Hot Take: Google Has a Company Strategy, Not a Product Strategy
4th March 2023
I was devastated when Google Reader shut down. I loved it as much as I love Microsoft Excel, and for the same reason: it gave me a superpower. With Reader, I could discover and stay on top of the latest information across the internet, no matter how frequently or infrequently a person posted.
I’ve watched many beloved Google products get shut down: Wave, Inbox, My Maps, Stadia. The list goes on and on. It’s gotten bad enough that people widely believe the shutdowns damage Google’s brand.
So why do they keep doing it?