Sure Google can handle scale better than anyone, but a stampede is still a stampede. Soft launches are way safer and easier to manage.
Spoken like someone who has never tried to buy tickets to Google IO!
But on a serious note, there are some products at Google that clearly scale well beyond what most other groups are capable of, but there are some products at Google that... don't.
Like any big company, things aren't completely uniform across the board.
Who knows, maybe it might still be running. I'm not sure if there were other factors but personally it never made sense to me.
I believe if Google really wanted to, they could go from 0 to 1 million users in minutes.
That seemed like the perfect way not to introduce a product oriented toward collaboration.
Fact is, they can't satisfy everyone. The algorithm used to differentiate the few from the many will obviously upset some groups.
Would you rather they charge for it? That'd be the Microsoft thing to do [1].
[1] http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1011983/microsoft-t...
Also, for Google I/O it would have served to have people apply, and review applications to pick real developers and not dumbass unable to read a line of code but hoping for a cool gadget to flip on ebay.
Anyway, as much as I want to try the new map right away I would do the invite system like them: you get to ramp up your userbase progressively, and people trying it actually want to try it (not grandma opening Maps and being completely confused by the new UI and possible bugs).
Gmail and Google Groups have both had random rollouts for changes, with optional rollbacks. That seems more fitting (to me at least).
It's the same disconnect that we know from Microsoft, that couldn't see itself as the monopolist they were, because their self-image was still that of the little startup that took on the mighty IBM.
Of course it could all just be marketing, like every word out of Google these days is just marketing without substance.
Either way, Google doesn't listen to user feedback and is perfectly capable of rolling out a new product on a global scale. "Request an invite" is BS.
How do you know this? I find this Request a clever way to stagger the release of the update. In case there happens to be any issues then only those who volunteered for the update would be affected, hopefully resulting in slightly higher patience.
What? Since when has launching a product to a small audience and gathering feedback been something that only a startup is allowed to do?
Also, your negativity makes you sound very disgruntled.
grumble grumble
It actually looks cool though.
I'm not going to complain though, I just want to try it out!
People literally lust into ads for "things they cannot have".
That's also part of the success of all the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" style shows and magazines on the poor/middle class.
Thanks for point it out.
That said, I think it makes sense. Ask Apple how it feels to make a drastic change with maps.
A 13 year old wanted "more than anything" a ...Gmail invite of all things?
It's not that weird really.
I'm tired of Google request-an-invites, and it was a reaction completely independent of the comments here (which I hadn't yet seen).
Something to think about, I guess.
Dear god, Google still thinking it's a cute little startup. It really is the Microsoft story all over again.