| Yeah, even in Google app, Assistant I saw some good stuff in the beginning but the past 1.5 years has just been random stuff. In case of Android where customizability is what people boost about, Apple's been doing a lot of good custom stuff natively. Apple did such an amazing job with Shortcuts(yes i know it's acquired), Google just recently launched Blocks, even that's shit. Though, there are third party communities like Automate, Macrodroid, then Google comes up with half-fledged launch. Heck, when I heard Google isn't doing a virtual I/O this year, it sent off such a weak vibe. I mostly see it from a product+$ point of view. Stadia is the new one where I feel Google is def committed. Apart from that the old guard( 1B+ apps) is doing fine.
Area 120 is just a way to kill stuff, though i think 1-2 things have been integrated in main apps. I am divided on Google's culture of experimentation. So far it's not been impressive( long-term or short-term). Take ATAP, X Labs and now Area 120. In the beginning this (X labs, ATAP) was what I liked a lot about Google, but as a public company repeated experiments which don't turn into products is demotivating. And their main competition is Apple.
Apple ships opinions( firm product vision ) whereas Google's been shipping experiments. Facebook too in some ways. https://twitter.com/benedictevans/status/1297115699408711681 |
I fear that people who invest in Stadia are in for a rude awakening.