On Google X. What was Apple thinking?
Recently, Google released a neat little interface, Google X, as an alternative Google homepage. This interface contained image links to Google products accessible in a Mac OS X style. It was really cool! Especially for the web!
However, soon after it went down and hasn't come up since.
Its been speculated that Apple contacted Google and forced them to take it down.
Why would they do that? It seems to make little sense; After all, with this interface Google is indirectly promoting Mac OS X, which certainly helps Apple in the long run.
The two companies do not compete directly; possibly with the only exception being how cool they are or appear to be in various magazines, etc. Certainly Google X will not make that big a difference here: Google will be considered cool either way and so will Apple.
I fail to see the rational behind this move from Apple; if, that is, Apple actually forced them to take it down. But then again, its not uncommon to see irrational behavior from different companies.
The little Apple would have retained in coolness is not even comparable to the negative attention they will receive from these actions. Companies should learn to foresee consequences for their actions! The media and the blogging community can ruin your reputation in a matter of minutes; a reputation that could have taken years to build, with millions of dollars in marketing campaigns. Unbelievable!
Final Score - You decide
Apple with Google X:
However, soon after it went down and hasn't come up since.
Its been speculated that Apple contacted Google and forced them to take it down.
Why would they do that? It seems to make little sense; After all, with this interface Google is indirectly promoting Mac OS X, which certainly helps Apple in the long run.
The two companies do not compete directly; possibly with the only exception being how cool they are or appear to be in various magazines, etc. Certainly Google X will not make that big a difference here: Google will be considered cool either way and so will Apple.
I fail to see the rational behind this move from Apple; if, that is, Apple actually forced them to take it down. But then again, its not uncommon to see irrational behavior from different companies.
The little Apple would have retained in coolness is not even comparable to the negative attention they will receive from these actions. Companies should learn to foresee consequences for their actions! The media and the blogging community can ruin your reputation in a matter of minutes; a reputation that could have taken years to build, with millions of dollars in marketing campaigns. Unbelievable!
Final Score - You decide
Apple with Google X:
- Promotes Mac OS X and apple computers indirectly
- Google's coolness slightly rises and takes Apple's up with it just a tiny bit as well.
- Apple retains their positive reputation and maybe even increase it since they may get more spotlight on their cool Mac OS X indirectly.
- Make a friend with Google.
- Significant negative publicity. Will definitely effect their products indirectly.
- But, they get to retain the levels of coolness. How childish!
- Ruin relations with Google slightly?
posted by Alex Pilchin at 3:06 PM
1 Comments:
It's not necessarily the case that Apple forced them to take it down. Much more likely is that the site got published, then Google's legal department noticed, paniced and told them to take it down in a sort of knee-jerk "let's not get sued" response. Whether it helps both companies or not, it's not worth the risk for Google to tread on other companies' trademarks without permission. If there really is enough benefit for both sides, then maybe they'll work out some sort of explicit deal with Apple, but my guess is that it will all just disappear into the bowels of corporate red-tape :(
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