Tech giant Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) unveiled a number of upgrades to its existing products this week. Many observers may have been disappointed — there was no new version of Android, no successor to the Nexus 7.
Still, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) made a number of announcements that were otherwise significant. Although more subtle than a major product unveiling, Google’s enhancements to its existing products should concern the company’s competitors.
Google Now is coming to the desktop
Not everyone is convinced that Google’s Android operating system is superior to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iOS — but most agree that the company’s personal assistant, Google Now, is better than Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s Siri.
Google made two major announcements concerning Google Now. First, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Now has been upgraded to set location-based reminders (“Remind me to take out the trash when I get home.”). Secondly, Google Now will be coming to the desktop.
Further, to use Google Now on the desktop, users will need the Chrome web browser.
Google has had a stranglehold on desktop search for years, while Chrome has steadily risen in popularity. The incorporation of Google Now should only strengthen both — encouraging Google Now users to switch to Chrome (if they haven’t already), while at the same time, making Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s desktop search that much more compelling.
That could be bad for
, which has spent billions developing and advertising its Bing search engine.
Microsoft has also tried to revitalize Internet Explorer, shipping the re-invented, touch-optimized, IE 10 with Windows 8.
Of course, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is a monstrous technology giant, and the incorporation of Google Now to Google search hardly makes Microsoft’s stock a sell. But it does make the gap between Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Google just that much bigger when it comes to search.
All Access is Google’s streaming music service
Google launched All Access on Wednesday, the company’s streaming music service. For a fee of $10 per month ($8 for early adopters), users get access to catalog of millions of songs that they can stream to their PCs or mobile devices.
At first glance, Google isn’t doing anything revolutionary here — other services like Spotify and Rhapsody already offer the same service (and Spotify has a free option — something Google is lacking).
But, by bringing All Access to market, Google has introduced yet another competitor to Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P). Shares of Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P) have periodically sold off in the past on rumors that Apple would soon enter the streaming music business — but rumors of Google’s entrance have had little effect on the stock.
Perhaps it should. By default, all Android handsets come with Google Music pre-loaded — All Access is built directly into that app. As Android continues to grow in popularity, more users will be exposed to All Access and could opt for it over Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P).
Google makes Maps more local
Google has been working on upgrading its widely popular Google Maps. On the surface, the new version is certainly more visually appealing, but more important, the Maps experience is now much more focused on local.
Clicking around a city on the new version of Maps allows users to see individual attractions. Clicking on these attractions redraws the map to focus on that particular destination, and — if the destination happens to be a restaurant — pulls up a status box with information from Zagat, Google’s competitor to Yelp Inc (NYSE:YELP).
Fears that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) could favor Zagat over Yelp Inc (NYSE:YELP) have hurt the company in the past. It seems that going forward, Zagat will be a big part of Google’s Maps app, which given its immense popularity, could end up haunting Yelp Inc (NYSE:YELP) shareholders.
Google wants to make it easier to develop for Android
But, most importantly, Google clearly recognizes the challenges Android developers face, and is working to improve the Android development experience.
Apps continue to present the biggest challenge to Android in its competition with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iOS. Although most popular apps ultimately make it to Android, iOS generally gets access to apps first (Instagram being a noteworthy example).
Further, because of Android’s fragmentation, many apps are not well optimized across various handsets and, more importantly, across Android tablets. In particular, most Android tablet apps are merely upscaled versions of handset apps.
Conversely, Apple’s iPad has thousands and thousands of apps that are optimized specifically for the device — something that Apple is quick to point out.
To rectify this situation, Google rolled out Android Studio Wednesday — a program for developers to help them build Android apps. In particular, Android Studio comes with a feature that attempts to make it easier to develop for a multitude of different screen sizes.
Because of its open nature, Android will always be fragmented, making Android development more difficult. But Google clearly recognizes the issue, and is taking steps to fix it.
Google vs the world
A common criticism of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is that the company remains unfocused — it’s involved in too many different businesses and has too many rivals.
That may be true, but those rivals should be concerned by the steps the company continues to take to improve its products. Although the announcements Google made on Wednesday may have been subtle, they were still significant, and the company’s rivals have reason to be concerned.
The article 4 Investment Takeaways From Google I/O originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Salvatore “Sam” Mattera.
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