Byrnesys Blabberings

Could this be the final element in cementing the web 2.0 era, the move from desktop based applications to online ones. These days arguably there is much more a trend of web based development instead of desktop based, and the interaction lines are being continually blurred.

Essentially what google are proposing seems to be much like dot mac iDisk which I think would be great! Google have the ability to reach across the board and make significant change to how we use computers and the internet in a way that services such as dot mac are limited to active apple users.

Apparently Google are only a few months away from releasing the idea, which would have a free account option with more storage being added by levels of paid accounts, though no prices have yet been disclosed.

"Google’s push underlines a shift in how businesses and consumers approach computing. They are increasingly using the Web to access applications and files stored in massive computer data centers operated by tech companies such as Salesforce.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Google. Such arrangements, made possible by high-speed Internet connections between homes, offices and data centers, aim to ease users’ technology headaches and, in some cases, cut their costs…

…Google’s market power and focus on providing easy-to-use services heighten its chances of having an impact. Google is hoping to distinguish itself from existing online storage services partly by simplifying the process for transferring and opening files. Along with a Web-based interface, Google is trying to let users upload and access files directly from their PC desktops and have the file storage behave for consumers more like another hard drive that is handy at all times, say the people familiar with the matter...

…The company has been tackling technical issues including how to get the storage service to work seamlessly with software on users’ computers so it appears like just another hard drive, say the people familiar with the matter. A document Google inadvertently released on the Web in March 2006 said it was moving toward being able to "store 100% of user data," citing "emails, Web history, pictures, bookmarks" as a few examples. The document referred to what appeared to be unannounced Google initiatives, including one dubbed "GDrive" and said they could help compete with Microsoft.

- Wall Street Journal