Google news: Eric Schmidt replaced by Larry Page

[Will]

Some interesting news from Google here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8272831/Google-co-founder-Larry-Page-to-replace-chief-executive-Eric-Schmidt.html).

Given the slightly haphazard way that Google have been perceived as operating in in the last few years (seen by some as developing too many product lines with no clear end sight in mind) I wonder if this will bring their core focus back to search?

[David]

Interesting. I doubt we'll see any major change in direction but maybe more focus on specific products. Schmidt really broadened the company but I think there needs to be some consolidation of ideas and a little more focus - whatever happened to Google Wave?

[Will]

Ah Google Wave, alas it's one of those products that's "no longer being actively developed", though users can still log in and access its services. At its heart it didn't really know what it wanted to be - a pure chat, email replacement or social networking/Twitter-type tool - and never really nailed any one of them properly. I have a friend who swore by Google Wave, but then again he swore his Palm Pre would overtake the iPhone, and that Linux would take over as a desktop OS...

[Tom]

I agree: I signed up for it, used it twice and forgot about it.

[James]

Given the slightly haphazard way that Google have been perceived as operating in in the last few years (seen by some as developing too many product lines with no clear end sight in mind) I wonder if this will bring their core focus back to search?

Google have always developed lots of tools (see Google Labs) - some make it big, some waste away. I agree Wave was a monumental failure though.

[Tom]

I heard it suggested that if Jobs health is bad then Schmidt may take over at Apple. He has been on the Apple board since 2006 and it could be seen as in America's national interest to keep America's second largest company in good health.