1. Social integration Of Google Services
The coming year will be critical for Google's social computing efforts. Facebook continues to grow and has become a habit that many users appear increasingly unlikely to want to break. If Google cannot demonstrate a compelling social offering in 2011, it runs the risk of looking like Yahoo does in search: a company that fell behind and never got back into the race.
2. TV signal strategy revealed
That's probably when we'll hear a lot more about Chrome OS too, with Chrome OS netbooks from Acer and Samsung promised for mid-2011. Around this time, Google may also be ready to announce something about its plans for TV signal white spaces, such as a partnership with Logitech to make a white spaces router.
3. Google TV goes Hollywood
The Android SDK for Google TV should show up before March. The best-case scenario is that Google TV will have spurred enough developer interest to provide some excitement at Google IO. But developer interest depends on consumers buying Google TV hardware. And consumers are unlikely to want Google TV hardware if content providers continue to prevent their content from appearing on Google TV. Expect Google to open its wallet to help encourage Hollywood's stars to come to its party.
4. Embrace of DRM
Google's recent acquisition of streaming video and DRM company Widevine suggests that the company is looking to make friends in Hollywood by offering more protection for video content. By the end of 2011, Google TV's prospects should look a bit brighter. And chances are that Google, having invested in DRM, implemented Adobe DRM for e-books, and crowed about the success of YouTube's Content ID system, will use the word "open" in its blog posts less than it did in 2010.
5. Music service kicks into gear
Content owners' fears are also what's holding up Google's cloud-based music service. Having seen the power that Apple has through iTunes, music providers are understandably wary of surrendering too much to Google. At the same time, the music industry would have more negotiating leverage were Google competing with Apple and Amazon in the online music distribution business. So expect a few signed deals and an announcement in March or April.
6. Chrome continues upward trajectory
Google Chrome will reach a global market share of 16 percent by the end of 2011. The Chrome Web Store will expand to include iGoogle widgets. And iGoogle will figure prominently in Google's social plans.
7. The mainstream cloud, improved developer access
Rajen Sheth, senior product manager in Google's enterprise group, believes that in 2011 some of Google's big bets on the future -- cloud computing, mobile, and workplace productivity -- will pay off. He says that cloud computing has gone mainstream and expects that the value proposition of Chrome OS -- the Web without the security or maintenance problems of PCs -- will create more cloud converts.
The coming year will be critical for Google's social computing efforts. Facebook continues to grow and has become a habit that many users appear increasingly unlikely to want to break. If Google cannot demonstrate a compelling social offering in 2011, it runs the risk of looking like Yahoo does in search: a company that fell behind and never got back into the race.
2. TV signal strategy revealed
That's probably when we'll hear a lot more about Chrome OS too, with Chrome OS netbooks from Acer and Samsung promised for mid-2011. Around this time, Google may also be ready to announce something about its plans for TV signal white spaces, such as a partnership with Logitech to make a white spaces router.
3. Google TV goes Hollywood
The Android SDK for Google TV should show up before March. The best-case scenario is that Google TV will have spurred enough developer interest to provide some excitement at Google IO. But developer interest depends on consumers buying Google TV hardware. And consumers are unlikely to want Google TV hardware if content providers continue to prevent their content from appearing on Google TV. Expect Google to open its wallet to help encourage Hollywood's stars to come to its party.
4. Embrace of DRM
Google's recent acquisition of streaming video and DRM company Widevine suggests that the company is looking to make friends in Hollywood by offering more protection for video content. By the end of 2011, Google TV's prospects should look a bit brighter. And chances are that Google, having invested in DRM, implemented Adobe DRM for e-books, and crowed about the success of YouTube's Content ID system, will use the word "open" in its blog posts less than it did in 2010.
5. Music service kicks into gear
Content owners' fears are also what's holding up Google's cloud-based music service. Having seen the power that Apple has through iTunes, music providers are understandably wary of surrendering too much to Google. At the same time, the music industry would have more negotiating leverage were Google competing with Apple and Amazon in the online music distribution business. So expect a few signed deals and an announcement in March or April.
6. Chrome continues upward trajectory
Google Chrome will reach a global market share of 16 percent by the end of 2011. The Chrome Web Store will expand to include iGoogle widgets. And iGoogle will figure prominently in Google's social plans.
7. The mainstream cloud, improved developer access
Rajen Sheth, senior product manager in Google's enterprise group, believes that in 2011 some of Google's big bets on the future -- cloud computing, mobile, and workplace productivity -- will pay off. He says that cloud computing has gone mainstream and expects that the value proposition of Chrome OS -- the Web without the security or maintenance problems of PCs -- will create more cloud converts.
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