I spoke with a Google product manager and a Samsung sales manager today. They were demoing the Samsung Galaxy without actually saying they were demoing it. Read about challenges they are having competing with iPad.

Here is what the Google employee had to say:

The Google guy was beaten down. He said the company has pretty much lost focus. He said every meeting is about the iPad, iPhone, music service like iTunes, social like Facebook, coupons like Groupon. He said people are just tired and worn out. And that Google was fighting too many battles. He said Google+, was a complete waste of time. I agree. He said most employees stand to get a bonus of $3000 if it was successful. However, he said it was not worth the amount of time employees were putting into it and that it has become a distraction. He said the public and users “consumers” don’t view Google as “hot” anymore, so it has become very challenging. Where as before Google could just put out stuff on rumors but now it has become very difficult. He said finding work else where has become challenging as well. Not too long ago if you work at Google, other employer would snap you up. Today, that is not the case. Employers know now most Google employees have the skill set of an assembly plant laborer. At Google people work like mice. Everything is tightly controlled despite what you hear on the outside. We put 1 plus 1 together. But we don’t know it makes up 2. The employees lack social intelligence. The system is setup that way so you don’t ask questions. You are given free foods and lots of goodies but your freedom and ability to think has been taken away. A very high price.