Google is in similar mud with Microsoft, which is extremely different that from Apple is. Mind you that I don't like Apple (or more so it's users) but I have to admit that currently they seem to excel because of a clearer vision and roadmap.
For Microsoft the roadmap seems to be -keep doing the same old thing you did before- that is that they are still pumping out Win 95 like OS and Office which are the milking cows. Google seems to be flying in a myriad of different directions, lacking any coherence and a unifying idea about what it is exactly that they want to shape our future like.
Apple seems to be the only one with that vision and the vision right now seems to me like -we will shape it to be magical, but it's going to cost you-. That will be followed by magic-esque replicas from all the rest of the manufacturers.
I remember reading an article not too long ago regarding the disbelieve that supposedly Gates had when he was first confronted with the idea the Google was offering gigs of email inbox space. His point was "why is that needed in the first place". I think that explains a lot. The answer is, of course, "because why not?" and the people who lead the companies who wish to sell the future to us should have this answer in mind.
The future is great and pinkish and not littered with accountants and lawyers and such...
As with amazing search engines and the concept of online storage, and many other ideas out there, we're constantly reminded that amazing things are not only plausible but can also, maybe, be profitable.
But you have to try, you have to give it a shot. You cast your magic Xware into the wild and you make us feel that it's magic, and we'll effing buy it by the truckloads.