Google Labs shutting down

Google on Wednesday said it is shutting down its Labs website for creations-in-progress in order to better focus its resources and energy.

Google Labs was an online playground where people could dabble with early versions of new services or products being worked on by engineers at the Internet powerhouse.

Pulling the plug on Labs is part of a strategy by Google chief executive Larry Page to "put more wood in fewer arrows" by prioritizing projects at the California-based company.

"While we've learned a huge amount by launching very early prototypes in Labs, we believe that greater focus is crucial if we're to make the most of the extraordinary opportunities ahead," research and systems infrastructure senior vice president Bill Coughran said in a blog post.

Some Labs experiments will be incorporated into Google products or remain available as applications for devices running on Android software, according to Coughran.

(c) 2011 AFP