on Better Gmail's Preferences
dialog, as shown:

See a full run down of each extra feature below:

galleryPost('Better Gmail Firefox extension', 10, '', 'list');

• Support for 20 languages/locales


• Inbox Count First


• Forward Thread


• Bottom post in replies


• Google Reader split screen integration


• Mac-like skin


• Fixed font in plain text messages


• Shrink a URL with a key combination


• Google Calendar in folder list


• Mailto: Gmail Compose links

不过这些功能,没有一个是Google自己的,都是第三方的, 有些实用的小功能已经出现了很久, google仍然没有采纳进去.

不完美的Google产品(一大堆)

最近一两年, Google被媒体和blogger"宠"坏了, Google随便发表点什么都被冠名为"XXX杀手", 仿佛google一出手, "敌人"就灰飞烟灭了. 然而Google的产品并不完美, 存在着非常多的值得改进的地方, 但google真的花了很多时间在这些产品改进上吗? 我们无从得知, 我们能得知的是其实google生产了无数的"产品", 除了其旗舰的search和少数几个如GMail,　Map, Reader等外, 以及收购来的Youtube等， 大部分如同阳春白雪, 藏在深闺:

Search
	Alerts Get email updates on the topics of your choice
	Blog Search Find blogs on your favorite topics
	Book Search Search the full text of books
	Catalogs Search and browse mail-order catalogs
	Checkout Complete online purchases more quickly and securely
	Desktop Search and personalize your computer
	Directory Browse the web by topic
	Earth Explore the world from your PC
	Finance Business info, news, and interactive charts
	iGoogle Add news, games and more to the Google homepage
	Images Search for images on the web
	Maps View maps and get directions
	News - now with archive searchNew! Search thousands of news stories
	NotebookNew! Clip and collect information as you surf the web
	Patent SearchNew! Search the full text of US Patents
	Product Search Search for stuff to buy
	Scholar Search scholarly papers
	Specialized Searches Search within specific topics
	Toolbar Add a search box to your browser
	Video Search for videos on Google Video and YouTube
	Web Search Search over billions of web pages
	Web Search Features Find movies, music, stocks, books, and more

Explore and innovate
	Code Download APIs and open source code
	Co-op - now with Custom Search EngineNew! Contribute your expertise and customize the web search experience
	Labs Explore Google's technology playground
Communicate, show & share
	Blogger Share your life online with a blog -- it's fast, easy, and free
	Calendar Organize your schedule and share events with friends
	Docs & Spreadsheets Create and share your projects online and access them from anywhere
	Gmail Fast, searchable email with less spam
	Groups Create mailing lists and discussion groups
	Orkut Meet new people and stay in touch with friends
	Picasa Find, edit and share your photos
	SketchUp Create 3D models for Google Earth
	Talk IM and call your friends through your computer
	Translate View web pages in other languages
	YouTubeNew! Watch, upload and share videos
Go mobile
	Maps for mobile View maps and get directions on your phone
	Mobile Use Google on your mobile phone
	SMS Use text messaging for quick info
Make your computer work better
	Pack A free collection of essential software
	Web Accelerator Speed up the web

多么壮观啊！　除了这些，还有"Google Lab"中的:

New!	Experimental Search Check out Google's latest ideas 05/16/07 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others	Graduates of Labs Google Notebook Clip and collect information as you browse the web Google Docs & Spreadsheets Create, store and share documents and spreadsheets on the web Google Video Search TV programs and videos Personalized Search Get the search results most relevant to you iGoogle Add information you care about to your Google homepage Google Maps View maps, get driving directions, and search for local businesses and services. Google Scholar Search through journal articles, abstracts and other scholarly literature Google SMS (US) Get precise answers to specialized queries from your mobile phone or device Google Desktop Find all your information, whether it's on the web or stored on your computer, from one convenient location Google Groups 2 Create and join searchable discussion groups and mailing lists Web Alerts Find out about new web pages on a topic of interest Search by Location Restrict your search to a particular geographic area Google Glossary Find definitions for words, phrases and acronyms Google News Alerts Specify a topic and receive email updates when news breaks
New!	Google Voice Local Search Search for local businesses using your voice, from any phone, for free. Dial 1-800-GOOG-411. 04/06/07 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
New!	Google Code Search Search public source code 10/05/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
New!	Google Reader Use Google's web-based feed reader to keep track of your favorite web sites 09/28/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Transit (currently available in select cities) Plan trips using public transportation 09/25/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Music Trends See what music is popular among Google Talk users 8/16/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google 趋势 (Google Trends in Chinese) 世界在搜索什么 7/31/06 - 给我们反馈 - 参加讨论
	Accessible Search Web search for the visually impaired 7/19/06 - Give us feedback
	Google Extensions for Firefox (Google Browser Sync now available) Add powerful new tools to your Mozilla Firefox browser 6/7/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Picasa for Linux Google's photo organizer now available for Linux users 5/25/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Trends See what the world is searching for 5/10/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Related Links Provide your website's visitors with links to useful information 4/3/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Mars View some of the most detailed maps of Mars created by NASA scientists 3/13/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Page Creator Create your own web pages, quickly and easily 2/23/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Dashboard Widgets for Mac Quickly access Google products from within Dashboard 2/23/06 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Web Accelerator Save time online by loading web pages faster 5/4/05 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Google Ride Finder Find a taxi, limousine or shuttle using real time position of vehicles 3/30/05 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Googleサジェスト日本語版 (Google Suggest in Japanese) 検索窓に入力中に、検索用語の候補が表示され、矢印キーで選択することができます。 3/8/05 - ご意見 - ディスカッション
	Google Suggest As you type your search, Google offers keyword suggestions in real time 12/9/04 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others
	Product Search for Mobile (US) | Product Search for Mobile (UK) Improved! Search for products from your mobile phone using Product Search 2/24/04 - Give us feedback
	Google Sets Automatically create sets of items from a few examples 5/20/02 - Give us feedback - Discuss with others

当然这里面一些＂阳春白雪＂的东西的流量也许比一个独立的startup的站点还大，但这大多拜google光环所赐，这些东西如果真的是startup推出来，看看会有什么效果．

我们每个人把这些服务可以在心目中排个位置: 哪些是真正我们自己必备的? 哪些是可有可无如同鸡肋的? 哪些是我们根本不会去碰的? 我自己评估了一下, 不幸地发现, 大多数属于鸡肋或者我们根本没兴趣碰的.

Google做了一大堆东西无人知（用），但一些主要的产品却仍然留有如此多的缺憾．原因可能是Google的小组组织形式, 他们有太多的内部小规模小组, 独自构建了一系列整合得不那么好的产品. 随着google不断庞大, google的产品也越来越多, 但产品越来越多, 集成的难度也就越来越大.

从一些文章传记我们读到google早期成功的一个重要法则是"Less is more", google开创了一个空空荡荡的页面只有各search box的新局面, 长期以来google也专注于search本身. 不过google 正在改变, 这些改变所带来的是喜是悲还很难评价, 但可以肯定地是, 这些变化正给欲和google一争高低的startups们一些机会和空间.

Evil的基因？事物的两面性

"Don't be evil"让很多人狂热，但不知道为什么总让我想起"Finding Nemo"里那只准备和小鱼们做朋友的大鲨鱼，他似乎在不断地用类似的话告诫自己要和鱼儿们交朋友不要吃他们．反复强调don't be evil让人反而觉得是否是为了压抑存在的evil基因的烈火．

任何事物都有其两面性，这好像是辩证唯物主义中学到的. 关于Google著名的20%自由支配时间项目（正是这些措施使得Google有了如此多的lab产品），看到一个Microsofter在自己的blog中的怀疑，我觉得颇有道理:

．．．一个员工在微软工作很多年，得到高层召见，说，你为公司做出了这么多贡献，我们决定奖励你。从现在起你每天有30%的时间可以做你自己喜欢的事。他说，你这不是奖励，我本来每天有100%的时间做我喜欢的事，你却要减到30%。
．．．　Google
能否真正实行这个20%自由支配时间，我表示怀疑。软件开发是一个很难准确把握时间的产业，能够按期发布软件，很难；能够不用加班还能按时发布软件，几乎
是不可能。另外同行的竞争压力总是存在，大家都想在手头工作上做出业绩。所以很有可能最后这20%的时间会不得已被用在实际工作上，除非Google的软
件管理已经理想化，并且自由支配时间的成果也很好的算入performance评定？我看没那么简单

Google今日的强盛的另一面是什么？"Don't be evil" 的口号最近的提及程度似乎持下降的趋势，是觉得在伟大的＂墙＂或者法律诉讼面前，"Don't be evil"变得有些困难？　还是Evil的基因已经开始蔓延了呢？

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