[throwawaymsft]

Totally agree on wanting it both ways. When you associate a product with a brand, you are attempting to overcome objections by saying "This brand supports this product and is putting its reputation behind it."

If Google wants to experiment, create projects that don't have the Google brand (they just use G+ login like any other startup) and then reveal it was Google all along.

Let the projects succeed on their own merits, with their own marketing. If you tie in the Google brand you are setting expectations that this will be a long-lasting effort.

[Navarr]

> If you tie in the Google brand you are setting expectations that this will be a long-lasting effort.

I don't think anyone has that expectation anymore :p