Google - Ups & Downs
October 31st, 2006
I have to admit that I like writing about Google, and that’s Ok given the fact that this site’s name is Our-Picks! Google has quite a heavy word to say in many things that involve Internet and not only.
First we’ll talk about Wikis, a subject much debated on the Web these days, I’ve read a wave of articles about how Wikis are adopted by corporations big and small and how Wikis have advantages and disadvantages; bottom line: people love Wikis and consequently Google needed one of his own. As a natural response to that need Google has acquired JotSpot (JotSpot was founded in 2004 by former members of Excite.com and as they describe themselves JotSpot is the first application Wiki company), and i quote:
“Why is Google acquiring JotSpot?
Google shares JotSpot’s vision for helping people collaborate, share and work together online. JotSpot’s team and technology are a strong fit with existing Google products like Google Docs & Spreadsheets, Google Apps for Your Domain and Google Groups.”
That can only be a good thing for both JotSpot and Google, the two services complementing each other’s needs. And there is not shadow of doubt that Google can make yet another excellent service out of JotSpot.
In other news there has been some criticism about Google’s services in China, where the content is filtered in order to please the current communist leaders. Companies like Yahoo!, Google and Microsoft are accused by human rights groups of helping the Chinese government restrain the free access to information for the citizens of China. On the other hand Google says that some information is better than none. The matter is still on debate but it seems that both parts agree that there is a limit in how far you can go when restricting the access to information; the problem is that this limit is seen different by both sides. The Chinese say that all is fine and they do not censor anything: ‘We do not have restrictions at all,’ they said. ‘Some people say that there are journalists in China that have been arrested. We have hundreds of journalists in China, very few have been arrested. But there are criminals in all societies and we have to arrest them. But these are legal problems. It has nothing to do with freedom of expression.’
Like any major public sensation Google has both a log of applause and a lot of criticism, but when the day ends and we draw the line, Google still rocks!
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