• BBC asks: Is Google turning into Buy n Large?
    53 replies, posted
[t]http://imgkk.com/i/yn1c.png[/t] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25725808[/url] [quote]In the adorable 2008 Pixar film Wall-E, much of the plot centres on the corporate behemoth that is Buy n Large. BnL, a "mega-corporation", runs everything. Everything. The company is the "world leader" in - to pick just a few - aerospace, agriculture, the media, food, science, infrastructure and transport. But it didn't start out that way. At first, BnL just sold yogurt. And in 1998, Google just did search. These days, it's the biggest player in internet advertising. It's a company that sends balloons into near-space, and kits out entire cities with underground cables. It's a company that runs most of the world's smartphones and tablets (logging customers' locations as it goes), and is taking on the wearable tech sector with its smart goggles, Google Glass. Monday's announcement that Google was to acquire smart-thermostat-maker Nest for $3.2bn (£2bn) came hot on the heels of a big shopping spree in robotics, with the notable acquisition of Boston Dynamics. It meant Google, whose motto is famously "don't be evil", now counts a company set up to create military equipment as part of its portfolio. Oh, there are those self-driving cars, too.[/quote]
If this means they'll start producing cute trash bots - then I won't object.
I wonder if there will be some sort of Google Private Military Corp somewhere down the line...
[QUOTE=Highwind017;43543483]I wonder if there will be some sort of Google Private Military Corp somewhere down the line...[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]It meant Google, whose motto is famously "don't be evil", now counts a company set up to create military equipment as part of its portfolio.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=ScottyWired;43543493][quote]It meant Google, whose motto is famously "don't be evil", now counts a company set up to create military equipment as part of its portfolio.[/quote][/QUOTE] They said they didn't plan to open new contracts, just honour the existing ones Boston Dynamics has.
[QUOTE=ScottyWired;43543493] [quote]It meant Google, whose motto is famously "don't be evil", now counts a company set up to create military equipment as part of its portfolio.[/quote][/QUOTE] Heat-seeking missiles? Loads of targets? "I feel lucky"
What happened to the giant white barges from October~?
[QUOTE=RagerTrader;43543613]What happened to the giant white barges from October~?[/QUOTE] It was a secret venue to show off new tech to industry professionals.
[QUOTE=Tamschi;43543587]They said they didn't plan to open new contracts, just honour the existing ones Boston Dynamics has.[/QUOTE] Yeahhh this article definitely belongs in sensationalist headlines as a whole.
[QUOTE=Highwind017;43543483]I wonder if there will be some sort of Google Private Military Corp somewhere down the line...[/QUOTE] They already own the makers of this thing: [IMG]http://gifs.gifbin.com/102009/1255689615_big_dog_balance_demontsration.gif[/IMG] Doesn't take a lot of effort to stick a chainsaw on it's back and a Googlerado LLC sticker on the side. Hell, it already throws rocks (or, you know, explosives) [t]http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18tjzqhsnjzragif/k-bigpic.gif[/t]
If this means we get cute Wall-E robots, then I am all for the future overlords.
if it gets too big, break it up
[QUOTE=latin_geek;43543772]They already own the makers of this thing: [IMG]http://gifs.gifbin.com/102009/1255689615_big_dog_balance_demontsration.gif[/IMG] Doesn't take a lot of effort to stick a chainsaw on it's back and a Googlerado LLC sticker on the side. Hell, it already throws rocks (or, you know, explosives) [t]http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18tjzqhsnjzragif/k-bigpic.gif[/t][/QUOTE] Use your intellect. Evade my rocks.
[QUOTE=latin_geek;43543772]They already own the makers of this thing: Doesn't take a lot of effort to stick a chainsaw on it's back and a Googlerado LLC sticker on the side. Hell, it already throws rocks (or, you know, explosives) [/QUOTE] The joke is that that thing is impressive engineering wise, but useless for all practical purposes, except for possibly climbing steep mountains, even then
The entire point of big dog is to aid in recovery of wounded soldiers/civilians and as equipment transportation on long range foot patrols. It'll also be able to dash into a firefight with valuable supplies from ammo to medical supplies and get them to troops in entrenched positions that vehicles can't get to.
I for one welcome our new? Google overlords Anyway google atleast seems to be the least evil evil corporation
If Google started making guns then they'd be high-tech and awesome but the only way you could fire them is if you log in to your Google+ account. Then they'd start making guns harder to use with handles on the top and magazines at the front and will just keep changing the layout but we can't do shit because it'll end up being the only guns we have.
[QUOTE=latin_geek;43543772]They already own the makers of this thing: [IMG]http://gifs.gifbin.com/102009/1255689615_big_dog_balance_demontsration.gif[/IMG] Doesn't take a lot of effort to stick a chainsaw on it's back and a Googlerado LLC sticker on the side. Hell, it already throws rocks (or, you know, explosives) [t]http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18tjzqhsnjzragif/k-bigpic.gif[/t][/QUOTE] You can dodge a brick, you can dodge a ball.
Am I the only one who doesn't like this? One company shouldn't be in this much control.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;43544002]if it gets too big, break it up[/QUOTE] Wont happen. They only break up a company if a monopoly appears (anti-trust act). Google doesnt hold a monopoly in any of the markets its in so far
[QUOTE=Zakkin;43544484]If Google started making guns then they'd be high-tech and awesome but the only way you could fire them is if you log in to your Google+ account. Then they'd start making guns harder to use with handles on the top and magazines at the front and will just keep changing the layout but we can't do shit because it'll end up being the only guns we have.[/QUOTE] This can only mean one thing. ID locked weapons.
If that means we're getting cute trash bots and Fred Willard, I'm all up for it.
WW3 will be fought between the armies of Google and Tesco
If this means we get.... a giant luxury resort space ship Im okay with it.
I have a theory that google will not be anything like that... Buy N Large was honest. I mean the title states you will buy there stuff and become large; just look at the large people in the spaceship. While google on the other hand lies to your face. "Don't be Evil" is exactly what Google does the opposite of, every day.
In all seriousness, is Google approaching the bounds of anti-trust laws? Or since they're starting to be more of a Conglamorate like GE and other big names, that it bypasses that?
[QUOTE=Sir M;43544463]I for one welcome our new? Google overlords Anyway google atleast seems to be the least evil evil corporation[/QUOTE] This is fucking stupid. For google money comes first and foremost, if being evil meant they got more money then thats what they would do, just so happens that while there are other companies competing with them it is in googles interests to act like a good guy, with cushy phrases like "don't be evil"
[QUOTE=RobbL;43544885]WW3 will be fought between the armies of Google and Tesco[/QUOTE] I can see it now. On every street in america, a multicolour poster saying "Don't be evil, join the good guys". Meanwhile in England, the posters say "Join the Tesco People's Guard. Every little helps".
this thread has truly glimpsed the future
[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;43544934]This is fucking stupid. For google money comes first and foremost, if being evil meant they got more money then thats what they would do, just so happens that while there are other companies competing with them it is in googles interests to act like a good guy, with cushy phrases like "don't be evil"[/QUOTE] That's rather cynical. Why can't a company go against the traditional manner of money-only? They make billions, [B]and[/B] they keep public opinion up in the process. That's a good system.
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