"This forces Google to adjust all of its strategies to counter this threat. In so doing, Google must take its eye off the Android ball, allowing the Microsoft's Windows Phone and tablet initiative to catch up to Android."
It seems like the author believes Google is a two person company which cannot compete on several fronts.
I find it odd how people think of businesses as one big entity that knows all, when in reality its loads of small teams, contractors, freelancers etc. sort-of working together. You get that complaint a lot from people who criticize broadcasters in particular.
Android is the smartest things they did for their future since their platform for targeted ads.
With Android they can exert control over the mobile platforms. Google Search, GMaps, GMail are the default on all Android devices and beyond.
Now think of Apple. At some point they wanted to switch to Bing, but they didn't. Don't really know the details about why they didn't, but it's quite easy to make a guess ...
I'm pretty sure Apple stayed with Google's Search, because otherwise Android phones would've had (at least) a branding advantage (Google is a synonym for search), not to mention that Google Search is still more potent than Bing. Without GSearch, they probably would have lost GMaps too. Then the argument for Android would have been: ooh, but it comes with GSearch, GMaps and GMail. Apple is not stupid, they couldn't put iOS at a disadvantage, in a world where every other phone comes with Google built-in.
So you see, Android is the platform that keeps them relevant in a mobile world that's tightly controlled by carriers and walled app stores.
In the alternative universe where Google didn't do Android, Apple would be able to extract more cash from Google for its search placement, at the very least, since Google would have fewer alternatives.
Social search is pointless, it does not improve search quality. What it does is allow for overly targeted advertising which while useful it's no where near as valuable as many people think.
PS: Remember when all search companies wanted to become portals? Yea, that did not turn out so well for them.
It seems like the author believes Google is a two person company which cannot compete on several fronts.