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Who Will Google Buy Next?

Androsynth writes "Kuro5hin is running an article entitled Who Will Google Buy Next?, which features a list of all Google's previous buyouts and some interesting suggestions for the future." A Google-buyout betting pool seems in order.

306 comments

  1. BUY ME !! by BigCorona · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll put google.com(r) tattoo's all over me for $$ , they could buy me ;)

    1. Re:BUY ME !! by HomerJ · · Score: 3, Funny

      They said google, not goldenpalace.com

    2. Re:BUY ME !! by aluminumcube · · Score: 1, Redundant

      Buddy...

      You are confusing Google.com with GoldenPalace.com.

    3. Re:BUY ME !! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      W00t! My wesite is on the list!

    4. Re:BUY ME !! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just duped a comment posted 22 minutes before right underneath. Please refrain from posting comments that duplicate other comments in the same thread or story.

    5. Re:BUY ME !! by AnusesBaskets · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Where?

    6. Re:BUY ME !! by Man+in+Spandex · · Score: 1

      crap....

    7. Re:BUY ME !! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GoldenPalace ain't stupid, judging by the TWO comments above..

    8. Re:BUY ME !! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good that you included a link to Google in your post, we'd have trouble understanding what you we're talking about otherwise.

    9. Re:BUY ME !! by danheretic · · Score: 1

      The new slogan would then be "Search Me!"

  2. Slashdot by fembots · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot of course. Imagine all the searchable insightful posts.

    1. Re:Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      anyone would think they already own them with the amount of stories they post.

    2. Re:Slashdot by Rii · · Score: 5, Funny

      All seven of them.

      Google'd get all the "in soviet russia" jokes anyone could ever want, though.

    3. Re:Slashdot by robbyjo · · Score: 2, Funny

      Slashdot of course. Imagine all the searchable insightful posts.

      Nah... it would still be useless. We'll get dupes anyway... ;P

      --

      --
      Error 500: Internal sig error
    4. Re:Slashdot by AndroidCat · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And they could coordinate the caching of sites before they get slashdotted.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    5. Re:Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slashdot of course.

      Judging by the number of Google articles lately, I thought they already had.

      No, wait... I was thinking of Apple.

    6. Re:Slashdot by StikyPad · · Score: 1, Funny

      In Soviet Russia, jokes get all the Google anyone could ever want.

    7. Re:Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why? They're already getting the milk for free.

    8. Re:Slashdot by vwjeff · · Score: 1, Funny

      Slashdot and insightful in the same post. You must be new here.

    9. Re:Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slashdot of course. Imagine all the searchable insightful posts.

      Nah... it would still be useless. We'll get dupes anyway... ;P

    10. Re:Slashdot by noidentity · · Score: 2, Funny

      Google'd get all the "in soviet russia" jokes anyone could ever want, though.

      And your message. And mine now. Madness!

    11. Re:Slashdot by nmb3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Bah, you can do that already!

      In Soviet Russia Google googles YOU!

      And, it helps get your Insightful reading pleasure for the day.

      Also, some interesting possibilities.

      Yay for google.

      --
      "What do you despise? By this are you truly known." --Princess Irulan, Manual of Muad'Dib
      /)
    12. Re:Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      u could be right...

    13. Re:Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    14. Re:Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seems to be Slashdot bought Google. Well, they seem to have bought GOOG.

    15. Re:Slashdot by MyLongNickName · · Score: 1

      How long would it take to index both of them?

      --
      See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
    16. Re:Slashdot by DeadSea · · Score: 1

      > Slashdot posts so many Google articles anyway, might as well drop the act and go all the way.

      Why would google want to buy the cow when they are getting the milk for free?

    17. Re:Slashdot by davetrainer · · Score: 1

      It's modded Funny, but what you said is actually pretty insightful. Slashdot has been cursed since before the rise of Google with an abysmal Search feature. First off, there is the fact that you get to the Search page by clicking "Old Stories" - wtf. It also appears that comment bodies are not even searchable, just the Subject. Given that the vast majority of posts are replies with no real context in the Subject, other than the parent, this renders the whole thing pretty much useless.

      Sometimes I'll recall a particularly good comment from a week-old thread that I want to reread, but can only remember a few key words. Comments that are any more than a few days old are basically in a black hole as far as Slashdot Search is concerned. A while back (like 02) I started using Google almost exclusively to track down and bookmark such posts. So it's interesting that Slashdot simply pipes searches to Google when their own tool is down.

      So as far as Google buying Slashdot, I say sure go ahead, at the very least it will mean they can take over search permanently so Slashdot can stop pretending theirs is the least bit useful.

    18. Re:Slashdot by Patik · · Score: 1
      You mean like MirrorDot?

  3. Yay! by Andrevan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wrote the article for K5. Hope you like it!

    --
    "All it takes to fly is to hurl yourself at the ground... and miss." - Douglas Adams
    1. Re:Yay! by softends · · Score: 2, Interesting

      K5 and /. simultaneously? I worship the ground you walk on. Let me buy you a drink.

    2. Re:Yay! by Andrevan · · Score: 2, Funny

      It was quite a coup.

      --
      "All it takes to fly is to hurl yourself at the ground... and miss." - Douglas Adams
    3. re: Yay! by Hulkster · · Score: 1

      For reasons unknown (but this is /.), someone modded you "Offtopic" Andrevan - I don't have any mod points to push it back up to +5, but it was a nice writeup - a lot more interesting than say, watching grass grow - and a good historical roadmap of what Google was up too - thanx for posting to K5 and congrats on showing up on Slashdot also.

    4. Re:Yay! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nothing like being so insecure about yourself that you have to announce your credentials on the internet. Here's a hint that civilized people generally follow: understatement is everything. Maybe you should think of that before posting next time?

    5. Re:Yay! by pHatidic · · Score: 1, Funny

      Any idiot can post to K5 and most idiots do.

    6. Re:Yay! by jonty567 · · Score: 1

      What about Ingenio's pay-per-call?

    7. Re:Yay! by Ulven · · Score: 1

      So no different to here then.

    8. Re:Yay! by 3waygeek · · Score: 1

      Strange; I've seen your name on a number of K5 posts.

      I got into the habit of visiting K5 years ago and have seen its rapid decline over the last year or so. I post there very rarely, but still vote on stories in the increasingly vain hope that I can stop, or at least slow, the decline. Maybe that makes me an idiot, too.

    9. Re:Yay! by smittyoneeach · · Score: 1

      Quite a couple what?

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
    10. Re:Yay! by MoogMan · · Score: 1

      And this is an interesting post?

    11. Re:Yay! by BlackShirt · · Score: 1

      it was crap

  4. Mc Google's by up2ng · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Feel Lucky ?"

    --
    Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion, you must set yourself on fire.
    1. Re:Mc Google's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yea, there was no finger in my salad. I'd say it was lucky!

    2. Re:Mc Google's by VoidWraith · · Score: 1

      The "I'm Feeling Lucky" meal "Feeling Lucky" meal or maybe just plain "Lucky" meal seems to fit the bill as well.

  5. Oh! Oh! by chriswaclawik · · Score: 3, Funny

    Buy me! Buy me! I promise I'll be good, and I don't eat much, I swear! I'll be ever so greatful! Puh-leasssssee? I'll be your friend!

    --
    A guy walks into a bar... well, I forgot the joke, but the punchline is that he's an alcoholic.
    1. Re:Oh! Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      haha.. they did buy me.. well.. I start working there in July.

    2. Re:Oh! Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I'll be your friend!


      Perhaps you can say something more compelling, like
      "I'll let you cum in my mouth! I promise I won't spit!"
    3. Re:Oh! Oh! by wheany · · Score: 1

      I'm asking you with my brain...

  6. i think i speak for more than myself when i say... by KillShill · · Score: 5, Funny

    where does google want to go today?

    or

    "640 buyouts ought to be enough for anybody"

    --
    Science : Proprietary , Knowledge : Open Source
  7. CDM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Comstock Data Mining?

  8. I wonder... by mister_llah · · Score: 1

    I wonder how soon it will be before we see Google partnerships (similar to the SBC/Yahoo partnership)...?

    Seems to be a lot of such things these days (like Apple/Intel/Nokia) ... we're heading for American zaibatsus, I guess ;)

    --
    MoM++ - A Classic Expanded - [Master of Magic 1.5]
    http://mompp.sourceforge.net/
    1. Re:I wonder... by superpulpsicle · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't worry. In capitalism it's a matter of time before all companies merge together or get bought out with just a few big companies left in the end. Look at the auto industry. MS-Googlemart-Amazonhat, here they come.

    2. Re:I wonder... by Vobbo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You only partner when you can't afford to beat or buy. Google shouldn't be doing that for quite some time - they've got cash, and they've got talent, and they've got the time to use both.

    3. Re:I wonder... by Stolethis · · Score: 2, Informative

      Nokia is Finnish, not American.

      --
      What do Saddam Hussain and Little Miss Muffet have in common? They have Kurds in their Whey.
    4. Re:I wonder... by Bongo+Bill · · Score: 1

      Not necessarily. While that does happen often, in some industries it's far more efficient to have smaller businesses with less bureaucracy. Granted, the Internet is not terribly conducive to such organization.

      --
      ...but is it art?
    5. Re:I wonder... by Short+Circuit · · Score: 3, Funny

      Reminds me of something my bio-dad encountered while working at Radio Shack.

      A guy walks in, and he's looking for an expensive piece of equipment for his home entertainment sytem. He tells my dad, "I don't want any of this 'Made in Mexico' crap. I want something American. Like Sony."

    6. Re:I wonder... by Metasquares · · Score: 1
    7. Re:I wonder... by JahToasted · · Score: 1
      Since when does efficiency have anything to do with it?

      most of these mergers are about putting up barriers to entry to keep more efficient companies out of the marketplace. If you have a big enough marketshare with exclusive deals with the suppliers, you don't need to be efficient.

    8. Re:I wonder... by TrippTDF · · Score: 1

      One OS to rule them all:


      McWinUx

    9. Re:I wonder... by Bongo+Bill · · Score: 2, Interesting
      More efficient businesses succeed. That's all there is to it. An inefficient can only compete on price by taking a loss - and generally they tend to offer inferior service. That loss would have to be pretty big to make people choose an inferior service based on price.

      But, there are some circumstances where larger businesses are not necessarily inefficient, and the Internet is one of these.

      But if you're looking for an example of smaller businesses succeeding, then opening up the local yellow pages (or, God forbid, going outside) will give you plenty.

      --
      ...but is it art?
    10. Re:I wonder... by JahToasted · · Score: 1
      I did look outside, all of the smaller businesses are gone, there is only walmart now. Why? because walmart can demand that their suppliers charge their competitors mare than they charge them. The suppliers give walmart what they what because walmart has the power to put them out of business.

      Big businesses are not more efficient than small business, they are more powerful. They can force other companies to screw over their competitors.

      And that's what these mergers are about, giving these big corporations more power. It's got very little to do with efficiency.

  9. Go ahead by lawpoop · · Score: 4, Insightful
    "A Google-buyout betting pool seems in order."

    Go ahead.

    --
    Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
    -- Pablo Picasso
  10. LINUX! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That is who google will buy next

    1. Re:LINUX! by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      Nope. Linux is not a company (such as Microsoft) or a corporate asset (such as MS Windows). It's not even really a single operating system. Instead, Linux is a class of similar, compatable, interoperable operating systems (commonly known as "distributions") that use common components and are put out by a number of different organizations. There are literally dozens of different Linux distributions (i.e. operating systems).

      Google trying to acquire Linux would be like the Sony corporation trying to acquire "car". It ain't gonna happen. But, just as Sony could build and sell cars, Google could create their own Linux distribution.

      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
    2. Re:LINUX! by Punboy · · Score: 1

      Actually, Linux is just a kernel. Google will take the Linux kernel and genetically engineer it into a microwave-poppable linux kernel.

      --
      If you like what I've said here, and want to read more, go to http://www.krillrblog.com
    3. Re:LINUX! by oudzeeman · · Score: 1

      are you as booring in person as you are on slashdot?

    4. Re:LINUX! by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      Actually, Linux is just a kernel.

      Yes, you're correct. "Linux" proper is just the kernel, not the operating system that's built on the kernel. Although most people just call the entire operating system "Linux", GNU zealots and other pedantic persons insist that its proper name is "GNU/Linux". :-)

      Google will take the Linux kernel and genetically engineer it into a microwave-poppable linux kernel.

      :-D

      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
    5. Re:LINUX! by Charles+W+Griswold · · Score: 1

      If being exciting involves incoherent rants using poor grammar and spelling rather than literate, informative posts, then I'd rather be "booring", thank you very much.

      #INCLUDE snarky comment regarding proper spelling and capitalization.

      --
      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber" -- Plato
  11. Somewhere, someone by sielwolf · · Score: 1

    which features a list of all Google's previous buyouts and some interesting suggestions for the future.

    Right at this moment, someone at VA Software sits expectantly near the phone... waiting... counting their LNUX stock...

    --
    What is music when you despise all sound?
  12. Bookie by CyberVenom · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, if they buy out the bookie taking google-buyout bets, they are sure to win...

    1. Re:Bookie by Bongo+Bill · · Score: 1

      Google could bet on anything in this pool and be sure to win. But that would be insider trading.

      --
      ...but is it art?
  13. Certain things caught my eye by ilyanep · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Dodgeball - Google acquired this two-person cell phone social networking company in May 2005. The company was looking for investors, and Google apparently fit the bill. So far, nothing has happened with this company, but it will probably have something to do with Google Mobile.

    Google Mobile? So are they making cell phones or something? I'm confused.

    Buzznet - Yahoo! beat Google to the punch by acquiring Flickr, one of my candidates in the first draft of this article. Like Flickr, Buzznet is a photo hosting and sharing service that features unique tagging features. It is possible to browse by tag and see all sorts of interesting stuff. Buzznet would probably jibe with Picasa's Hello photo posting service, perhaps include some sort of photo-Blogger, and integrate well with Orkut.

    I think this would do very well and could be a competitor to Imageshack.us. I also think they would integrate it w/ Picasa probably and Blogger.

    Monster - Monster is the most popular job search site. Some bloggers have tossed this idea around, touting various forms of integration with other Google services. They also mention that Yahoo! owns HotJobs. However, one wonders whether Google is interested in this market at all.

    Hmm...that'd be interesting to see

    Anyone seen Epic? Epic is a mock 'history' presentation on Google from the POV of 2015. It's quite interesting and while the idea of this is creepy it'd be cool at the same time.

    --
    ~Ilyanep
    To get message, take amount of carrier pigeons at each stage mod 2. Then decode binary.
    1. Re:Certain things caught my eye by Per+Abrahamsen · · Score: 1

      Google Mobile is their interface adapted for the tiny screen on a mobile phone. It allows you to search either other wap sites, or the entire net. Very useful.

  14. Holy Google Empire by izznop · · Score: 2, Funny

    All Book publishers so they can do that book searching thing sans lawyers. Finally, the day will come when we can read War & Peace and have direct links to shop for it on Ebay.

    1. Re:Holy Google Empire by TheRealFreakish · · Score: 1

      Wow - that would be cool. They could just buy one and put all of its content searchably online to start and get the ball rolling.

  15. Didn't someone predicted the future of Google be4? by guardiangod · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I thought the Oracle had foretold the destiny of Google in EPIC!!! What's going on?! Is the world going crazy?!

    /joke

  16. Buyout Betting Pool?... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Couldn't that just be rolled into a Corporate Death Pool?

  17. Who Will Google Buy Next? by Hits_B · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple and Intel. The new company will be called Apoogtel, or Ingoople, or Super Google.

    1. Re:Who Will Google Buy Next? by Nasarius · · Score: 1
      Super Google

      Or Googleplex. Duh.

      --
      LOAD "SIG",8,1
    2. Re:Who Will Google Buy Next? by Cracell · · Score: 1

      the sad thing is that that's much more likely then them buying tivo or monster

      --
      Signatures are so 90s
    3. Re:Who Will Google Buy Next? by Entropy248 · · Score: 1

      The correct answer is Apple Goo.

    4. Re:Who Will Google Buy Next? by jxyama · · Score: 1

      iGoogle?

    5. Re:Who Will Google Buy Next? by climb_no_fear · · Score: 1

      What?

      Did you also misread the headline as "Will Google buy Next?" ...

    6. Re:Who Will Google Buy Next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iGoontel

    7. Re:Who Will Google Buy Next? by Qa32 · · Score: 1

      Huh... It may not be in the near future, but ever thought who 'GOOGLE could be bought by'? Intersting dimension...just cant resolve it.

    8. Re:Who Will Google Buy Next? by danheretic · · Score: 1

      Take the 'i' from Apple and the 'I' from Intel and mix with Google, you'd get: Giggle!

  18. The correct usage is "Whom will Google Buy Next?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    A small Soviet satellite country. I have my money on Estonia.

  19. Slashdot by christurkel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot posts so many Google articles anyway, might as well drop the act and go all the way.

    --

    CDE open sourced! https://sourceforge.net/projects/cdesktopenv/
  20. My Money Is On: by aluminumcube · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Skype.

    I think VoIP is about to hit a tipping point and Google can cash in on it quick by acquiring Skype. Get rid of the stupid name, bring on some Google quality branding and user experience and people will be bidding on eBay for accounts just like Okurit and gMail. The Google brand and marketing power can bring Skype the thing that any network needs to succeed- users.

    It would be a very inexpensive acquisition for Google and it would add a sort of voice infastructure into the entire Google range of products.

    1. Re:My Money Is On: by Datasage · · Score: 1

      Skype is already a brand with some power. They were not the first to offer voice as part of an IM client (Yahoo IM had voice capabilites long before, but used a server based connection model). They just decided to focus on it. So now Skype is known for computer to computer voice communications.

      --
      In America we are imprisoned by our fear of them.
    2. Re:My Money Is On: by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

      Get rid of that lousy Skype name and replace it with a quality, easy to remember Google name such as... Orkut?!?

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    3. Re:My Money Is On: by Vobbo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually, the smart money is on either a VOIP firm or a larger hosting provider.

      They've been buying dark fiber for a while. They also became a domain registrar. Fiber + domains = hosting, almost every time.

      If I were EV1, ServINT, ThePlanet, GoDaddy, ServerBeach, etc, I'd be hoping for the phone call.

    4. Re:My Money Is On: by aluminumcube · · Score: 1

      Hahaha,

      Yea, that is a good point you've got there... Orkut is about the worst branded name ever. I can never remember it.

    5. Re:My Money Is On: by aprilsound · · Score: 3, Insightful
      You don't realize what you're suggesting do you?
      1. Google archives/indexes EVERYTHING
      2. Remember Google search on audio materials? (first result)
      3. ??? ... Profit!? Yes. Soon after Google will be inserting voicemail ads based on keywords in your conversation. "Like gay animals having sex? www.beastigoatse.xxx!!!"
      4. The eternal battle on /. of hardliner privacy advocates vs. google groupies will drown out all the Apple vs. M$ vs. Linux vs. A toaster oven debates. Not to mention the 3 dupes a day about "Google goes into your home and listens to you mumble while you sleep" (thank you /. editors) and "Google patents cold fusion and audio indexing."
      So, as you can see, we're all doomed.
    6. Re:My Money Is On: by BJH · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's based on the name of the Google engineer who wrote it.

    7. Re:My Money Is On: by nazgul000 · · Score: 1

      Yes, clearly "Skype" is a much dumber name than "Google."

    8. Re:My Money Is On: by Duncan3 · · Score: 1

      Won't happen.

      Whatever google buys they have to be able to put their standard crapload of ads into. There are too many ad-less VoIP clients out there.

      Not a good match.

      --
      - Adam L. Beberg - The Cosm Project - http://www.mithral.com/
    9. Re:My Money Is On: by brogdon · · Score: 1

      " Get rid of that lousy Skype name and replace it with a quality, easy to remember Google name such as... Orkut?!?"

      What's wrong with "Orkut"? It reminds me of Orko from Masters of the Universe when I was a kid. Man, he was the sexiest purple-clad, invisible, floating dwarf *ever*.

      --


      This tagline is umop apisdn.
    10. Re:My Money Is On: by grrrl · · Score: 1

      After trying to sort out Picasa on my dad's computer, I have to say the "quality Google branding" you speak of has lost all relevance to me. The "label" thing is just confusing (not helped that using the term label in a photo program leads to ambiguity) - I know labels are in gmail, and I have a gmail account I use for signups, but quite frankly every time I use it I get no love - not that I've ever liked webmail.

      Also related to the blog article elsewhere on /. today, google results ARE getting more junky by the month.

      Hmm... google what is happening to you.

    11. Re:My Money Is On: by coopaq · · Score: 0
      Skype. I think VoIP is about to hit a tipping point and Google can cash in on it quick by acquiring Skype.

      You sir hit the nail on the head. Yahoo has just bit the bullet even though they have a close relationship with SBC.

      Yahoo

    12. Re:My Money Is On: by interra · · Score: 1

      Skype is not Googlish in architecture but very Googlish in spirit.

      Skype is purely client technology, where the System is built on power of Network Nodes (our PCs that have too much unused power to spend).

      Google is much more server oriented, where Google is investing a lot on server infrastructure and the tiny bits of client technology that started to appear in Google products is not yet any option to their powerfult server-orientation.

      The only pure server-side Skype element is registration/authentication server. The only bits of Skype that can be considered server-side are: SkypeOut nodes, SkypeIn nodes, Voicemail nodes, Seed supernodes but they are still Nodes of p2p network.

      However if Skype would be bought-out by Skype, the whole Skype network would benefit from Seed supernodes that are in Google' datacenters. And Google's lit darkfiber ;) to have even lower roudtrip time.

      Ok. I see that Skype is interested in Google more then Google is interested in Skype, unless they merge Skype with Hello! and Picassa and do some valuable interconnections between all Google's desktop software (Google Web Accelerator, Google Desktop, Hello-Skype, Picassa, Video ?Uploader?) like they have with Hello-Blogger, Picassa-Hello, Picassa-Blogger (via Hello). With addition Skype' Conferencing, Voice and Video to Hello (or vice versa, Hello' picture sharing to Skype ;), and Video to Picassa, we can see come to powerful personal media organizer and communication tool.

      Watch Google!

    13. Re:My Money Is On: by Nommus · · Score: 1

      VM Direct is a much better match to their Gmail service, and would give them access to people's living rooms via their new set-top-box. http://www.vmdirect.com/

      --
      http://andybeard.eu http://disclosurepolicy.com
    14. Re:My Money Is On: by grazzy · · Score: 1

      Ripped it you mean?

    15. Re:My Money Is On: by Kuutti · · Score: 1

      I am sure this has been brought up earlier but still. It's even funnier for us Finnish speakers since 'orkut' is slang plural for orgasm.

    16. Re:My Money Is On: by Mark+Hood · · Score: 1

      Imagine gVoiceMail for Skype.

      Google can search audio, (as another poster pointed out) and they already have 2GB per user... I'm not sure of the bandwidth Skype uses, but if it's not a factor of 10 smaller to store than MP3s of real music, I'll eat my hat.

      In fact, I'd do it so that the standard gMail interface just showed your voice messages next to your email... With targetted ads in the window as you play each message, just like with email.

      You heard it here first, Robert X. Cringley :)

      Mark

      --
      Liked this comment? Why not buy me something nice
  21. Well well by Infinityis · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who is Google gonna buy?

    Well, it should be obvious--they've stated that they're going to cruise around downtown in a van, so it sounds like they're going to start buying hookers.

    This is probably the first significant indicator of evil...

  22. Real Estate by haydon4 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Google will build the new stadium in NYC and name it The Googleplex.

    1. Re:Real Estate by Bongo+Bill · · Score: 1

      That name is, I believe, already taken by their headquarters in California. But "Google Stadium" does have a nice ring to it.

      --
      ...but is it art?
  23. Stumble Upon by Tuqui · · Score: 1

    They Network is growing fast.

  24. The choice is obvious by eclectro · · Score: 5, Funny


    Google should buy zombo.com

    You heard it here first.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    1. Re:The choice is obvious by kayen_telva · · Score: 1

      uhhh mods...try clicking a link before modding...obviously +5 FUNNY

    2. Re:The choice is obvious by pomo+monster · · Score: 1

      How's 1999? *BSD still dying?

    3. Re:The choice is obvious by mog007 · · Score: 1

      I think that http://booble.com/ would be a better idea.

    4. Re:The choice is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its called Macromedia Flash. Pretty common last time I checked.

  25. Wow, I think I'm dyslexic... by sH4RD · · Score: 1

    I totally read that as "Who Will Buy Google Next?". I was like: "whoa...who bought Google?!?!?". Then I thought: "wait...whaaa? next?!?!?". It finish off with a little: "eh? oh...wow...I'm stupid...".

    Thus I proved the real three stages of denial:
    1) What? How could they do that?
    2) What? I jsut don't understand!
    3) Oh, wait, nevermind, I'm just a dumbass.

    --
    WASTE - The Secure P2P
    1. Re:Wow, I think I'm dyslexic... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not your fault - the submitter was a dumbass for using "Who" instead of "Whom".

  26. More Possible Google Spinoffs by Eberlin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Goorgle -- Dental hygenist search engine.

    Smithsoogle -- the library digitization project gone insane.

    Google Bitches -- Like friendster but for pimps.

    Google Jobs -- nope, not what you think...it's actually Steve Jobs since his soul seems to be up for sale lately.

    Google.gov -- DHS meets Patriot Act meets all your data. Pledge your allegiance, boys, and come to grips with the fact that we're all screwed.

    1. Re:More Possible Google Spinoffs by AndroidCat · · Score: 2, Funny

      Moogle -- Got cow?

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    2. Re:More Possible Google Spinoffs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wouldn't that be Square-Enix?

    3. Re:More Possible Google Spinoffs by Zeussy · · Score: 1

      Smeagle -- Always after his precious Jewellary.

    4. Re:More Possible Google Spinoffs by TedCheshireAcad · · Score: 1

      you forgot google.mil ;)

    5. Re:More Possible Google Spinoffs by Fryboy · · Score: 1

      Goorgle -- Dental hygenist search engine. ..prompting way too many "zee Goorgles do nothing!" jokes

    6. Re:More Possible Google Spinoffs by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 2, Funny

      Who's Who Online becomes Hoogle
      Joogle - Discount Menorahs Online
      DrCoop.com is renamed Achoogle
      Floogle - Jazz Instrument Online Database
      Poogle - Same Shit, Different Website

    7. Re:More Possible Google Spinoffs by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Can I get more cow bell there?

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  27. They're At It Again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Linux zealots, at it again...

  28. how about invest in internet 2 by zymano · · Score: 1

    Or something better than this slow,spammed,fraud everywhere network we call the internet.

    Bring highspeed ondemand network to the people.

    Broadband has been hijacked by the corporates and it isn't as fast as they want you to think.

    1. Re:how about invest in internet 2 by jdludlow · · Score: 1

      Broadband has been hijacked by the corporates and it isn't as fast as they want you to think.

      Yes, I can see how having the world's largest media company build a new Internet would keep it out of the hands of the "corporates".

    2. Re:how about invest in internet 2 by Black.Shuck · · Score: 1

      If you take the article-title literally, you're half-right:

      Who Will Google Buy Next? (Internet)

    3. Re:how about invest in internet 2 by PhilHibbs · · Score: 1

      Obviously he meant "the evil corporates".

  29. Since when... by konichiwa · · Score: 0

    Are /. and K5 mirror sites? Seems lately everything posted there is here and vice versa. Why even visit both?

    --
    Never argue with an idiot, he'll just lower you to his level and beat you with experience.
  30. Re:i think i speak for more than myself when i say by thermopile · · Score: 1
    Actually, the reverse ...

    Was I the only one who read the subject line and read, "Who will buy Google next"?

    Which could lead to a much more interesting discussion ...

    Is Micro$oft eager enough to buy it? Is it dumb enough to think it could? Or maybe a company like Oracle, that might be able to find a business case for purchasing a company like Google?

    Or Apple ... "Hey, we've improved Spotlight with our new Google technology!!"

    --

    "Diplomacy is something you do until you find a rock." --Richard Pound

  31. MySpace by Moderator · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Makes sense, the cash cow that is MySpace is crashing under its own load. Imagine Google purchasing it, cleaning up the code, replacing the flash ads with small text based ones, and integrating it with Gmail. A personals site is really the only thing all of the other portals have that Google does not.

    --
    The World is Yours.
    1. Re:MySpace by y0bhgu0d · · Score: 1

      so, if google doesn't have one, who runs orkut?

  32. Re:Didn't someone predicted the future of Google b by Hack+Jandy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    OK, that epic thing was scary as fuck. HJ

  33. My 2 Guesses by telstar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    1) CraigsList
    2) EBay

    1. Re:My 2 Guesses by corrosive_nf · · Score: 0

      Ebay already owns a quarter of Craigslist. I think they will buy ebay however.

  34. Your mom by espergreen · · Score: 0, Troll

    I heard she is expensive though.

    1. Re:Your mom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's why they'll buy your mom. She's waaay cheaper and much more uh..."user friendly".

    2. Re:Your mom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your's isn't.

  35. Lucky Lucky Google by Edmund+Blackadder · · Score: 3, Funny

    They must really appreciate all the free business advice they are getting.

    1. Re:Lucky Lucky Google by raistlin42 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      parent is modded INSIGHTFUL??? I think it was supposed to be a joke....

      --
      "My life is a joke that no one gets"
    2. Re:Lucky Lucky Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Moderators, meet crack. Carck, moderators. A match made in heaven.

  36. OS/2 by PipOC · · Score: 1

    Google's going to buy the source code to OS/2 of course.

  37. A Google buyout betting pool is called... by haystor · · Score: 1

    a stock purchase or an options purchase if you want to bet on the time frame as well.

    --
    t
  38. How about Kuro5hin? by Orion+Blastar · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Then the people Rusty conned out of their money invested in CMF project which Rusty wasted on booze and hookers will get their investments back. More information shows that the CMF is still not formed, and that the community is not benefiting from the $35,000 donated. The CMF has all the earmarks of a Non-Profit Dotcom scam. It exists in email lists and a web page only plus a few scattered diary entries on K5. Not a single product has it sponsored yet, as promised.

    Besides K5 owns Google. Most likely due to some black hat activity.

    Maybe once Google buys out Kuro5hin, they can finally release a version of Scoop for Apache2 that does not break the server? Also maybe they can fix the broken moderation system?

    --
    Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.
    1. Re:How about Kuro5hin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why does it always seem like K5 is one big drama bomb?

    2. Re:How about Kuro5hin? by Orion+Blastar · · Score: 1

      Save the drama for yer momma.

      K5 users on Slashdot have already modded down my post, even if it is mostly the truth about K5.

      I left K5 long ago, it is like the Titanic and Rusty and crew are too busy rearranging the deck chairs to patch the huge gaping hole in their service. Trolls run rampant and only trolls with viewpoints the editors don't agree with get anonymized. Yet even that is pointless as the anonymized trolls keep coming back with new accounts. The editors are the K5 Cabal, and often troll with their own fake accounts.

      I am amazed that people cross post K5 stories on Slashdot, as K5 tends to make fun of Slashdot a lot, and considers themselves the superior journaling/story site. Mostly due to elitish snobs on K5, who think they are better than anyone.

      Just read the diary section on K5 some day, it is scary.

      --
      Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.
  39. Don't Forget What Google's Mission Is by albieomoss · · Score: 1

    I don't think they will be buying hookers, or taxis or anything like what people are saying.

    Google has stated many times that their goal is to collect and organize all the information in the world.

    --
    DankLogic - There is a system to everything.
    1. Re:Don't Forget What Google's Mission Is by nkool · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dude! When was the last time you took an IQ test?

    2. Re:Don't Forget What Google's Mission Is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude! When was the last time you signed up for a new account to mod up your own stupid comments?

  40. As of 10:21pm there are 635 anonymous heros on K5 by maynard · · Score: 1

    Whoa. Talk about the /. effect... so that's what it's like, eh? Wonder if it'll pass 1000... --M

  41. It exists by Da+Penguin · · Score: 5, Insightful
    >A Google-buyout betting pool seems in order.

    There is a place where you get money for guessing something like this. It's called the stock market

    1. Re:It exists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Isn't that only good for publicly traded companies?

      If Google buys out some small-time devel with a big-time idea, how exactly could I exploit it to my financial gain?

  42. My thoughts... by TedTschopp · · Score: 1

    One: I would look for some data mining companies with some nice IP. If you choose correctly you could end up with a nice product to brand. Some nice Algorithms to improve your own systems. And some nice IP to own. Think along the lines of say Biometrics, pattern regconition, and datamining. The idea is to imporve your own search and to leapfrog remaining companies in this space by tying in data mining into search.

    Two: GIS. Purchase some of the providers of the data for your Google Maps. Purchase the company which will scan buildings and real world strucutres to put into Keyhole. You might also want to pick up a nice clean multiplatform 3D engine. You also want to pick up better GeoCoding capabilities.

    Three: Realtime Monitoring. Traffic.com and other sites like this which provide real time data about the real world. Also look into companies which provide real time monitoring of other transportation systems.

    --
    Fantasy remains a human right; we make in our measure and in our derivative mode... -- JRR Tolkien
  43. Re:As of 10:21pm there are 635 anonymous heros on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    K5 still exists?!?!

  44. The should buy Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That would scare the bejesus outta 'ol Billy Gates.

  45. Google Will Eat Itself! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  46. Re:i think i speak for more than myself when i say by dAzED1 · · Score: 2, Informative

    MSFT total equity, Q3 2005: $47.4B

    GOOG Market Capitalization, 06/14/2005: $77.3B

    It would be a really, REALLY difficult thing for MSFT to buy out GOOG. Esp since that wouldn't really give them ownership of the company, as the outstanding shares don't add up to 50% if I recall correctly.

  47. Australia maps? by Bifurcati · · Score: 1

    I was particularly interested in the acquisition of the Australian mapping company (which hasn't been greatly publicised). Does that mean that Australia might be getting Google maps? If so, WhereIs might be an acquisition they could consider, although it seems to be part of a larger Sensis search group. It's pretty good already, but it would benefit from extra bandwidth and a bit of Google sleek-ifying.

    1. Re:Australia maps? by mino · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yeah, that's a very interesting one. Sensis is quite fascinating in and of itself. There's been a lot of talk that parent company Telstra (Australia's half-government-owned telecommunications near-monopoly behemoth -- think the Aussie equivalent of AT+T before the break-up) wants to sell off Sensis as it's worth a mint and is a quick way to inject some cash. Maybe Google would want part/all of it?

      Sensis has a few businesses that seem to 'fit' google to varying degrees:

      • A search engine (Sensis)
      • Classifieds (Trading Post)
      • Directory listings (White Pages/Yellow Pages)
      • Mapping/directions (WhereIs)
      • Reviews/Listings/"What's On" (Citysearch)

      The biggest reasons Google wouldn't buy Sensis? One, it's way too regional. It's basically Australia-only (Australia + New Zealand in some cases) which doesn't seem to fit that well with Google's history -- that particularly affects the CitySearch and White/Yellow Pages businesses, I'd say (the others could probably be rolled out elsewhere -- the concepts are sound). Secondly, Telstra has a new incoming chief exec, American Solomon Trujillo (ex-Orange and US West) whose early musings would seem to imply he likes the whole 'near-monopoly behemoth' thing, not the 'selling off parts for a cash injection' thing.

      Still, interesting thought.

    2. Re:Australia maps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most of the cool stuff in Google Maps such as the highly interactive UI was developed by the Australian company before their subsequent purchase by Google. Google likes to give the impression that the cool stuff is all done in-house hence the lack of details available on this.

    3. Re:Australia maps? by anonymous+moderator · · Score: 1

      I can think of some much better reasons...

      Search engine... already got one.

      Classifieds... ebay is slamming trading post from what I can see. Google engineers could program a trading post in a few hours... with everything free and listed int he google search engine... would crash the business plan of Trading post anyway.

      Directory listings... would be handy to have... for yellow pages could just ask businesses to list for free... who wouldn't take that up!
      Put a bit of effort in and you have smashed half the value of yellow pages to businesses without decreasing yellow pages costs. goodbye profits!

      mapping... just need the maps... street-directory.com.au has better maps anyway.

      citysearch... does that make money?

      Why would google go and buy something that will probably go broke in a couple of years, or at least loose 90% of its profits!

  48. Something that will make money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    With a price-to-earnings ratio of 110:1, Google better buy up companies with solid earnings potential or risk a dot-bomb collapse (and probably drop the Dow and the Nasdaq a few hundred points in the process).

    110:1 isn't insane, but it's still pretty high. They just need to avoid pulling an AOL-Time Warner. That screwed TW big time (now facing big losses) and the AOL brass made millions by selling their over-valued stock.

  49. world media by nostriluu · · Score: 3, Interesting


    You forgot Keyhole. I think they read Snow Crash.

    It seems like they are imagining a free (to the user) all-knowledge-and-communication-anywhere brought to you by anonymous infrastructure. The problem with their scheme is its all based on advertising. Bleagh.

    1. Re:world media by trawg · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's a problem?!

      I see it and go, "great, more awesome free services that I don't have to pay for and all I have to put up with are a couple of ads on my screen!"

    2. Re:world media by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      It seems like they are imagining a free (to the user) all-knowledge-and-communication-anywhere brought to you by anonymous infrastructure. The problem with their scheme is its all based on advertising. Bleagh.


      They have to get the income from somewhere, right ?

      Would you rather subscribe to a pay-service, instead of dealing with the ads ?

  50. maybe... by ndtechnologies · · Score: 1

    Since they haven't made any inroads in the music industry...maybe they should take a look at my sig...

    --
    I have nothing clever to put here...
    1. Re:maybe... by AussieVamp2 · · Score: 1

      buy CDBaby you mean?

    2. Re:maybe... by ndtechnologies · · Score: 1

      No way, why would I want them to buy my competition :) Besides, the artist doesn't get that much from the sale of their music at CDBaby, as far as a financial return goes.

      --
      I have nothing clever to put here...
  51. Mod Parent UP Funny by iridium_ionizer · · Score: 1

    What the heck is going on... I can do anything thanks to zombo.com. !!!!

    Ooohhh the flashing lights and hypnotic voice.

    1. Re:Mod Parent UP Funny by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Even better, if you waste 5 minutes of your life at that site, you finally ends and plugs an advertisement for a zombo.com teeshirt.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  52. Medias? by SPY_jmr1 · · Score: 1

    After seeing Google Video, i'm somewhat curious... What is the point (money wise) that when google says they want to put broadcast TV in the archive, and the **IA's say to go to hell, Google just BUYS the media associations, and is done with it.

    I bet that the big G doen't have anything CLOSE to the funds to pull that off, but IANAMA (Market anylist).

    Thoughts?

  53. Re:The correct usage is "Whom will Google Buy Next by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or Elbonia even. Then they can buy Latveria from Doctor Doom.

  54. Grammar police, pull over... by CodeJudge · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Whom Will Google Buy Next?"

    Really. "Whom". It's not so hard.

    1. Re:Grammar police, pull over... by StikyPad · · Score: 1

      It's not what you know, it's whom. You know?

    2. Re:Grammar police, pull over... by Dirtside · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hundreds of stock tip websites just got emailed that Google is about to buy whom.com. Great job.

      --
      "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
    3. Re:Grammar police, pull over... by octal666 · · Score: 1

      take a look at whom.com, it's on sale, and at a very good price...

      http://whom.com/

      --
      DON'T PANIC
  55. Do no Evil by refactored · · Score: 1
    Well's that about it really.

    Don't think there are any profitable non-evil companies in corporate America to absorb...

  56. Apple? by uomolinux · · Score: 1

    I would love to see that, why not? if Intel is not interested of course ? ;-)

  57. Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch by serverleader · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Michael Jacksons Neverland Valley Ranch...

    --
    - - - - - . .. . - Get Counted!
  58. scary.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I read it as "Will Google buy NeXT?" and I got really scared, thinking "omg, NeXT is still alive?!!?" After realizing Apple already bought NeXT and I reread the title and all's now sunny in my spotless mind.

    1. Re:scary.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      U're teh funnay!

  59. I know! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They'll buy Apple and become Gapple!

  60. Overpriced? Comparison to eBay by i_want_you_to_throw_ · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With a P/E of 110, GOOG buying anything huge (like ebay) would be similar to AOL buying Time Warner. We saw what happened there, all of the irrational exuberance of the dot coms crashing and AOL becoming a shadow of itself and becoming a subsidiary of it's purchasee.

    Not that GOOG isn't profitable (and only will go up up in the future thanks to their BRILLIANT, calculated moves) but it's probably WAY overpriced right now. eBay on the other hand makes money from so many ways through it's auction service and float money from Paypal plus eBay has had the time to be subjected to market correction.

    GOOG stock is set to be corrected to reality anytime now. It's gonna be ripe for the shorting soon.

    1. Re:Overpriced? Comparison to eBay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GOOG stock is set to be corrected to reality anytime now. It's gonna be ripe for the shorting soon.

      If Google continues to turn a profit, I'll have no qualms buying it Low once it corrects ;)

  61. Re:The question is: who will buy Google by 1000101 · · Score: 1

    Who cares? Lots of people care. And the last time I checked, /. was 'News for Nerds. Stuff that matters'. Considering half the nerds around here would give their first born child to work at Google, and considering the giant that Google has become in the IT industry, I would argue that Google's past, present, and future buy-outs have a significant impact on the lives of quite a few /.'ers. And by the way, technology and business go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other.

  62. NeXT? by Fishstick · · Score: 1

    at first I read this "Will Google buy NeXT?"

    --

    There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
    Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.

  63. How about Apple? by PinkX · · Score: 1

    Or Intel?

    How about _both_ Apple and Intel?

    And IBM?

  64. That's easy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's obviously Gungle.

  65. Re:The question is: who will buy Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, because only idiots talk to walls.

  66. Re:i think i speak for more than myself when i say by iridium_ionizer · · Score: 1

    Assumming that Google has enough cash on hand and the ultra-loyal big wigs (aka Gates, Ballmer, etc.) don't have a large enough stake, why couldn't Google buy Microsoft out and transform the company using their "don't be evil" company slogan. I know Slashdot isn't much for biblical quotes but in this context if Microsoft would "shall beat their swords into plowshares" I think I could start feeling good about corporate America again.

    Imagine all the people
    using applications that work
    under both Linux and Open Windows. ...
    You may say I'm a dreamer

  67. buy my site! by hammeredpeon · · Score: 1

    it has lots of....insight? i'll let go of it for 500000 dollars. you can hire me after that!

    --
    best college pickem site ever: pickem.terrbear.org
  68. Rumor is Yahoo is talking with Skype by winkydink · · Score: 1

    Google will have to wait their turn.

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  69. Mmmmm by mrchapp · · Score: 1

    Buying a $25 hammer...

  70. Re:The question is: who will buy Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    NEWS FLASH: Google is a Tech company!!!

    Some people actually like to see news on tech companies. Maybe you should just not waste time commenting and reading the news that you dont care about.

  71. Sell it by poor_boi · · Score: 1
    Finally an answer to the oft asked question:

    Q: "What impetus could possibly turn 1.3 million formerly straight-laced geeks to shameless self prostitution in a single night?"

    A: Googlust

  72. Google and FvckedCompany by winkydink · · Score: 1

    FvckYoogle

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  73. Good for you! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've seen more interesting stories in the toilet after an all-you-can-eat enchilada buffet.

    1. Re:Good for you! by smittyoneeach · · Score: 1

      Easily the least necessary image of the day.

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
  74. Answered your own question by missing000 · · Score: 1

    "Assumming that Google has enough cash"

    Yes. And assuming that debt == cash on hand is foolish.

    Sorry.

    1. Re:Answered your own question by Bill+Barth · · Score: 1

      Market capitalization != debt.

      --
      Yes...I am a rocket scientist.
  75. My employer Become.com by hubt · · Score: 1

    I'm curious about honest opinions on whether they would buy out my employer become.com. Our search results are good, but I wonder if they have too much invested in Froogle to consider it.

  76. Re:The question is: who will buy Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Technology and science go hand in hand. This means universities (where most technologies are born) and researchers in academia (those who come up with ideas) and even some students (hint: Linus Torvalds). Business has little to do with the creation of interesting and useful technology that benefits everyone. Business is usually focused on making profits first. In most cases businesses abuse technology to make a profit. Real useful technology comes from those with a passion for helping others.

  77. Betting Pool by Necrotica · · Score: 1

    A Google-buyout betting pool seems in order.

    If there is an option to choose Cowboy Neal I'm going all-in!

  78. Eventually: by Trogre · · Score: 1

    Microsoft

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  79. MJ's Lawyers by fdawg · · Score: 1

    Who Will Google Buy Next?

    Micheal Jackson's lawyers. If they could get him out of that much heat (the nth time around), SCO will be no biggee.

  80. Who Google Will Buy by keyshawn632 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Tivo.

    Well, why not ?
    Google could unleashing searching on the DVR's. This would allow users to just input a search term and have it record all episodes that the term returned in results. Who needs the TV guides or tvtome anymore ?
    I'm not the only who predicts it -
    [flash video] http://www.robinsloan.com/epic/

    1. Re:Who Google Will Buy by register_ax · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, given http://groups-beta.google.com/ ==> Blogger.com http://images.google.com/ ==> Picasa http://maps.google.com/ ==> Keyhole and as you say http://video.google.com/ ==> Tivo Maybe we could also see: http://scholar.google.com/ ==> CiteSeer http://print.google.com/ ==> University of Michigan, Harvard University, Stanford University, The New York Public Library, and Oxford University now ... and speculating at the next buyout ... the Library of Congress http://news.google.com/ ==> News Corporation http://www.google.com/ig ==> Yahoo I don't know, there's probably more, but it's nearing 4 so I better go to bed.

    2. Re:Who Google Will Buy by register_ax · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yeah, given

      http://groups-beta.google.com/ ==> Blogger.com
      http://images.google.com/ ==> Picasa
      http://maps.google.com/ ==> Keyhole

      and as you say

      http://video.google.com/ ==> Tivo

      Maybe we could also see:

      http://scholar.google.com/ ==> CiteSeer
      http://print.google.com/ ==> University of Michigan, Harvard University, Stanford University, The New York Public Library, and Oxford University now ... and speculating at the next buyout ... the Library of Congress
      http://news.google.com/ ==> News Corporation
      http://www.google.com/ig ==> Yahoo

      I don't know, there's probably more, but it's nearing 4 so I better go to bed.

    3. Re:Who Google Will Buy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://groups-beta.google.com/ ==> Blogger.com

      What? Don't you mean http://groups-beta.google.com/ ==> Usenet

    4. Re:Who Google Will Buy by MikeBabcock · · Score: 1

      http://people.google.com/

      A friendster replacement.

      --
      - Michael T. Babcock (Yes, I blog)
    5. Re:Who Google Will Buy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Deja news would probably be more accurate than just a generic industry.

  81. Akio Morita... by BJH · · Score: 1

    ...would be proud.

  82. googlzon by Deanalator · · Score: 1
  83. Google should have a page for posting to by WindBourne · · Score: 1

    There are many start-ups out there that would love to have google look at them. MS makes it easy enough to approach them. Google has no page set up.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  84. CallMiner -- Seaches Audio/Calls by NoSlack913 · · Score: 1

    It is only a matter of time before Google realizes that the largest "untapped" database in the world is the spoken word. ergo: CallMiner, they create databases, normal sql databases, of every word in a call. Backed by investors, real customers, and oh yeah, another in-q-tel company.

  85. Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A marketing force

  86. I don't think that would really work by ShatteredDream · · Score: 1

    That'd be a merger between two companies that have virtually nothing in common. VoIP is not something you want Google to be able to search, you know. If they can let you search it then that means that someone has been recording all of your conversations.

    I think Google would be better served by buying out a company that makes GPS software. That way they could build a system that would allow Google to integrate advertisements into the GPS system. They could work on a GPS system that passively retrieves geographic-specific information based on your GPS coordinates and delivers things like good restaraunts and that targets things like where to find a mechanic for your car and other businesses.

  87. The Choice is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's quite clear, google will purchase that goatse website

  88. Makes sense? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    It makes a LOT of sense. Of course, a lot of the script kiddies that plague the Myspace right now will be forced to learn proper CSS or abandon ship, and I'm afraid the latter is more likely.

  89. Re:i think i speak for more than myself when i say by the_womble · · Score: 2, Informative

    Microsoft has a market cap of $274bn

    They also have close to $40bn in cash.

    They could easily put together a half cash, half shares offer for Google at a very good price.

    You are not comparing like with like - shareholders equity and market cap are altogether different things. In any case smaller companies can buyout bigger ones, by paying with shares in the combined business - however that is not necessary here.

    Where you may be right is that Google is too closely held to be easy to buy - a few big shareholders could block any bid. Incidentally you mean free float where you say outstanding shares.

  90. CRAIGSLIST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'd put my money on Craigslist

  91. GoogleGear by spac3manspiff · · Score: 1

    The company they really need to buy is google gear because their current Google Store is hidious.

    I mean a google site using ASP? bleh

  92. I know which site they WON'T buy by GnoMoreGnuPuns · · Score: 0, Troll

    This one. Because it's quite possibly the most irrelevant creation of mankind, that somehow still drains the world's collective brain of countless hours every day. I think that drawing a pint of blood, then drinking it only to vomit the contents into a sewer drain, to be a far better use of time than participating in this site. Please shut slashdot down.

    1. Re:I know which site they WON'T buy by SPY_jmr1 · · Score: 1

      Yet... You're here.

    2. Re:I know which site they WON'T buy by redeye69 · · Score: 1

      Thats exactly his point

      --
      Without precision, my life would be imprecise....
  93. CYCORP !!! by giampy · · Score: 1

    www.cyc.com

    it's a project so ambitious (it will take those guys other 15 years to come up with something IMO) that only google can afford to sponsor it ...

    on the other hand, if such a thing will be successfull, it would really be the next very big thing in technology since the internet ...

    --
    We learn from history that we learn nothing from history - Tom Veneziano
  94. The DNC... by Lemental · · Score: 1

    After all, they try to buy the presidency with each election.

  95. Cthulhu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The real question is not will Google buy next, but who will be eaten first.

    http://www.geocities.com/tribhis/cthulhutract.html

  96. Speaking of funny names... booble by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The obvious complementary technology would be booble.

  97. Amazon by Morrog · · Score: 1

    Google will form into Googlezon! ttp:albinoblacksheepcomflashepic

  98. Obviously by moe613 · · Score: 0

    it will be http://bitchmakemeasandwich.com/. That is the exact reason the internet came to be.

  99. The Soviet Russians are thinking.... by jigyasubalak · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...Who'll buy google next.

    That had to be said.

    --
    The best planning can be done after the project completes.
  100. Amazon by OverlordQ · · Score: 1

    Amazon, and they will become Googlezon.

    --
    Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
  101. fonetango - Plays well with Orkut and Dodgeball by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    An obvious (to me) left-field contender is fonetango. They do phone backup and social networking based on your phonebook. Searches like "Who has my number" and "Which of my friends can reccomend a plumber" would tie in to Google well, and pulling data direct from your mobile phone would save having to manually update a lot of details in Orkut etc.

  102. Media and Distribution by EtherAlchemist · · Score: 1


    In the form of RealNetworks and Sirius Satellite.

    --
    R(k)
  103. They can buy me out anytime by plorqk · · Score: 1

    I'm available for corporate sponsorship.

    --
    When travelling, it's ok if the airlines lose your emotional baggage.
  104. Orkut by October_30th · · Score: 1
    Orkut is about the worst branded name ever

    Heh. Considering that in my native language "orkut" is slang for "orgasms", I can only agree with you.

    --
    The owls are not what they seem
    1. Re:Orkut by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      I dunno, I get most of my orgasms from Google already.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
  105. Online Song lyrics by Nexcet · · Score: 0

    They can easily take non-ad and banner site http://lyrical.nl/ which features tons of song lyrics with language option also. They won't be around long for financial reasons as sad to say :-/ google should save em!!

  106. BFG! by dacarr · · Score: 1

    Maybe they're getting big, but they seem to be a bit of a big friendly giant. Those who read a particular Roald Dahl story will remember the reference.

    --
    This sig no verb.
  107. Keyhole is in a hole? ;-) by lastberserker · · Score: 1

    ...as well as Google maps, I reckon. Here, see for yourself - this product is based on Terraserver (read, superb terrain photography) and blended nicely with Mappoint. And it is likely to be free.

    But back to our topic: I think the next "who" Google must buy is be Microsoft ;-P

    --
    My other Beowulf cluster is... er...
  108. US Government? by ceeam · · Score: 1

    Puh-leease?

  109. buy giant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They will buy IBM, Oracle, Sun, Microsoft, Yahoo, Sony, etc....

  110. Re:The question is: who will buy Google by Punboy · · Score: 1

    Actually... this is "news for geeks; stuff that matters" This matters to us geeks. Not everything on here is tech-related. You do afterall see alot of things about stuff like natural disasters, books, movies, etc.

    --
    If you like what I've said here, and want to read more, go to http://www.krillrblog.com
  111. Additional acquistions that the list omits by zmarties · · Score: 1
    There are several more known Google acquisition that are not on this list (and probably more unknown ones!)

    Missing companies are:

    • Neotonic Software
    • Sprinks
    • Genius Labs
    • Ignite Logic
  112. Check your grammar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The title should be whom, not who, as whom is the object of buy.

  113. My prediction: a credit card company by it0 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Think about it, get a google card, they inspect your buying habits like email with gmail. Hit you with targeted advertisements and also provide you with cheaper alternatives (froogle)on goods you have bought.

    Yes it's a diabolical though, but hey there not evil ;)

  114. Google Sets by droptical · · Score: 1

    All we need to do is enter the previous buyouts into google sets , and google itself will tell us who else it'll buy :)

  115. Hmmmm by Jesus+IS+the+Devil · · Score: 1

    Can't believe nobody has mentioned....

    Microsoft? :p

    --

    eTrade SUCKS
  116. just won't use by AussieVamp2 · · Score: 1

    orkut, if you a dwarf, elf, halfling, or man of gondor?

  117. Slashdot poll! by octal666 · · Score: 1

    It is calling for an slashdot poll, with a Cowboy Neal option!

    --
    DON'T PANIC
  118. Re:i think i speak for more than myself when i say by dAzED1 · · Score: 1

    https://us.etrade.com/e/t/invest/financials?conten t=2&site=financials&sym=MSFT&ah_flag= claims MSFT has $16B in cash. I really don't think they could pull it off. Blowing all of one's cash and short-term investments is not generally safe in what is still an uncertain market.

    And yes, probably so. I'm only minimally interested in any of this, limited by the fact that I dislike capitalism ;)

  119. Clusty by anttik · · Score: 1

    I think they could buy Clusty from Vivisimo. The clustered search is real handy and it's something I haven't seen Google do yet.

  120. In other related Google news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Little Green Footballs thinks Google's automated news is liberally biased. Some inane comments in here including:

    GOOGLE as in Vast Left Wing Corporation, need I say more?

    and...

    somebody at Google News put down the "Death to Amerikkka" sign long enough to edit the news feed

    and...

    Someone please explain to me how their shares can trade for $281. What utter nonsense.

    Heh. Conservatives and their (lack of) technological knowledge.

  121. Re:i think i speak for more than myself when i say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Blowing all of one's cash and short-term investments is not generally safe in what is still an uncertain market.

    Indeed. One of the reason MSFT has these large wads of cash lying about is to reassure the market that if something "bad" happened(ie 9/11 scale badness) theyd be OK.

  122. Buy more beer.. by slashmojo · · Score: 1
    For the next google dance.

    But for foto blogging since yahoo bought flickr, google should buy fotopages.com which is a nice system.

  123. Google.gov by Momoru · · Score: 2, Funny

    On Google.gov instead of having a clean easy to use interface, you must fill out at least 6 forms before your search query is returned, and when it is returned its entirely acronyms.

  124. paul mc cartney! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    paul mc cartney!

    that'll show michael jackson for that beatles thing.

  125. .... Kuro5hin?? by tuxedobob · · Score: 1

    That's like slashdot, only run by a dictator and no longer allowing new users (or so I'm told). It's kind of a ghetto slashdot. We're getting NEWS from them?

  126. scx by donutface · · Score: 0

    Well google doesnt have any chat systems yet, the only thing they are missing, so im guessing theyll buy out some small time chat system like SCX http://scx.netmercs.net/ mod me insightfull bitch :P

  127. Using K5 to boost /. karma by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Step 1: write article for K5
    Step 2: get article cross posted to /.
    Step 3: post comment claiming credit for K5 article
    Step 4: Profit!

    1. Re:Using K5 to boost /. karma by lolocaust · · Score: 1

      not when your anonymous.

      --
      Why does my post history abruptly stop? I want to laugh at the stupid things I posted as a kid.
  128. koders.com by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Koders is a search engine for open source code that works remarkably well"

    I disagree, it does plain text searching of source code. How is that any use to a programmer if he, say, wants to find out how to retrieve RSS feeds in c#? It returns utter junk

  129. Get Real not Googely by netzfreies · · Score: 1

    Slashdot has far too many google apologists and not enough thinkers. Ask yourself, what does Google know about you? I reckon it's much more than you want.

  130. Entitled by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    An article isn't entitled to anything.

    Slashdot grammar rules!

  131. Re:i think i speak for more than myself when i say by the_womble · · Score: 1
    Do not want to drag this out too much, but E-trade is out of date (as at the end of the last financial year).

    Latest financials show the monopolists cash pile as $3.7bn, but you need to add another $33.8bn in short term investments to this - whether money is held as cash or short term investments refelcts their treasure management rather than how much money they have.

    They are unlikely to do anything this big, but they easily have the ability to do it.

  132. How about.. by hplasm · · Score: 0

    the Boomtown Rats back catalog...

    --
    ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
  133. DGS Alert ... by Luscious868 · · Score: 1

    Daily Google Story Alert ... Daily Google Story Alert! Seriously people, is a story about Google a day necessary, even if it's not newsworthy in the least?

  134. Out of Beta? by bradleyland · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Rather than buy more companies, why not develop some of their current ideas beyond the point of "Beta".

    Sometimes I think that Google uses the term Beta just to make users feel like their in some kind of exclusive, pre-release club. Beta as a branding concept. Who would have thought!?

    1. Re:Out of Beta? by skarphace · · Score: 1

      Most of their products that are still in beta are only still in beta because google hasn't figured out how to make money from them yet.

      Gmail for instance. Ok, you can scan emails for keywords and then display text ads accordingly. But what do you do with the users that only use the POP3 service?

      --
      Bullish Machine Tzar
  135. Mirror Mirror on the wall by accessdeniednsp · · Score: 1

    Ok, Slashdot has an article about a Kuroshin article? Next, K5 needs to have an article referencing this Slashdot article that references the original K5 article...

    And then it'll be like in the dentist's office with those opposing mirrors to infinity....... (and beyond!)

    And then the net will implode...

  136. Buy me, buy me!! by MrRoarkeLovesTattoo · · Score: 1

    I can be bought for a measly $10 million. I'd say that's a bargin!

  137. article didn't mention Neotonic by asdren · · Score: 1

    the main homepage is blank except for support email
    but the website still has info on their flagship product - Trakken

    http://www.neotonic.com/trakken/

    basically an email helpdesk system
    google used to be a client of thier's
    http://www.neotonic.com/trakken/customers/case-goo gle.cst
    and ended up snapping them up

  138. Googlenator!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Google should buy a Antivirus and antispam software company. They would probably be able to search out the spam and virus better than anyone else. Get ready world!!! Here comes the Googlenator! The software that Google has set free on the net to search and destroy all virus and spam.

  139. Every day I think... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've seen the most useless, substance free article on Google ever, and every following day I am proven wrong.

    Who will Google buy next? Like you know. What will George Bush have for lunch? Who cares?

  140. All the more reason by mikeee · · Score: 1

    Buying Time-Warner was the best thing AOL ever did for its shareholders; trading vastly over-inflated stock for one that's actually worth something!

    Time-Warner shareholders got screwed, but that wasn't AOL's problem...

  141. It's WHOM, not WHO by 1800maxim · · Score: 1

    Are those two separate articles?

    Who Will Google?
    and
    Buy Next!

    Will Google Buy Next?

    Oh, I get it. It's:

    WHOM WILL GOOGLE BUY NEXT

  142. henry blodget admits google is overpriced by googisgod · · Score: 1
    Apparently for the first time in history, Henry has met an internet stock he thinks is worth too much.

    http://www.fuckedgoogle.com/

  143. Bid for Google by Crip42 · · Score: 1

    Surely it should be sold on Ebay?

    --
    Truely cripped...
  144. Think Tank Formally know as Xerox PARC by DavidDPD · · Score: 1

    Xerox PARC was already bought and sold, and not owned by Xerox anymore ... This think tanks seems good fit with Google.

  145. Re:Didn't someone predicted the future of Google b by vitalyb · · Score: 1

    What's so scary about it?? I mean, lets get a bit of a grip. People will write their own newS? Every single person will be able to contribute? Everyone will have power to contribute to everyone easily?

    NEWYORK TIMES DIES! The horror! Geez.

  146. Skype is crap by Luke-Jr · · Score: 1

    Skype is proprietary and doesn't even use standard VoIP protocols. Google would be better off taking Psi or some other standards-compliant IM program and adding VoIP support (SIP or IAX2) from scratch.

    --
    Luke-Jr
  147. America by ellingswin · · Score: 0

    America!!! Just think our entire country would be searchable. We could all wear GPS and we could search Google for a person's name and find out where they are.. Plus.. our government would be run by none other than...GEEKS

    --
    I lost my karma, last april fools...
  148. I Know! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Microsoft!

  149. Re:Didn't someone predicted the future of Google b by Hack+Jandy · · Score: 1

    Oh, I don't mind that. Just the scary overtones and the deep music that accompanied by the idea of digitizing everything in the world including my personal hygine - then podcasting it. Maybe I don't want googlezon to know if I like Coke instead of Coke Lite? HJ

  150. Re:Didn't someone predicted the future of Google b by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

    Wikinews. From the creators of Wikipedia.

    --
    In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
  151. tinyurl.com by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So you can get a short URL for the query *and* the results.

  152. Webhosting Control Panel? cPanel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...Imagine Google being able to offer a one click method of adding tools such as adsense/google search/etc to user sites.

    It'd be an easy method of google pushing any of their new features/etc to users and making it easier for joe-blow-site-owner to do things like add adsense to the site. http://www.cpanel.net/?

    Seems like a valid buyout for google for the right price, though definitely not cheap

  153. Re:Didn't someone predicted the future of Google b by vitalyb · · Score: 1

    My point exactly. In many ways what they did already exists. It looks like they had a lot of talent and they wasted it on quite a strange subject... There are plenty scary subjects nowdays to cover, no need to invent ones.