Google is a search company.
OK, Google started as a search company in 1998, when Sergey Brin and Larry Page were doctoral students at Stanford. And fifteen years later? Google is a verb. That's how ingrained it's become into our lexicon, as well as into our lives. If you want to know something, you "Google" it.
On August 10, 2015, Google became part of the umbrella company, Alphabet, with Sundar Pichai taking charge as CEO. The announcement came as a surprise to everyone when it was dropped on Google's blog by Larry Page.
Of course, Google is so much more now. It's an advertising company (which still provides the bulk of its revenue). It's a video-hosting company, with YouTube. It's a social network, with Google+. It's a mobile company, with Android. It's leading the wearables revolution with Google Glass and Android Wear. Google's making inroads into enterprise with its web-based infrastructures, to the point where municipal governments and private businesses alike are ditching the server racks for the cloud. It's seeking to change the way we use computers with its not-quite-a-thin-client Chromebooks.
And that was just the first 15 years.
Where will Google go next? That's a question many of us can't wait to see answered. And, understandably, it's a question many are wary of. Is Google too big? Is it too powerful? Does it know too much? Is it doing the right things for the right reasons? Or is it just trying to become as rich and powerful as it possibly can? Those are all fair questions, and ones that Google should ask itself, and ones that we as its customers should continue to it.
Latest about Google
NotebookLM can now help you discover sources on the web
Simpler studying Tired of manually adding sources to your NotebookLM projects? With today's update, you no longer need to.
Another look at Google's Find My Device UWB update could indicate rollout is near
Next level tracking The Find My Device app's latest version held extra clues about its UWB-supported feature.
There's one reason why I'm not writing off the Pixel 10 Pro Fold... yet
Just imagine Rumors suggest the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will be practically identical to last year's model. Normally, I would hate the idea, but Google could shock everyone if it does just one thing.
Google's plan to steal ChatGPT's market share is all about Gemini's free tier
Big plans Gemini 2.5 Pro experimental is becoming available to free users less than a week after it was announced. What does that tell us about Google's AI strategy?
Gemini could be the next Google service reimagined for kids
Coming soon? An APK teardown of the Google app revealed hints that the company is working on a kid-friendly version of Gemini.
Google Pixel's weather widget suffers desynced daily forecasts, per user reports
Rain or shine? Google Pixel owners reported problems with the weather widget and forecasts.
Londoners can join the Google Pay 'Tube Challenge' for badges and city lore
Next stop is... Google joined with the Tfl in London to bring the 'Tube Challenge' to travelers for prizes and digital badges.
Google Maps is giving your ETA screen a glow-up on Android
now looking sharp Google Maps spices up your route planning with a directions overview redesign.
This potential Pixel Screenshots update could really put the app in the spotlight
getting a nudge Pixel 9's AI-powered Screenshots app might get its own home screen widget.
Google phones to get 'Battery health assistance' feature starting with Pixel 9a
Battery health Battery degradation is inevitable, and Google is trying to counteract it with a new feature first coming to the Google Pixel 9a in April.
Google is gifting its best AI model yet, Gemini 2.5 Pro (Exp), to free users
Blazing fast Google's experimental version of Gemini 2.5 Pro sits at the top of AI leaderboards, and it's now becoming available for free users.
Leaked renders claim the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will pick up where the 9 series left off
If it ain't broke... A set of Pixel 10 Pro Fold renders gives us an alleged look at what's next.
Is Google One AI Premium the only mobile AI suite worth paying for?
Bad value? I usually scoff at the idea of paying for artificial intelligence software, but Google One AI Premium might be the only exception.
Google wants Pixel owners to know Palm Timer works with the rear cameras
Hands-free First, Google updated the Palm Timer description in Pixel Camera settings. Now, it has gone a step further with a new community post.
Google Meet now uses AI to show more faces in 'Dynamic layouts'
Get everybody in Ever wish you could fit more people on your screen during a meeting? With Dynamic layouts in Google Meet, now you can.
Fitbit users risk losing data by 2026 if they don't merge with a Google Account
Remember this date Fitbit emailed users, informing them of the new Google Account merge deadline and about their data.
Quiet Wear OS 5.1 QoL update brings app icons to Pixel Watch tiles
Keeping tabs Pixel Watches have reportedly gained a small QoL change to tiles.
Where have all the Chromebooks gone?
Beyond the Alphabet Almost three full months into the year, and there have been very few major Chromebook releases. Let's dive into a few reasons why that might be the case.
