Google's 10 Things which helped our Lives since Its IPO Ten Years Ago
It is exactly 10 years ago, this week when Google made its first initial public offering and the company set out to chart a new course which redefined how the world reacts, interacts and utilize technology. Google has always charted its own path something which was evident on the very day when it offered its initial public offering. Google's founders gave an interview to Playboy technically violating the 'quiet period' in the lead up to the IPO. The Securities and Exchange Commission however did not delay the IPO. It was one of the many bumps which Google endured during its public offer.
Every step which Google took was unique and ground breaking often to the chagrin of the mandarins in Wall Street. It sold its shares via an unusual kind of auction process. It kicked off its IPO filing with a letter from its founders- : 'Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one.' It lived to its reputation to the last word. Google raised $1.7 billion from its IPO making it by far the largest public offering of any Internet company to that point.
The quest remains the essence at the heart of the company and Google has used its IPO issue as a springboard to more heights of glory. Here are 10 products from the search engine giant which has changed our lives-
Self-Driving Car
Though not allowed to be operated on the roads, Google unveiled its first self driving car in May. The company has been working on an autonomous driving system for some year now and feels that it will remove the burden of travel for many. The benefits- Will be very helpful for the compromised and the elderly and also in a lighter vein -the inebriated. Already the car has logged more than half a million miles.
Google Shopping Express
Google is a search engine which delivers search results and e-mails. It is branching out and delivering physical goods also. Maybe it will make you more lethargic since you may never have to leave your home again. All you need is to go to the Google's Shopping Express site where users can shop inventory from several big-box stores online and then select a delivery time which best suits them. A Google Express delivery person will then bring the order to their doorstep but the service is sadly available in parts of California and Manhattan only.
Google Maps
Remember how you ended on the wrong side of the city because you held the Map upside down. Well Google maps has made the maps and atlases outdated. Google Maps went live in February 2005. In 2007 Google added traffic data easing the pain of commuting.
Project Loon
In its quest to spread the Internet all over the globe, even in the remotest corners of the planet, Google envisages to use balloons to serve as a platform to provide internet access. The plan was unveiled in 2013.
The Project Loon website says 'We believe it's possible to create a ring of balloons that fly around the globe on the stratospheric winds and provide Internet access to the Earth below. Balloons present some really hard science problems, but we're excited about the progress so far,'
Google Glass
It is a futuristic eye wear which overlays the digital information and with each passing day finds more and more versatile uses.
Chrome
It is five years since it was released and already boasts over 750 million users. A browser which also offers offline access to their Gmail, Calendar and documents, attracting more and more fans of an archaic Internet Explorer.
Google Street View
Debuted within the Google Maps platform in May 2007, Street View allows users to explore five major U.S. cities at eye level. Today, users can explore all seven continents from their computer screens.
Project Ara
Google's 'Project Ara,' is an affordable smartphone with swappable and customizable hardware, could shake up the market.
Android
Google introduced Android, the first open platform for mobile devices, in 2007. Google amply supported by outside developers have been continuously innovating and expanding the platform's capabilities.
Google unveiled Android Wear smart watches in June at the annual Google developer's conference in San Francisco. Users can simply sync the watch with their Android phones and wear it.
Chromecast
An effort to enter the lucrative TV market, Google introduced its Chromecast, which is the size of a wafers packet. All you need to do is to simply plug into an HDTV, connect to the Internet and then control what's on the screen with an existing smartphone, tablet or laptop.
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