This is my second-favorite rumor ever, because it keeps coming up (Android vs iPhone, Gmail vs MobileMe, AppleSecretSearch vs Google Search) and because the origin of it is: There are two supercool companies, and people would rather see supercool things duke it out violently than have a quiet amicability wherein the CEO of Google is on the Apple board. Fact is, Google and Apple excel at two different things. Google can't release any product at Apple's price point because they can't achieve such an anal level of quality, Marissa Mayer's 30 shades of blue be damned. Apple can't compete directly with Google because they insist on making pricey products that cost money, and because making a free suite of things completely contradicts their philosophy.<p>My <i>favorite</i> rumor is the Apple vs Nintendo rumor, because first off it makes more sense (iPod touch vs DS), and second off because both companies make excellent products but design them from different points of view, Nintendo focusing on innovative gaming and Apple focusing on its outright perfectionism. The one that <i>would</i> be my favorite rumor but is absolutely true is Google vs Facebook, and that's the one that interests me most if Google's making its own OS. Facebook acquired Parakey a few years ago, and since then rumors of it launching a webOS have been scattered about. Interesting to see how they take advantage of this announcement.
No more than Toyota and BMW are at war.<p>Regardless of how good Google's products get, their core business doesn't involve building the products that Apple is building. And even if beige box PCs came with an operating system and applications that better compared to a Mac, they'll still lack that integrated quality-assured ecosystem joining them together.<p>E.g. For the average user, a web-app-focused OS is going to have even <i>more</i> confusing UI inconsistencies than Windows.
This is not an article. It's just some guy talking. There is not a <i>single sentence</i> in this post that would not be improved by asking the question "Why?"<p><i>Today saw the announcement of ... something I’ve wanted for quite some time; an ... OS with the web and Google’s services as its backbone.</i><p>Why do you want this? Is there something wrong with your current method of accessing Google's apps? What is it? What do you expect this new OS to improve?<p><i>The move by Google is sure to leave Apple and Microsoft shaking in their boots</i><p>Why?<p><i>I’m certain this is the beginning of the end for Ubuntu.</i><p>Why?<p><i>Since the increasing development and improvement of Google Apps, the increased speed of Chrome, the release of Android and now, the Google OS. I’m left torn.</i><p>Why? What do these technologies have to do with one another? Do they interoperate? What do they offer you that you didn't have before?<p><i>My current commitment to Google Apps has left me ... entertaining ideas of what it would be like to truly incorporate all my primary web services into an operating system</i><p>What <i>would</i> that be like? What benefit would it offer? Why do you want this?<p><i>I’m left wondering what Apple can bring to the table between now and Google’s OS release</i><p>What should they bring? What does the new Google OS offer that you think Apple should incorporate in OS X? Why would that improve it?<p><i>The point is this. As long as Google and web applications continue to improve at the rate they are, [Apple is] going to have to start thinking far more Google-like.</i><p>For love of all that's good, <i>why</i>?! What does it mean to think more google-like? What is wrong with how Apple is thinking now? What improvements is google making? How are those superior the improvements Apple's making (if, indeed, they are not completely orthogonal).<p><i>this is the beginning of an era of Google dominance, the likes of which we’ve never seen before</i><p>Why?<p><i>The company is slowly but surely taking over every aspect of our lives ... for some its scary, for me... I’m excited.</i><p>Why?<p><i>And for now at least, the one company I want to see step up to Google’s surge in dominance is Apple</i><p>W-H-Y?<p><i>and I predict they will, but its not going to be easy.</i><p>Predictably: <i>why</i>?<p>I propose a new rule. If you're considering posting something to HN, think how a fifth grade teacher would mark it up. If there would be more red than black on the page by the end, maybe give it a miss?
I really can't take such articles seriously anymore because they very simplistically confuse companies with tribes and competition with war...<p>Microsoft, Google, and Apple have figured out ways to make money in different ways. Whatever Google has to offer, it is going to help Apple and Microsoft further delineate what they do best. I hardly see this as "going to war".
Apple was never going to be anything other than a niche player in the personal computer marketplace, and they knew it all along. Why else would they commit so many resources to co-opting the personal music and cell phone markets? Apple has already won the wars of its choosing.
The Google OS appears to be geared more toward business than the home user. I mean email / Docs / Spreadsheets? That's a business combo. The Mac has Music / Movies / Photos that's for home.
Quote: "I'm certain this is the beginning of the end for Ubuntu and Linux"<p>It's funny how ex-marketing dudes, who now call themselves "social media experts", write crap just for the sake of it.