Is Google Lacking Direction?
Google's modular approach to tool development is sometimes misunderstood. The multiplicity of new tools often gives the impression that the company is lacking clear direction, that its leaders have no clear strategy. In fact, Google's roster of offerings has evolved along two parallel tracks: search tools and productivity tools. The tracks are complementary and share the common goal of making Google your Internet operating system.
Google makes no secret of wanting to remain the king of search. In its effort to do so, it continually releases applications offering personalized search tools as well as search tools designed to meet specific needs, such as sales (Shopping), information (News), academic research (Scholar), ...