Google’s biggest wins, fails, and WTF moments of 2024

It’s been a big year for Google… but as the de facto leader in online search, browsers and ads, it’s always It’s a big year for Google. Perhaps the biggest news undoubtedly concerns the company’s status as an official and illegal monopoly, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

While a potentially historic breakup hangs over Google like the Sword of Damocles, we won’t really know how it ends until next year (at least). In the meantime, let’s take a look back at Google’s wins, losses, and WTF moments in 2024.

Failure: DOJ wants Google to sell Chrome

After a historic ruling found Google guilty Violation of U.S. antitrust lawsthe Department of Justice recommended that Google Forced to sell part of the Chrome browser business. It’s a “solution” to Google’s abuse of its dominance in search and advertising across the web, which extends to Android, Gmail, YouTube, and nearly every aspect of its business.

Forcing Google to abandon Chrome would be devastating. Chrome is the world’s No. 1 browser on desktops (including laptops) and mobile devices, not to mention that Google has been working to make Chromebooks a viable alternative to Windows laptops for more than a decade. That also ignores other proposed compensation, including a moratorium on high-priced search contracts with companies like Apple and the syndication of search data to competitors.

But this story (has gone on for more than Four years have passed since the initial prosecution) is far from over. Google will no doubt appeal both the judge’s guilty verdict itself and any proposed penalties, delaying the case for months or years. The incoming Trump administration is a huge wildcard, sure to steer the Justice Department toward being friendly to America’s big business while taking punitive measures against the tech industry to suit the president’s goals.

Whatever the outcome of the trial, it could shake up Google in ways not seen since the AT&T breakup in the 1980s.

Winner: Pixel 9 series is great!

Almost since the birth of Android, Google has been trying to sell its own brand of Android phones — first the Nexus series, then more mass-market phones like the Pixel. Apple and Samsung still dominate the smartphone space, but there’s no denying that after nine iterations, the Pixel is now a force to be reckoned with.

Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 phones are really, really goodespecially if you’re looking for a phone that can take great photos. The Pixel Fold and its horribly-named successor, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, are Not badalthough still too expensive for most users. Pixel Watch 3 is good — I’m wearing it right now and I’m very happy with it. There are more affordable (if not quite “budget”) alternatives to the Pixel A variant phones that offer nearly all of the same features at a more affordable price.

It’s been a slow and tedious process for more than a decade, but Google finally has its own brand of phones that most people are familiar with and that’s distinct from Android as a platform. There are regular users (not die-hard Android fans like me) who are looking for Pixel phones because they like them, not just because they’re in all carrier stores (although that’s certainly true). This is a win for anyone.

WTF: What on earth is Google doing with non-phone hardware?

I’ve literally bought more Google tablets than I can remember. I will always love you, Pixel C, even if Google doesn’t. But sources say Google is trying again to create a branded laptop years after shutting down the team that had already done so, only to hear it’s being scrapped again. Ditching Pixel-branded Android tabletsI have to ask: What the hell is going on, man?

All of Google’s advances in smartphones and wearables, not to mention ChromeOS Together with its Chromebook partners, Beyond that, it seems to have no idea what to do with its brand of hardware. Even after following this company closely my entire career, I couldn’t tell you what it’s going to do next in a tablet or laptop.

But I can tell you what I want it to do, and what I think will work. Oh, look at that, I have!

Failure: Artificial intelligence search turns off many people

Google is promoting the Gemini AI system heavily across its business, but it’s most visible in search. This isn’t necessarily a good thing. While AI in Google Search outlines the initial backlash (including infamous results like this Using glue as a pizza topping) seems to have disappeared, which is a symptom of a deeper, broader problem.

Internet users seem to resent Google, a name that was once synonymous with search, as in “let me Google it for you.” There are more and more ads in the results, and as targeted SEO and AI-generated text become more prevalent, the results themselves become less and less useful, and it’s easy to see why. Google’s dominance isn’t going away anytime soon, but it’s clear that people are Desire for alternativesif not a complete replacement.

Perhaps even more daunting for Google is that it doesn’t seem to have a clear solution. Search is the cornerstone of Google’s empire, and if it collapses—whether or not it’s a one-two punch from the loss of Chrome—the entire company could be in jeopardy.

Win: The “Web” tab is what search should be like

Even though I gave Google a lot of pain in the section above, I admit that it has become so integrated into my personal life and work flow that I’m not ready to give it up just yet. I don’t have to do this. Google New “Web” search tab launched this yearwhich is almost like the old Google search. almost.

Clicking “Web” will delete the artificial intelligence overview results, shopping suggestions that are not called ads, and map business listings (again, essentially ads!). Ten more blue links, bringing a sense of focus and intent that has long been missing from Google searches. I adjusted all of my preset hunts to this view almost immediately and it was a noticeable improvement.

Of course, this doesn’t solve all the problems of searching. sometimes i think Get map information instantly and there’s no way to pick and choose what information you get, it’s either all of it or (not quite) nothing. Web views still regularly offer so-called “sponsored” search results (again, ads) at the top, forcing you to scroll to get to more organic information. And this view does nothing to protect against spammy SEO or AI-generated text, both of which make it harder to search for real information.

But this is progress. It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve talked about Google search like this.

WTF: Google can automatically generate video games

I feel like I have to constantly remind people that the “AI” they’re selling isn’t artificial intelligence in the sci-fi sense, like Commander Data or HAL 9000. Keep in mind when doing things like creating a simple but complete video game just by following the prompts.

I don’t mean “write a game like the original Legend of Zelda”. I mean a full game with 3D movement and dynamically generated graphics, no polygons required. Phantom 2 system Apparently so many video games have been analyzed that it can generate basic playable systems, including what looks like physical interactions and multiple perspectives.

Of course, we only have Google’s word for it. While the results are impressive (or at least the footage Google intends to share), in terms of computing resources, they’re simply not worth the squeeze. But I can see this kind of system giving kids and non-tech-savvy people the tools to make simple games that are a step or two above Role playing game maker or dream On PS4, in a really cool way.

Failure: Chrome users revolt over ad blocker fiasco

As if Google wasn’t worried enough about alienating regular search users, it’s also irritating power users by turning to a series of new Chrome extension guides. Manifest V3 appears to specifically target ad blockers – hinting, if not outright accusations, that From multiple ad blocker developers — and other, more laudable goals.

Users are taking notice. While most extensions are being updated to bend the knee, the developers of the popular uBlock Origin have resisted, instead creating a separate and intentionally less powerful alternative as a means of protest. With some form of ad blocking becoming almost essential to using the web efficiently and safely, alternative browsers are suddenly on the rise.

I can’t claim to be objective here as I said goodbye to Chrome after using it for over a decade Support for more customizable Vivaldi. But Vivaldi, like almost all browsers from small companies or development teams, is based on Chromium. The only notable exception is Firefox. If there’s going to be a liquidation of the browser, it’s going to have to go through Google first… at least if Google still controls Chrome at that point.

Victory: Google can bring ChromeOS and Android together

With huge uncertainty surrounding Google’s continued control of Chrome, a story has broken out that gives us reason to celebrate. Apparently, Google is developing a new version of ChromeOS based on Android. ChromeOS and Android already have a lot in common — they are both open-source operating systems maintained by Google, after all — but bringing them closer could solve a lot of problems.

Chromebooks handle Android apps more smoothly and gracefully. This, in turn, will enable ChromeOS tablets (a A small but important part of the market) better all-around. On the other hand, it could give Android a better way to handle multitasking on tablets, something it’s not very good at yet, which is one of the many reasons Android needs to do this. The iPad excels on nearly every metric.

Both Android and ChromeOS have a long history as more or less disparate products unified by the Google ecosystem…and that ecosystem isn’t a good one. But bringing them closer together could go a long way toward solving this problem and make Google a more integrated alternative to Microsoft and Apple. Granted, all of this is very tentative in many ways.

WTF: Russia has fined Google more than any other country in the world

Okay, you have to admit it’s funny. Thanks to the Russian government’s crackdown on social media and some really bad math, the court Order Google to pay one billion rublesequivalent to a fine of US$20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 US dollars. So far, there may be more.

The details of how and why don’t matter because that’s a quadrillion times more than all the money on earth, the amount of money that exists around the world. Although Google still supplies most of its products to Russian residents, its operations in Ukraine have been shut down following Russia’s invasion of the country.

The odds of Google being forced to pay even a tiny fraction of this ridiculous amount are about, well, I’d say one in 20.