Google

It’s The Living Room

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So as I noted earlier, with the Chromecast and Google’s Hangout box, it’s obvious Google is making a play for the Living Room. This is not surprising, since Microsoft is also making a play for the living room (and the office equivalent) with the XBox One to the point they kinda forgot the whole gaming thing until the criticisms came in.

The living room appears to be the next big device battlefield. Well, the Smart Watch as well, but even after some discussions I’m still not sold it’ll be a battlefield as much as the site of a Pyrrhic non-Victory.

I actually think the living is a valid area for tech companies to target, and wanted to explore that a bit.

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A Quick Look at Chromecast

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Yes, Google’s got it’s new dongle/gizmo Chromecast out.  It’s a wireless HDMI gizmo that lets you stream to your TV.  So really, it’s using your TV as a second monitor, which some of us do anyway.  However the Chromecast is also $35.00

Consumer reports does a great analysis.

To me, it’s interesting as it seems to:

  • Speak to an audience who is computer, not TV centric.  I’m that audience, and I get it – that TV is a big monitor.
  • Be remarkably restrained.  This is a small gizmo, not a big device.  If Google is going small, this opens up many opportunities.
  • Completely confuse and conflate TV, web, streaming, and TV.  Which may be the point and is kind of inevitable.
  • Would be REALLY interesting if paired with Steam.

Sounds like Google has some interesting plans.  Let’s watch this.

– Steven

Let’s Get Travelling

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So Google has bought the Frommers brand.

This makes sense to me.  Google has assorted travel-related things (well, maps), it consolidates ratings, and of course having Frommers involved gives them more advertising opportunities.  Also it keeps them out of other people’s hands (perhaps, Yahoo).

This has made me think about Yahoo’s future with advertising, since that’s well, their big thing.

Really there’s a point where people get tired of advertising.  But advertising that can be so integrated into information isn’t advertising.  Google is innovative.

So I wonder if Google at some point, in a viable area (say, travel) is going to really get experimental with advertising.  Offer so much the advertising is invisible, integrated, helpful.  Frommers would be a great addition to any travel site, but also, amusingly, a way to further blur the lines . . .

Just theorizing.

Also theorizing what jobs other future integrations could bring.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach for professional and potentially professional geeks, fans, and otaku. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.