My Crystal Ball
Posted on August 24th, 2005 in Usability | 19 Comments »
Google Prediction #42 >>> Google Talk
Is Google 2.0 coming? For those keeping track, back in 2001 I predicted that Google would create a browser. Well, not exactly a browser, but sort of a browser. A Google client is what I called it, and I literally said that the Google client might shanghai the entire Microsoft desktop.
Combine my predictions with $2.91 and you get an expensive cup of coffee.
Thanks for the heads up, Jay.
19 Responses
That’s it… I can’t stand it any more. I want to name my next kid Google.
Ok, so could Google be any better? Seriously. I was thinking about the Google tools I use on a daily (or at least very regular) basis:
- Google Search
- Google Alerts
- Google Directory
- Froogle
- Google Images
- Google Local
- Google Maps
- Google Mobile
- Google News
- Google SMS
- Blogger (blogs as http://www.seanandmel.com)
- Google Desktop (2.0 with side bar)
- Google Earth ($20 a year plan)
- GMail (murphy.sean@)
- Google Toolbar
- Google Translate
…and now Google Talk. I am going to transition to Talk as my main IM client over the next couple weeks. It does not have the full feature set of MSN but heck, who needs all that eye-candy anyways.
Sean, your list is no joke. Seems like we’re all jumping in the Google boat. I hope it isn’t the Titanic.
(Used Google image search to get that Titanic image. Wink, wink.)
My only gripe with Google Talk is it is too basic. No smileys, no file transfer, no font control, it is VERY basic. It also however does not catch the bosses eye like MSN does when he walks by… Will I use a Google browser? I’m not sure, I am a proud M$ cool-aide drinker.
Forget the flashy stuff for a second. Does it seem stable? Any crashes yet? How well does the basic functionality work? They are smart to start with a strong foundation and then grow…
p.s. I didn’t RTFM yet. Does it work behind firewalls?
Not in the right order…
1. It works behind my firewall (but so does MSN) Google says it will work behind most firewalls.
2. It is missing a lot of functionality that I “need” to be a primo IM client:
– You can not organize your contacts in groups or folders.
– You can not change your displayed font, color, or weight to help differentiate your prose from some one else.
– You can not use smileys
– You can not transfer files (very bad)
– I can not figure out (yet) if or how you can bring in a group on a conversation.
3. There is some stuff I really like…
– When you type a statement, if the other person has not replied, your new statement is added under the original one without an additional “Sean said:” or whatever it is.
– You can tie in from a PocketPC or SmartPhone – see how here : http://www.mobilegadgetnews.com/index.php?showtopic=9500
– The interface is not very boss eye catching
– VOIP calls are free, very nice! I have yet to try but I have high hopes.
– When your chat window is minimized or hidden under another window, they do a nice job of showing you replies from your chatting friend.
– You can broadcast MP3s, Podcasts and other audio over Talk : http://www.twittv.com/googletalk.html
4. The thing I do not understand is that I can sign in under two computers at the same time. The odd thing is that both show you as logged in, but… If you last typed a message on Computer “A”, new messages only come to computer “A”. As soon as you use computer “B” and type something, computer “B” gets all the incoming messages. The problem case here is this: I am at work (“A”), I am IMing happily, I leave work with the PC on, I go home (“B”) and look down, Talk is logged in, I am thinking I am receiving messages but… The janitorial staff at work is the only ones to see my messages. This is not a feature.
5. So far so good on stability, no crashes or hang ups.
The features that NEED to be implemented to make it a viable primary chat prog:
a. Organize contacts better
b. Allow file transfer
c. Group chats
These features I would like to see implemented:
a. Build it into a Google Desktop 2.0 side bar plug-in
b. Allow fonts
c. Smileys
d. Interspecies communication (this goes for all IM clients) – Allow me to chat from Google to MSN and AOL, etc… (And no I don’t want to hear about different platforms and protocols, give me a break, it’s the XML generation, we can’t figure this out?)
e. Integrate google maps – location data about who you are talking to
f. Link to blogger site of the person chatting with like MSN links to MSN Spaces.
g. What about translate on the fly? Use Google Translation tools to take the French sentence typed by some guy in Paris and before displaying on my NY screen, translating to English and vice versa.
h. Tie message sent off line to a SMS to your phone or SmartPhone.
Integrating Google Talk with Google Desktop 2 Sidebar…
http://kevingc.blogspot.com/2005/08/integrating-google-talk-with-google.html
So there is one of my wishes from above…
PS Sorry for hijacking your thread here John
Dude, this is great stuff. Really. Keep it up!
How to set up Google Talk on your Mac
Oh, and in terms of best practices, I love this…
http://talk.google.com/
– OR –
http://www.google.com/talk/
Either will work. Most companies are far too lazy about this.
I am somewhat amazed that anyone can release a IM client using yet another protocol and expect anyone to switch. For most people (geeks excluded), the important piece is the contact list, not the IM GUI. Sean, how are you convincing your contacts to switch?
I have very few contacts, yet they are split across AIM, Yahoo, and MSN. I can’t imagine they’d switch to Google (and ask their contacts to switch) just because I asked. I end up using Adium to avoid the hassle and many others use similar multi-protocol clients.
Full disclosure: I admit, I did download Google Talk out of curiousity. :)
I used Skype last night for the first time. Worked like a charm.
FWIW, I did not install it. It was installed — and first used! — by a complete non-geek. This novice didn’t even talk to me about it. She installed it and started using it. Painless.
But, why did she install it? And why did you use it versus your regular IM client? For the VoIP?
For the VoIP.
More data: She doesn’t need to use Skype. Plenty of hours left each month on her cell phone plan. It is just easy and fun. Bingo!
Do you think people will switch to Google Talk for the VoIP? Is that enough of a draw? Or will they maintain their existing IMs and contact lists and augment with GT or Skype or some other VoIP client?
1. People know Google, they don’t know Skype. It isn’t even fair to compare the brands. Google wins before a comparison is even made.
2. Consider the Occam’s Razor flavor of the argument: Why use two tools (IM + Skype) when you can just use one (Google Talk). Furthermore, Google also has many other tools that integrate. Skype, as a tool, dangles.
3. Download and footprint? Google = 900K versus Skype = 7.2MB
4. I think Google *might* consider buying Skype for customer base and some technology. But then again, Skype might not want to sell. ($3 billion or more?)
JSR
Extra, Extra:
Google Talk: 15 screenshots of it and it’s features
I think of my IM list like I do a closet, there is good stuff in there and that old red and green sweater. Some times it needs some spring cleaning. I have used MSN exclusively for the past 2 years and I have 93 contacts in my list. Basically, I need to talk to about 5 of them on a regular basis. Those 5, I can convince to use Talk, beyond that, if you want to talk to me, switch. Plain and simple.
Not to get all on a power trip here but – Part of the glory and power of running a big geek website is that people want to talk to me and I can tell them how they need to do it. If I say I use GT, they will need to use GT to get me, or email or whatever. I am not worried about it and heck, if I get less daily interruptions, great!
Is the VoIP worth the switch, I’m not sure because you are limited to GT users and there are relatively few. The advantage of Skype is that you can (for a price) call any phone also. Who knows, GT may get there too but for now, it’s just a bonus, not a need.
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