We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
I never saw the need, or use, for Google Glass. People who had them were weird, a bit stuck-up, and their quirky behavior was not a selling point. It's no surprise to me that the entire project fell apart over differences in marketing, but the addition of an illicit affair just makes the story that much more interesting.
There are a few things to take away from a story like this. First, keep it platonic. I've never felt there is a good reason to get involved with anyone you work with. I have a hard enough time with people in my own industry, having to date someone at the same company would be murder. The old "Don't crap where you eat" are words to live by. Second, it's clear Google is not without its imperfections. Those who think Google is becoming a monopoly or overly dominant have some legitimate fears. Perhaps those fears are overblown, though. Back in the 1980's a friend of mine used to say "Someday, we'll all work for IBM." By 1995 it was "Someday, we'll all work for Microsoft." Today, you can figure out who we're all going to work for. I doubt it. Google is very good at what they do, but there are no guarantees they will take over everything. Finally, while I don't see any reason to dislike the idea of Google Glass, I just don't see the fit today. Apple's Newton was about 10 years ahead of its time, but there is clearly a market for handheld computing. Maybe computing glasses will make a comeback. I wouldn't be hopeful, but I don't see why they can't be the next thing, either.
Want an idea of how big Google is? Submitted for your approval, a video that has a tinge of conspiracy paranoia, but is completely clear in its intent to just show you everything Google is doing without making judgments.
I don't like Google. I make somewhat of an effort to fund them as little as possible by not clicking on their ads, etc. I also use duck duck go for a search engine sometimes. They are so ubiquitous that it's hard to avoid them totally and they do provide some really neat things for free - though I wonder exactly how "free" it is!
I'm with you. I don't like Google.
But you can't avoid them, and they know more about you than you probably want them to know.
That is how they make money. Data. Tons of it, and it's all for sale in some way, whether you visit them or a site they happen to handle sales for (and there are quite a few of those).
They used to scare me. Now I'm mostly amused, mainly because everyone who works for that company is utterly convinced they are incapable of failing. Lots of money tends to do that, and is usually what leads to an eventual downfall.
Google Glass was a bridge too soon. Something similar will be back eventually - better without the bugs. Then contacts, then implants... It will happen.
In a free market, even a relatively free one, there is no such thing as a monopoly. Even the biggest companies start out small. Eventually, a company gets so big that a little guy will offer better service or prices until he can get his foot in the door. Once he does that, another little guy will come along. Government is the only exception. Government is the only true monopoly.
I like Google. I'm suspicious, but they offer amazing products and most of them are free. Android has knocked several markets on their asses. Without any doubt, it's superior to Apple or Windows when it comes to mobile OSs.
