2013 proved a superb year for Google. Will 2014 be even better?
Google had a great year in 2013. As of mid-December, its stock was up about 55% for the year. Apple meanwhile was up a trifling 4%.
Google is anticipated to absorb greater than 1/2 all mobile ad revenue this year, and its share of the market appears prone to continue growing because it becomes better at monetizing YouTube on mobile devices.
Android consolidated its position because the leading smartphone platform, by volume if not quality. In step with IDC, Android handsets accounted for 81% of all smartphone shipments worldwide throughout the third quarter of the year.
Chrome OS found its footing as a platform for low-priced laptops. Google+ has over half one million users, even supposing it has fallen short when it comes to sharing and engagement.
Google must have a fair better 2014, as Larry Page’s effort to position more wood behind fewer arrows continues to repay.
But before we get to next year, let’s take a look at how my predictions for Google 2013 fared.
1. Google Glass delayed after developers puzzle over its reason behind being
True enough. Google in 2013 sent mixed messages concerning the consumer release of Glass. Early inside the year, the corporate aimed for a late 2013 release, but in an April interview with the BBC, Google executive chairperson Eric Schmidt said Glass would arrive in 2014. The company’s decision to issue new hardware to buyers of the Glass Explorer Edition suggests the necessity to refine the design further, before attempting a general commercial release.
2. Google becomes a force in content production
True enough. Google signaled its intention to take action by funding streaming content projects in 2011. This year, it expanded its commitment to content production with its YouTube Space studios in London, La, and Tokyo. There’s another planned for brand new York next fall. YouTube is likewise planning to finish 70/30 revenue-sharing terms, based on Variety, forcing all content makers to just accept a less lucrative 55/45 advertising revenue split. That’s an indication YouTube has a good number of quality content and now not sees the necessity to extend favorable terms to the right content producers.
3. Google fights taxes
True. The corporate has even started supporting conservative groups that oppose taxes, unlike its socially liberal public image.
4. Google expands voice technology lead
True enough. Though there are companies like Nuance that arguably have more sophisticated voice technology, Google has made voice recognition widely available. It is simple to conduct a voice search from Google.com and the corporate just launched a Chrome “hotwording” extension that permits users to set their browsers as much as listen for the “ok google” prompt, and to process the words that follow as a search.
5. The Google+ jokes will stop
True enough. That does not mean Google+ is beloved or was enthusiastically embraced — Google’s way to Google+ appears to be like “the beatings will continue until morale improves.” Witness the unwelcomed imposition of Google+ on YouTube’s comment system. But Google+ does win compliments infrequently and has found fans one of the IT crowd. However it is still seen whether social networking overall will continue in its current form, now that Facebook is confronting waning enthusiasm the various young and mobile is changing the dynamics of social networking.
6. Android first
False. Android undoubtedly has eclipsed iOS relating to global unit sales, but there’s more to smartphone platforms than that.
7. Chromebooks to high end
True.
8. Google prepares for 2014 retail push
True, or so it sort of feels.
9. The Google cloud platform picks up steam
True, though perhaps not as fast as had to get closer Amazon.
10. Google buys Pinterest
False.
11. Google graduates to ISP
True enough. Google Fiber has expanded from Kansas City, Mo. to Provo, Utah, and is headed for Austin, Texas by mid-2014 — and there is Project Loon.
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