In many ways, Google is becoming a modern marvel. For its breadth, depth, innovation, and ability to keep highly intelligent employees happy and engaged in their job.
Except then you realize that they're doing this only to benefit their primary business, advertising.
You make that sound like a bad thing. Sounds like capitalism working excellently.
What amazes me is that their public image is still one of The Good Guys despite them being a huge corporation (just look at Apple for contrast.)
What public are we talking about? I don't think Apple are considered to be a big bad bad corporation outside of developer circles. On the other hand there have been news reports about how much Google knows about you etc. here in Sweden.