Even as 2006 comes to a rapid close, the signs that 2007 could be even rockier for Google are already beginning to show some significance.

First up on the block, Firefox’s own Blake Ross has some rather pointed, while be it valid concerns, regarding Google use of their users’ “trust”. Having studied Blake both in person as well as in the virtual sense, I would be the first to say that he is a sincere, stand-up guy. We share different views on practically everything else, but seeking to belittle Google was definitely not his intention here. Read his points closely, then read them again before rushing to any quick judgments. I think you will agree that his underlying concern is 100% valid.

Moving on, we then have Yahoo/Google theft situation. According to a recent post by Jeremy Zawodny, he charges that Google blatantly ripped of a web page design from Yahoo - without so much as a font alteration. How blatant was this alleged theft? Just look at the screenshots offered on his page and then visit the “new” Google template. Yahoo being overly sensitive? Some might argue this, but the fact remains that to the common man, a theft appears to have taken place regardless.

So Google? What is the deal, guys? Speaking as some one who is no fan of Yahoo in any sense of the word. From their unmoderated chat rooms to a toolbar that installs regardless of what is unchecked during their IM install, I think the company is circling the toilet and will eventually implode. Now their toolbar install “might” be resolved now with the latest release, but every version of messenger in recent memory did this, I doubt the latest one is any different. No problem unchecking a box, I’m not that lazy. However no means NO, Yahoo.

But Google is supposed to be different. They were supposed to be a search engine of the people? What happened? To this day, I am a fan of many of their innovations (even if some of their more recent stuff has turned out to be pretty lame). In the end, I hope that they do not continue to pull crap like this. It’s this “holier than now” attitude that made me decide to drop Windows except when absolutely needed for work. I’d really hate to see Google start making choices that put their users second as well.

Your users are watching closely Google, you need to make smarter PR choices here. After all, in the end, it’s the user who will ultimately decide where you are going to be in the next five years - remember that.

[tags]google,liars,yahoo,theft,trust[/tags]