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Should Apple head into the search engine game? (google.com competitor)

TwoBytes

TwoBytes

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 2, 2008
3,215
2,184
It's obvious not just because we're fanboys but that Apple make great, easy to use good looking products. Google makes some great products but there are a little on the cluttered/ugly side. If apple created a search engine, it would blow else out of the water.

Grab a beer -discuss, flame, should they? Shouldn't they? Why, why not?

It's still early days in the internet world so Apple should get in there and start something while the starting is good. Look at all the new server farms they are building...could this be something they are planning for already.....
 
rdowns

rdowns

macrumors Penryn
Jul 11, 2003
27,397
12,521
Apple will not build a search engine. It's easier, faster and cheaper to buy one. Until yesterday, I maintained that Apple shouldn't get into search as it is too far outside their core competencies.

Now I'm leaning towards Apple acquiring a search company simply to make Google defend their crown jewel. Makes sense for Apple to open a new front in the war since Google seems to have launched several against them.

Having a search engine is also synergistic (wow, did I really use that word?) with their new advertising business.
 
GoCubsGo

GoCubsGo

macrumors Nehalem
Feb 19, 2005
35,742
155
I have to agree with rdowns. I wouldn't have said yes before but google has been lazy and reckless. Maybe Apple should jump in on this while trust is low over at Google.
 
Ubuntu

Ubuntu

macrumors 68020
Jul 3, 2005
2,160
491
UK/US
I don't think they will buy or design a search engine.

If they buy one, people will simply criticise it for not being innovative. Of course it'll have the typical Apple tricks but to be honest Google is a complex search engine - I don't think Apple can get around that without simply copying them.

If they design one I don't think they'll have much to boast about. Google search is free, and it works very well.
 
R

-Ryan-

macrumors 68000
Jan 28, 2009
1,650
222
Part of starting a business is seizing the opportunity of a gap in the market. I'm quite sure Apple realise there is no gap in the market. There are search engines covering all aspects --- Google happens to do generic and specialized search very, very well, and have over a decades experience. It would be unwise for Apple to think they could simply waltz in and dethrone a company that does what they do superbly. There are not enough improvements that can be made to web search to make such a venture worthwhile and so I think it is extremely unlikely Apple will do something like this.

However, with the iAd platform, and the potential future possibilities, maybe starting a search business to allow for better targeted ads and greater dissemination might be possible, but we don't even know whether iAd will be a success yet, so only time will tell on this front.
 
J

jb1280

macrumors 6502a
Jan 13, 2009
869
255
No, I don't. The questions they would have to ask themselves are "Why should we get into search?" and "What can we do demonstrably better in search?"

Answers I don't think are apparent.
 
TwoBytes

TwoBytes

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 2, 2008
3,215
2,184
MS came out with bing which has proven to be a slice of the search engine pie; granted small but better than nada. I know it's build on msn, etc but still..

Apple use google for the iphone and nodoubt pay loads for licensing etc. I think Apple should start on something to build for the future - google's path to take over the world could mean the 2020 iPhone will have to use a no-name search engine which wouldn't be as good as google unless someone takes them on. Go team Apple I say.
 
clevin

clevin

macrumors G3
Aug 6, 2006
9,095
1
if you think about it, apple makes good looking products for sure, easy or not is another issue and subject to debate.

However, good looking have absolutely zero impact on a search engine.

and i doubt there is anyone out there who think apple can outsmart google and produce a formula that collected more, better results than google search. People should thank god if apple doesn't litter every search page with apple products ads.

In conclusion, i don't see apple fighting a losing war.
 
J

jb1280

macrumors 6502a
Jan 13, 2009
869
255
Search also opens a bag of hurt for Apple when it comes to this idea of openness.

It's one thing for Apple to do iAds that help its developers monetize their work in the App store. It's another thing for Apple to offer services like email, calendar, contacts, that sync very easily. It's another thing to go into search where promoting openness is kind of crucial.
 
*LTD*

*LTD*

macrumors G4
Feb 5, 2009
10,703
1
Canada
Why not. Apple's created an entire ecosystem and is enjoying a sick amount of success with it. Apple's already hit all the bases successfully: software, computers, mobile, App Store ecosystem, Cloud computing, etc.

Search will round things out nicely.
 
rdowns

rdowns

macrumors Penryn
Jul 11, 2003
27,397
12,521
jb1280 said:
No, I don't. The questions they would have to ask themselves are "Why should we get into search?" and "What can we do demonstrably better in search?"

Answers I don't think are apparent.
Click to expand...


Were Google not attacking them on a number of different fronts, I would agree with you 100%.

Why they should get into search (and I mean by acquisition)? To make Google use resources in fending off Apple in search.

They don't have to do it better. Apple can easily convince their fan base with some nifty new "feature". Don't forget, they would be the default provider on the majority of Internet enabled mobile devices and all Macs.
 
jaw04005

jaw04005

macrumors 601
Aug 19, 2003
4,571
560
AR
Apple does good desktop search.

They managed to ship Spotlight while Microsoft was still talking about Longhorn search, and for the most part Spotlight is a very efficient technology (although I personally think the “Show All” results in 10.5/10.6 is worthless and counterintuitive compared to 10.4).

It would be interesting to see them take that to the next level. If I owned spotlight.com, I would be prepping some domain transfer proposals.

What search Apple doesn’t do well is voice. Voice Control on the 3GS is painfully inadequate compared to Google’s Android. One of the smartest thing Google did was offer a free 411 service (and get it programmed in to handsets by land line phone makers). The amount of data they’ve collected with their 411 service is powering Android voice search.
 
elppa

elppa

macrumors 68040
Nov 26, 2003
3,233
151
Bring back iReview, that's what I say.

Start hitting Google where it hurts.

:D
 
elppa

elppa

macrumors 68040
Nov 26, 2003
3,233
151
clevin said:
if you think about it, apple makes good looking products for sure, easy or not is another issue and subject to debate.

However, good looking have absolutely zero impact on a search engine.
Click to expand...
I think search is a bad idea (obviously) for Apple, but am I reading you right, you're inferring Apple's only competency is making things that look pretty?
 
maflynn

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I think it will be difficult for apple to enter the market at this stage. The search engine market is pretty mature. Just look at how difficult micosoft had trying to garner market share. They finally struck upon a formula that may work for them, though I suspect they'll not challenge google any time soon.

I think apple should stick with their core business and not trying to "Attack" google just because.
 
*LTD*

*LTD*

macrumors G4
Feb 5, 2009
10,703
1
Canada
maflynn said:
Just look at how difficult micosoft had trying to garner market share.
Click to expand...

Apple is not Microsoft. Not even close, LOL.

When Apple enters into any market, there's a more than even chance they'll change the entire dynamic of it. Apple approaches tech from a completely different angle compared to everyone else.

Apple's "core business" is tech in general. Be it computers, mobile, operating systems, etc. Apple already has a rock-solid hardware/software ecosystem in place, unmatched by anyone else. Search is just another way to expand it.
 
D

denyar2

macrumors newbie
May 22, 2010
1
0
Second coming of eWorld?

Apple could purchase/partner with AOL search, Wolfram, Cuil, Yahoo and put a pretty interface on top of their results with the name eWorld. I have always thought the eWorld name alone was being wasted. Throw in the flight purchasing system they are testing in Canada and who know maybe jump into bed with MS on search, that would really piss off Google!

The other thing they should consider...buying Amazon. They could run their iAds all over Amazon, kill or monetize their Music store verses iTune's, use their deal with TiVo to get into the living rooms quicker, kill the kindle or sell it as the iPod Shuffle equivalent to the iPad, use Amazon's purchasing ability in Apple's retail stores, get into the cloud and corporate market with Amazon's S3, enjoy licensing Amazon's One Click patent to everyone but Google.
 
After G

After G

macrumors 68000
Aug 27, 2003
1,583
1
California
maflynn said:
I think it will be difficult for apple to enter the market at this stage. The search engine market is pretty mature. Just look at how difficult micosoft had trying to garner market share. They finally struck upon a formula that may work for them, though I suspect they'll not challenge google any time soon.

I think apple should stick with their core business and not trying to "Attack" google just because.
Click to expand...
Would you have given them the same advice about the iPhone, because "RIM/Nokia did it better"? And still does, based on market share.

The search market may be mature, but I have a feeling things could be done better than they are right now. Exactly how is where Apple comes in.

I am guessing if Apple does go into search, Apple will attack it in one of two ways - give it a better UI and/or add a compelling feature only possible through Apple-quality integration. I feel they are on the right track with iAds - attacking Google's search revenue in exactly the way I described.
 
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