[rm_-rf_slash]

Counterpoint: since Google has firmly established a reputation for killing their own products, people who would otherwise find value in certain Google products (beyond search ads gmail and android) avoid them and never hear about them to begin with.

I wonder if they are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy: google launches a product, people avoid it assuming it’ll get killed off, google says the user metrics don’t justify the investment, and they kill it.

[cj]

I think HN tends to overplay google's product discontinuations.

If you ask someone who doesn't read HN if they've ever been frustrated with Google shutting down a product, my guess is 95%+ of people wouldn't be able to remember a single product that was shut down that they used.

One solution for Google might be to brand the products without the "Google" name prefix, until Google is absolutely sure it will be around for a decade+.

[onion2k]

If you ask someone who doesn't read HN if they've ever been frustrated with Google shutting down a product, my guess is 95%+ of people wouldn't be able to remember a single product that was shut down that they used.

That is true, but it ignores the fact that at least 50% of Google's product offerings are aimed at the sort of people who read HN.

[samizdis]

You might well be right with your 95 per cent guess, but it has proved frustrating and even embarrassing for me over the years to have recruited friends, family, colleagues and associates to some Google products/services only for the rug to be pulled later from under those who jumped aboard on my recommendation.

This has happened with Picassa, with Google+ (which had great integrations with other G services, and features I liked - such as one that let you group people into, say separately addressable units such as friends, family, colleagues, associates etc) and also the original Google chat (still around, but functionally degraded and headed for the chop, I fear).

I've loved some of these because of their features/usability. To me Google+ having few users and not having content pushed in my face was a bonus. Text chatting happily while in a Gmail tab (usually open when I'm working) but with minimal distraction and not having to context-switch - suits me. And now a lovely library of free 3D assets is for the chop.

Once upon a time I earned a little kudos for having my finger on the pulse and spotting decent emerging tech/trends. I was laughed at by many when, in 1994, I switched from a senior role in print news to one in the nascent online space - but many people took an interest because of my recommendation or at my urging.

I am no seer, I am rarely an evangelist, but I hate it that many people I know have invested time/effort in Google stuff on my recommendation. I feel as though I have let them down.

[seankimdesign]

Maybe. But even in gaming circles, people often cite "Google may discontinue it" as one of the main reasons for avoiding Stadia, which is a Google gaming service. I believe their reputation goes well beyond the HN tech circle.

[MarkusWandel]

I think former users of Picasa and Reader (ouch!) might amount to more than 5%.

[spoonjim]

Google has 2 billion users or thereabouts. 5% of that is 100 million users. Why not maintain a product for those 5% if it's easy?

[fuzxi]

I think a lot of people remember the Reader shutdown, and the recent weird migration from Play Music to Youtube Music.

[jrumbut]

True enough, but this is among the largest gatherings of technology decision makers (at varying levels, presumably some very high level) out there and this comes up every thread about Google.

Hosting some files to serve as a counterpoint would not be totally unjustifiable from a marketing perspective.

[fakedang]

Allo, Duo, Music, Hangouts were all products people in my circles used regularly, even if I didn't.

[free2OSS]

Google Music and Google Photos disagree.

They ended Music, and bait and switch their photo policy.

Traumatic events for me. I've left both services, won't get another pixel, and attempted to switch to Firefox.

[CartyBoston]

in this they behave like a short-term gain focused stock market

[Jezzi]

Firebase is safe...right?