Ask HN: Has Google eliminated the need for its own existance?
I have been thinking about this and I figured that getting some people to share what they thought about this, would be a good idea.

The world seems to be huge on apps right now. Everyday, I learn about a new app, that allows me to solve a need that I have on my phone itself. For example, unless I need to send out a long e-mail, I don't bother signing into G-mail on my computer anymore. I have stopped checking to see if I have new mail multiple times day. My phone buzzes and lets me know quite reliably. I don't log onto "Reddit" any more. When I have a few free minutes and want something to laugh about, I use the Reddit app on my phone. When I want to see how my sites are doing, I use the Google Analytics app. Basically, as I learn about more apps, I seem to be getting more and more of my problems solved on my phone itself. I am less inclined to turn on my computer unless I have to do actual work. But, since I work in technology, there is still a compelling need in my life that my computer solves.

On the other hand, lets talk about my Aunt. She has little or no association with technology. The only reason she uses her computer is to exchange email and chat with her kids on Skype. If her computer decided to disappear today, and she asked me what to buy....I would tell her to buy a nice Android phone. It can do everything she wants to achieve. A computer is an over-kill for her needs. The Android phone will be pretty, cheap, not take up space and have a much more manageable learning curve.

My point is simple, Google has made Android smart-phones something a lot of people can have. The Android apps ecosystem grows everyday. And each app, targets a particular need (in-theory). So, if in-theory, if I gave 100% of the people I know Android smartphones and taught them how to find and install apps, about 50% of the people I know would never feel the need to switch on their computers again. All the problems they solved with their computer, would be solved by these tiny apps that take a second to load and are quite pretty to look at.

The only people who would end up switching on their computer are the people who would have to do serious "work" or enjoy serious "entertainment".

THE POINT: By creating this app ecosystem and trying to get Android in everybody's hands has Google not solved people's problems too efficiently. So efficiently, that they don't need Google anymore other than to do "hard core research". Google makes the bulk of its money on transactional queries, and if people simply stop doing those because there is a beautiful m-commerce app instead. And using Google is a 4 step process while using the app is a 2 step process, then Google will loose out badly.

People will still go to Google for doing hard-core research, but those are informational queries. Potential advertisers don't like those queries because they don't have commercial intent. Not a good place to push products. People will click but wont be ready to buy.

Lastly, yes there is a search bar on all android devices. But I find my self using that only when I can find a sexy app to solve my problem more efficiently.

What do you guys think? Has Google eliminated the need for it's own existence?