Google wants to own all the information on the internet. They rightly believe that their core strength lies in their ability to index and make searchable any information that a user might seek.

By providing free services like Gmail, Google Maps, Google Docs, and Google Earth, they extend their reach into the way people think about Google's integration into the internet. What's more, they encourage users to load their servers with information which the users are then dependent upon Google to retrieve.

In each of these projects, Google opens new doorways for users to interact with information on the internet. And in each case, Google holds the keys to the door.

When that is the overarching goal, a few salaried workers' time spent on a vanity project like Wave is a minor expense. Finding a revenue model to make each project self-supporting is the kind of short-term business model that most other companies would use. That approach would stifle innovation and detract from the long term focus. That's the reason most other companies are not Google.

As others have noticed, your post doesn't so anything to justify the hysterical headline.

Google's ad success allows it to fully support experimentation and innovation in ways others companies only dream of. Why bother monetizing something until you throw it to the wall to see if it sticks?

Google has a whole history of releasing free tools that lots of people use. I, for one, am thankful that not every one of the many benefits I gain from using some of these tools has dollar signs attached to them.

Anyone experimenting with what might be possible wouldn't have questions to the traditional assembly line product launch questions asked during the Google Q&A.

Come back with some real thoughtful criticism of the product, maybe comparing it with other similar tools, and then maybe your ranting will be justified. Right now seems like you're the one a bit too high on your own opinion, Mr. Tech Insider.

"With Wave, as with so many Google projects, the company seems to be flinging things against the wall to see what sticks."

That.

Google is the next AT&T or IBM. They've got money to burn and they wisely burn it paying smart people to do cool stuff without ruining it by considering how it might be profitable. AT&T is a joke/shell, and IBM is past its glory days because of obsession with thinking about what to do with it, instead of just throwing it at the wall to see if it sticks.

why the anger?

I sort of got the impression that Jordan's knickers are in a twist because Google isn't frantically worshiping at the altar of the almighty dollar. American companies are expected to burn their people out and throw them away in an all-consuming effort to make as much profit as possible as soon as possible.

Maybe people should give patience a chance. Look at our economy and think about how well haste has served us.

It might be a "beta" but it works better than any email client in the world.

I read nothing from this post indicating the product hype was full of hot air, only that the engineers running the place don't think like Steve Ballmer. Maybe that's a good thing?

Besides, whenever Google loses money on something they simply say "it's the future." Who dares disbelieve them?

There's another company with a solid track record of using profits from their cash cows to finance losing efforts: Microsoft.

So Google isn't making money on all it's products. Yawn. And that matters how?

Your phony outrage over the Wave product is silly. It might work out or it might not. Google can afford to experiment, and if it does catch on, good for them. Since you haven't noticed, email is dying...

As for all the failures, google desktop, Earth, News, gadgets, et al, are simply amazing and have changed the lives of millions. Have you tried Google webmaster or analytics? For those of us who work on the web, they are truly amazing tools.

Now if you had wanted to talk about Google and PRIVACY, well that's a point.

For your next post, I would recommend more substance and less spin.

I don't.

I don't get it. If Google's stock price had tanked and you sunk your retirement hopes into it, maybe that would justify complaining about them releasing another innovative free service for which you can't yet make out the revenue stream.

But as it is, they make enough money to create and provide such services to the world, and who, exactly, is harmed? Are you concerned for the competition? Is making money on everything the only business model you can imagine?

Gmail 'beta'...

what, 5 years after roll-out?

Its why Apple isn't quaking in its boots over Android... from the permanent 'beta' company.

I agree with both the comments about Google arrogance and the fact that they have not done much beyond search as far as a revenue stream goes. But there are a few other products that seem successful. They license Google Earth and it has been used in a variety of applications. I don't know what Google's P&L is for Google Earth, but this is at least one other area where they have something that looks like it could make money.