Android - Is it just a means to an end?

I read this article on Gizmodo the other day. It got me thinking as to whether the argument holds up.

Now it is obvious that Android gives Google a massive platform for using its AdSense & AdWords services, as well as pointing people toward making Google.com searches, which all make them money.

And of course, if in the process of making money for themselves it takes market share away from companies in competing markets, which is true for Android (think Windows Phone and its Bing search, iOS and its iAds platform) that’s a bonus.

But is it fair to say that for Google, Android is just a defensive measure taken to keep control of the mobile marketing space? I think not. From what I have seen, Google like to innovate, create, and improve. I may be being too optimistic, but could Android be a prodect motivated from a genuine desire to improve the market for smartphones, that has subsequently proven to be a very viable model for business.

Now of course, being a very smart bunch of people, Google must have seen the potential for it’s ability to generate revenue, I’m not denying that. I just wonder if this is a sort of chicken and egg situation - the two go hand in hand. The better an option Android is for the people, the more it is adopted, and the more it is adopted, the more it beings in for Google.

Product without a business strategy? Not at all. It is an unusual business strategy, but then, Google had a very unique situation to be able to link it’s existing markets like that, and took that opportunity.

Anyway, they are my thoughts, I realise this isn’t my area of expertise, but I don’t like to think that all business decisions like this are born out of pure greed.

Making an effort to relax

Taking time to rest, relax, recuperate. In theory this should be easy - just switch off that part of me that is always thinking about the next job to do and simply be for a few days.

The problem is, in practice, I’m finding this quite a challenge. I’ve spent the last two days splitting my time between extra sleep, finishing off a couple of books I’ve been reading, and playing games. Sounds like a good weekend, doesn’t it? My mind, however, managed to turn even these things into some sort of goal to be accomplished, and I found myself thinking more about what book I might read next, for example, than truly focusing on the current one.

This is weird, I realise that, and I’m struggling to see where along the line my perspective shifted from the now to the future. I suspect it came hand in hand with an effort to increase my productivity. Not that the point at which it happened is important now, but I find that sort of thing interesting. A more pressing concern is getting back to putting my full attention into my present situation.

Though the notion that keeping my attention in the present requires a conscious effort seems ridiculous, it has certainly prompted me to look at whether I’m just taking on too many different projects or if I just need to slow down a little. I recently read The Power of Time Off, an interesting blog post I found through lifehacker. I’ll certainly be trying to use this coming week to achieve a similar goal of recharging and preparing to get back into work with renewed focus on what is really important.