Development manager Sergey Solyanik is on his way back to Microsoft after having putting in some time with Google after having worked for Microsoft. A little drive around the block as it were. Given that Google is the figurative Tom Jones of the tech industry at whom most can barely resist flinging their undergarments, this reversal may seem somewhat curious. What is most interesting however, is Solyanik's explanation of the decision in his blog 1-800-MAGIC particularly in light of the last post about Google's user experience principles.
Consider Solyanik's assertion that,"Google software business is divided between producing 'eye candy' - web properties that are designed to amuse and attract people - and the infrastructure required to support them. Some of the web properties are useful (some extremely useful - search), but most of them primarily help people waste time online[.]" This impression is exactly what the Google UX manifesto seeks to avoid as stated in their very first principle -- "Above all, a well-designed Google product is useful in daily life." At the same time, however, the principles focus much more on the holistic, experiential quality of the Google's offerings more then it does on strict utility.
Of course Solyanik points out a number of Google's strengths but I find his position that Google's culture is "not geared to delivering enterprise class reliability to its user applications" to be very intriguing in light of their recently released UX principles. Read 'em both and let me know what you think.
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