Apple & Google, sittin’ in a tree…
As we quickly approach Macworld this year there are many rumors and speculation on which direction Apple will be taking in the coming year. With the recent holiday successes of just about every member of the iPod product line and the almost debilitating level of traffic on the iTunes store Apple is heading into 2007 looking better than ever. This once almost down-n-out computer company is now a media powerhouse rising to the challenge of competing with companies many times its size. The recent banner on the Apple web site featuring the tag line “The first 30 years were just the beginning” is fueling the media frenzy even further with speculation of iPod cell phones and the iTV product. I think Apple may have something far more interesting up their sleeves and hopefully it involves Google. Why Google? Let me give you three reasons why Apple should partner with Google right now.
1. .Mac Sucks
Let’s be realistic, even if you are a “Mac Fanboy” like myself you simply can’t make any excuses for the current state of the .Mac online service. I use it all the time and over the last year it has gotten worse and worse. From the slow iDrive speeds to the latest email client compatibility problems (works like crap in Firefox) the situation with .Mac is not looking good at all. Who wants to pay $99 bucks a year for these headaches? Enter Google. By partnering with Apple Google gets direct access to the trendy hardware and operating system distribution Apple is known for while Apple will get access to Web 2.0 services that actually work (and are cross platform!). With a “gDrive” likely in the near future the one reason many use the .Mac service (iDrive) is going to become obsolete which would make partnering with Google all the more beneficial to Apple over the next year.
2. Access to Content
As Time Magazine already reported, 2006 was the year of user generated content. They might have been being silly with the award but there were right about how important user generated content has become to the future of companies like Apple and Google. Through a partnership agreement with Google, Apple would gain access to more user content (podcasts, etc.) to help bolster iTunes and Google would greatly improve its distribution channels for existing content. With Apple ready to release products such as the iTV a partnership with Google really makes sense in 2007, far more than during the Intel transition in 2006.
3. It will drive Microsoft nuts
This one is purely selfish but I just can’t help it! I don’t think anyone would disagree that a partnership between Apple and Google would drive Microsoft completely nuts. They are already so wrapped around the concept that they *must* beat Google at its own game that they can’t see straight. I would expect Microsoft to see red and to start complaining almost immediately once they find out. Its really too bad, they effort they spend worrying about Google would be far better spent actually coming up with interesting products….like the Zune…or…ohh nevermind.
UPDATE! Looks like I was not the only one who suspects a forthcoming agreement between Apple and Google.
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