Will you wear a Google Halloween costume?

John Chan | Oct 30, 2009

(Credit: Google)

This week, Google announced that it will be making significant changes to its Maps application in the latest version of its mobile operating system, Android 2.0. One of its new features is free turn-by-turn navigation, something users have been paying top dollar for either in the form of expensive software in smartphones or dedicated personal navigation devices (PND). TomTom and Garmin's (both PND companies) stock prices have plummeted from the news and are down about 25 percent in the last two days of trading.

Interestingly, in an interview with Forbes, HTC's CEO Peter Chou said some of Google's actions can be "destructive". He did say that he valued the partnership with the company, but his choice of words is telling. Even though most of Google's actions benefit end-users tremendously, it's scary to think about the power it wields. At what point would you start to fear Google's growing influence? Or does it spook you already? Let us know.

Filed under: Web
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cynexis

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cynexis says...
What Google is doing is changing the traditional model of business. We are at an interesting time where what Harvard traditional school of thought is being challenged by Internet. It seems like in the long term what Google is doing is going to kill off a lot of companies and jobs but what they are doing can also cause companies to merge and come out with better ideas or products to dethrone Google. I guess Google with their yuppy thinking and flower power on giving things free is winning the world. To the rich bosses, of course they hate that idea, but to the poor consumers, well...hope more companies can be like Google.

Oct 30, 2009 23:24