The purpose of Google
Is Google still a search company ?
A former Googler, James Whittaker, now working for Microsoft, wrote on a Microsoft blog: "The old Google made a fortune on ads because they had good content. It was like TV used to be: make the best show and you get the most ad revenue from commercials. The new Google seems more focused on the commercials themselves."
Google's motto, famously, is "Don't Be Evil." An ambitious goal, or at least a cheeky assertion -- and one that is called into question by commentators each time there is another privacy flap. But Mr. Page, who marked his year as chief executive this month, seemed to up the stakes last week when he wrote in a letter to the Google community that "we have always wanted Google to be a company that is deserving of great love."
To earn that love, at least from investors, Mr. Page will have to surmount several challenges over his second year. Foremost among them is doing a better job of anticipating privacy issues for users while continuing to improve the experience for advertisers.
BUSINESS DAY
Google Announces Two-for-One Stock Split
By DAVID STREITFELD
Published: April 12, 2012
The search giant also reported first-quarter revenue that rose 24 percent and earnings that slightly beat analysts' expectations.