Google is a search company.
OK, Google started as a search company in 1998, when Sergey Brin and Larry Page were doctoral students at Stanford. And fifteen years later? Google is a verb. That's how ingrained it's become into our lexicon, as well as into our lives. If you want to know something, you "Google" it.
On August 10, 2015, Google became part of the umbrella company, Alphabet, with Sundar Pichai taking charge as CEO. The announcement came as a surprise to everyone when it was dropped on Google's blog by Larry Page.
Of course, Google is so much more now. It's an advertising company (which still provides the bulk of its revenue). It's a video-hosting company, with YouTube. It's a social network, with Google+. It's a mobile company, with Android. It's leading the wearables revolution with Google Glass and Android Wear. Google's making inroads into enterprise with its web-based infrastructures, to the point where municipal governments and private businesses alike are ditching the server racks for the cloud. It's seeking to change the way we use computers with its not-quite-a-thin-client Chromebooks.
And that was just the first 15 years.
Where will Google go next? That's a question many of us can't wait to see answered. And, understandably, it's a question many are wary of. Is Google too big? Is it too powerful? Does it know too much? Is it doing the right things for the right reasons? Or is it just trying to become as rich and powerful as it possibly can? Those are all fair questions, and ones that Google should ask itself, and ones that we as its customers should continue to it.
Latest about Google
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Google's new accessibility updates help you search your surroundings faster than ever
search buddy Google is making Guided Frame, Magnifier, Live Transcribe, and Live Caption even better.
The Pixel 9 series boasts a faster chip, brighter screens, new AI tricks, and a foldable
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YouTube Music may soon let you broadcast your jams with a shareable personal radio
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News Weekly: Google is a monopoly, Meta closes a first-party VR studio, new Google hardware, and more
News Weekly A round-up of the biggest Google/Android-related news that stood out this week.
There's one thing missing from the Pixel Watch, and Google doesn't have to look far to find the answer
Beyond the Alphabet Slowly, but surely, it feels as though Google is perfecting the Pixel Watch. However, there's still something missing, and it's one of the best features of the new Nest Learning Thermostat.
Google's new weather app for the Pixel 9 is showing up early
sneak peek You can get your hands on this Google Pixel 9 app before it officially drops.
Google Photos 'Collections' tab update rolls out, reorganizes your memories
More memories Google started rolling out its new "Collections" tab to replace the app's old "Library" option.
Russia blocks YouTube, as users report bottlenecked speeds
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Text message exploits are scarier than ever, but you can protect yourself with these tips
Risky business There’s a new way for scammers and fraudsters to steal your data, and Google wants to help you stop it in its tracks.
