Have Google crossed the line?

If you haven’t noticed, Google have added a new feature to some cities in the US. (Actually why would you notice?) It’s called Street View and allows you to see the streets at eye level, close than satellite, as if you were walking on the streets.

Cool, I mean why not?

But have they crossed the line, the line that divides public property and private property? Some people think they have.

It’s been out a few days now and I have to say I agree with these guys, Google have crossed the line; random people can be identified using street view – people who have never and probably would never have consented to their image being permenantly held on Google’s servers for the world to see.

Primarily, I think “how could Google?”, once I thought they were an exthical and youthful company with innovation! Now I know they’re none of that, they’re just like the other big corporations and are soley interested in money grabbing and shareholder satisfaction.

Secondly, I think this technology is unnecessary. What benefit does it have to the average guy. I read something that it would be useful if you wanted to know what the front of an office or hotel you wanted to visit was like, but how many hotels and offices don’t show their frontage off on their websites?

Finally, Microsoft came up with the concept ages ago and it’s like I said in my previous article, everyone’s just playing catch-up on each other. No new ground or innovation.

Fundamentally, Google are getting cocky and I hate it. They should just stick to spending their resoruces on search, which they’re good at (or used to be).

Mindful Application

I was thinking. Jeez, the web mostly sucks. I can count on only one hand the websites that I enjoy and visit regularly. So, what’s the big deal. Where’s the fun (gone)? Where is the innovation of the web?

Well, the Internet is hard, I can say that from experience. Making a website, keeping it up to date is hard. Time and effort is involved in making a website and most people don’t have the time out of their ordinary lives to apply and most people can’t be bothered to put in the effort that is required. But everyone still want’s a website, which is the basis behind the success of sites like MySpace. It’s easy and no effort is involved really, click and go and you’re done. Which is why I hate the concept.

I also hate the concept because websites like MySpace, Yahoo and others can afford to employ people to be innovative. They own their growth. (If that makes sense). They can afford to grow the market and grow themselves. But that’s the problem right there, they can grow themselves. They become huge companies because they can afford innovation but at the same time they destroy innovation. Firstly they buy small, innovative companies with irresistible offers – they buy the creativity at its source and secondly, they become so massive that any normal, small, innovative company can’t compete.

Having no competition is really unhealthy for a market, and basically the consumer, you guys, get screwed – big time. With no competition, companies don’t have to do anything special or unique they just sit and wait to copy what the other big guy did (a la Microsoft, Yahoo and Google). It’s one giant stagnating pool filled with green. Also, if these companies did charge, which luckily they don’t, they could charge whatever they liked. And that sucks.

But Google’s innovative you say.

My arse Google is innovative. A calendar, email and a word processor, my god, I am stunned by the innovation and forward thinking giant. Nothing Google does is innovative, it’s the same thing you already have, but different.

Personally, I hate Google too. I hate Google more than Yahoo.

For ages I’ve been thinking “why, why do I want to do that? I can do it in the real world, I don’t want to do it online.” I don’t want to have my calendar online, I have it on my desktop and written down by hand if I want. I mean who put their exams on Google calendar? No? Funny, did you handwrite a list? Yeah, me too. The Internet needs something that we can’t do already, it needs something that we can’t do in the real world, something that hasn’t been invented and isn’t a reinvention. IM and Email too, they’re both like talking and letters, maybe more efficient but there’s nothing drastically new or cool.

The Internet needs a mindful, intelligent and new thing – maybe even something that isn’t the Internet, something completely new. Who knows?

Too bad I’m not creative.

Free Blog and ET3X

I’m sure a lot of you would be very good at blogging and actually have quite a lot more to say about things than I do. With that in mind, I have no made it possible for you to make your own blog. You can either goto the ET3X homepage and scroll down to the BETA Blog Creator or use this form below. All you have to do is complete the address you want (ie, http://www.et3x.net/yourblogsname).

Please note: when you click Make Me a Blog it can take a while (up to a minute) to complete the process. Please do not Stop the page or reload, wait for it to finish loading completely.

It’s as simple as that. I hope you enjoy.