Comments on: Is it Time For the “Web OS”? http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/is-it-time-for-the-web-os/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:23:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Simon Mackie http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/is-it-time-for-the-web-os/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Simon Mackie Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:15:59 +0000 http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=5432#comment-202 the iCloud service I mention in the post actually does quite a good job of working offline. As long as you have the web site opened, everything runs locally, so a lack of connectivity won't stop you, and when you get connectivity everything should sync up. However, this doesn't make up for its other shortcomings (particularly the lack of cross-browser and device support). Gears is obviously a great step in this direction -- but I'm not sure it's being used to its fullest yet. Gmail offline works quite well. the iCloud service I mention in the post actually does quite a good job of working offline. As long as you have the web site opened, everything runs locally, so a lack of connectivity won’t stop you, and when you get connectivity everything should sync up. However, this doesn’t make up for its other shortcomings (particularly the lack of cross-browser and device support).

Gears is obviously a great step in this direction — but I’m not sure it’s being used to its fullest yet. Gmail offline works quite well.

]]> By: Simon Mackie http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/is-it-time-for-the-web-os/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Simon Mackie Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:37:45 +0000 http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=5432#comment-200 The great thing about Google's web apps is that those incremental changes can be rolled out gradually, in reaction to user needs. You're right -- Gears is great tech to enable the hybrid "OS" approach. The great thing about Google’s web apps is that those incremental changes can be rolled out gradually, in reaction to user needs.

You’re right — Gears is great tech to enable the hybrid “OS” approach.

]]> By: Dawn Foster http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/is-it-time-for-the-web-os/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Dawn Foster Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:03:01 +0000 http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=5432#comment-198 I agree that duplicating the entire desktop across many devices isn't the best solution. Right now, I tend to use mostly applications that allow me to synchronize data between my MacBook and my iPhone, but I've ended up with bits of data floating around in too many applications. Google probably has one of the better solutions as Celeste mentioned above. The key right now to a successful web os-like solution is in the offline environment. With all of my connectivity gadgets, I still find myself in places with no wireless and no cell phone access. This happened to me just last week at a local (non-tech) event. I need to be able to work offline for synchronization later when I get back to the civilized world of connectivity. An environment that provides this seamless offline desktop / online synchronization across all of my apps is the solution I would use. I agree that duplicating the entire desktop across many devices isn’t the best solution. Right now, I tend to use mostly applications that allow me to synchronize data between my MacBook and my iPhone, but I’ve ended up with bits of data floating around in too many applications. Google probably has one of the better solutions as Celeste mentioned above.

The key right now to a successful web os-like solution is in the offline environment. With all of my connectivity gadgets, I still find myself in places with no wireless and no cell phone access. This happened to me just last week at a local (non-tech) event. I need to be able to work offline for synchronization later when I get back to the civilized world of connectivity. An environment that provides this seamless offline desktop / online synchronization across all of my apps is the solution I would use.

]]> By: Celeste LeCompte http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/is-it-time-for-the-web-os/comment-page-1/#comment-193 Celeste LeCompte Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:12:34 +0000 http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=5432#comment-193 Google seems to be moving rapidly in this hybrid direction you described, Simon. With Gears/Offline access to Google services, the expansion of the kinds of gadget you can add to your Gmail interface, and a gradual rolling out of better functionality for its Docs applications, it's a good-enough approximation for most of my needs. Mobile document editing, better tracked changes, and better image editing would give me little reason to use any other applications. Google seems to be moving rapidly in this hybrid direction you described, Simon. With Gears/Offline access to Google services, the expansion of the kinds of gadget you can add to your Gmail interface, and a gradual rolling out of better functionality for its Docs applications, it’s a good-enough approximation for most of my needs. Mobile document editing, better tracked changes, and better image editing would give me little reason to use any other applications.

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