Google's Solution for Non-Apple Users!

With the release of Google+, Music Beta and the ChromeBook, we the people that don't use Apple can rejoice.  Adding these products to the existing web-based and Android-based products all of us that do not use Apple for one reason or another (yes, there are people without an iSomething) could possible have a complete solution to manage our lives as well.  Integrating all of Google's products into one platform, has provided everyone a free way to manage the most important things in life - Friends, Documents, Calendars, Emails, Music and Pictures.  What else is there to ask for!

I have never been an Apple person.  I am the hip PC in the Apple commercials.  I had an iPod for a while and it was nice. It was just another thing to carry around with me until I lost it.  I have always been a Google guy (as my wife calls me).  I am always on edge trying to figure out how to use Google's free products better.  I was using Google Docs about 3 years ago, and would not have finished my MBA program without it. Now with the release of Music Beta by Google I finally have a real (and better) alternative to iTunes.  I have had everything in my Google Cloud for years now.  I pride myself is my Googleness and brag about not having anything on my PC.  With the new ChromeBook, which I can not wait to buy, I will have a Faster way to access and use it to manage my multi-functional life.

It is very interesting to me that Apple and Steve Jobs are the poster children for Innovation.  Through out my MBA program, many people used Apple for their case studies on their ability to innovative.  My sense is that Google has always been much more innovative and slowly but surely setting themselves up for a larger technology revolution that is finally taking shape, without the psycho Steve Jobs leading the charge (Yes, I called Steve Jobs a psycho!).  Yes, Google has had some near failures (YouTube) and some complete failures (Google Wave) but all in all - Google works and works well!  They may not have always been first to market, but who is these days?  Apple's iPod was not the first MP3 player on the market, but it was better.  Google Maps was not the first website to get directions from (for those of you who do not know, it was MapQuest), but it was better.  Google has provided us all with innovative and free alternatives to costly products (MS Server, Sharepoint, MS Office and even CAD software).   And now they are taking on the 3 giants at the same time (Microsoft, Apple and Facebook).  What other company out there in the Silicon Valley has the resources, talent and BALLS to pick that many battles and succeed?  None!

Jeff Jarvis explains how Google is able to innovate so quickly and effectively his book What Would Google Do?   He makes that point that Google is the master at launching products that people need and want, and letting the users decide how to improve them - hence everything is Beta.  Having the idea or a framework of what a product is going to do is one thing.  Letting the users use it, report on it, and suggest improvements is something entirely different.  Marissa Mayer (VP Customer Experience) created this strategy and has changed that game for every software product manager out there.  We now have a new vision.  A new plan on how we should go about starting new initiatives.  Follow the Google approach there are no longer missed launch dates and  embarrassment of bug-ridden releases.  What is also gained in return is a group of faithful and eager users (numbering in the thousands or millions) that are dying to try and test the new Google product.  Customer loyalty at its best!

Jason Fried's  approach (Rework) is parallel.  Doing something is better than doing nothing.  Starting is is the most important and hardest step.  Making it great is the easy part!  Getting your users' feedback is essential in your efforts to give customers what they want and not selling your customers what you have!  These approaches creates an entirely new culture of employees that now have to fight the old guard to get better products and services to market - faster.  Many companies struggle with this new approach.  Many companies see that there is a need, a weakness or a better way to do something.  They know it is there, they know it has to be done and they have to resources to do it.  "We need to look at this further!" is the response.  Time is wasted and opportunities are missed.  Fried's message - do it, do it well, and be ready to adapt to changes to new market requirements.  This is the new approach to innovation!

It is clear that Google knows exactly what it is doing, the balls to do and the resources to make it successful.  And I couldn't be happier that I finally have an real alternative (and better) to Apple's products.  One that does not control your content, provides great functionality, flexibility and is COMPLETE!

Thank you GOOGLERS!!!