John's Technology Blog

Cloud-Based Apps, One step closer.

Last week I enjoyed several energetic conversations with my tech peers at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World 2010 conference.  Cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) were popular topics.

At the same time, Google made three major announcements that make their Google Apps family more interesting and capable. 

1) The more exciting news was the purchase of DocVerse, a company that brought us collaboration from within MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.  This will be integrated into Google Apps although details are sketchy at this point.  This removes the excuse of features missing from cloud-based apps, and keeps the experience familiar for power users.

2) Another announcement was around Google offering advanced backup for the Apps Suite.  Details are still out, but it should provide disaster recovery (DR) level options on all the files.

3) The launch of the Google Apps Marketplace, where other cloud service providers can sell their integrated products.  Integration with other SaaS is often weak at this early stage, but Single Sign On (SSO) is appearing regularly.  The workflow vendors such as RunMyProcess offer great promise for this sector.The Marketplace also lists many consulting shops doing Google Apps configuration and development. 

These are the pieces we need, steadily coming together.  I only wish Microsoft were competing in a more timely manner -- just to keep Google honest.

PS: I'll be talking cloud stuff in April at Computerworld's SNW conference in Orlando with the folks from Nasuni.

The future of mapping - Bing Maps at TED 2010

Microsoft's Bing is poised to overtake Google Maps in creative uses of the mapping user interface.

The implications for real estate are endless. Imagine going from city map to street map, to bird's eye view to street view -- and then walking into a photosynth-powered virtual tour of the interior of a listing. 

Very Real Estate 2.0.

Watch Blaise Aguera y Arcas do his demo:

Major change in Google's China policy - great news

Google is lifting their agreed-upon Chinese censorship and is prepared to walk away from their entire China business after the latest attack originating in China targeting corporate intellectual property and human rights activists working on Chinese issues.  This tells me that: 1) the burden of proof has been met, 2) they don't see these attacks stopping, 3) the government is involved.  Wow.  Remember "don't be evil?" 

Now, who has the guts to follow Google?

A must from the Google Corporate blog:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-china.html

Following rules only take you so far...

Enjoy Barry Schwartz reminding us to go beyond rules and be wise. Thanks TED.com

Global Internet Usage - 2008

This graph shows the changing global internet trends as of the end of 2008. I am surprised by how much bandwidth is used by P2P. I almost never see pages in languages other than English, yet maybe I should be looking for that content.
http://ping.fm/fVJOp

Google plans Chrome-based Web operating system | Webware - CNET

The plans are finally and officially in the open.  Google plans Chrome-based Web  operating system.  This will be a game changer in the following way: currently most web developers do not make Chrome compatibility a top priority, but that would have to change.  That means another reason to not build on ActiveX (Internet Explorer exclusive) and favor open standards. 

Get your Windows 7 at half price

Just pre-ordered Windows 7 at 50% off. Only 3 days left at this price. Time to stock-up. http://tinyurl.com/kmd7md

How to run a social change campaign

Here is an example of how to organize a crowd around an issue.  The old sign-the-petition campaign comes to twitter and is helped by this simple yet very appealing site: Outlook’s broken—Let’s fix it.  The background is reminiscent of the display Apple used at this year's WWDC to show the success of the iPhone App Store.  (watch the video to get the full effect).   Sure makes visitors feel as though they are part of a larger movement.

Snow Leopard for $29 - Windows 7 for $???

Apple has set the bar at the right level with their announcement that the new OS Snow Leopard, due in September, will cost $29 to upgrade. 

$29.

This is what Windows 7 will be measured against in late October when it is released.   How about it Redmond?  Can you match the $29?  Can you at least be reasonable with pricing and/or family licensing?  Please call on all those sad Vista memories and find the inspiration to do the right thing and chose a price that tells the world you learned from your own painful past.

Myst - makes it on to the iPhone

If the name Myst (or Riven) doesn't ring a bell, skip this note.  Otherwise you will be interested in knowing that the Myst, that great adventure game originally released in 1993 is now available for the iPhone.  Yes, the iPhone.  The game is a 700MB download from the App Store, but it works.  Sure, Myst is no longer cutting edge, but the thought that such a "world" fits on my palm still blows my mind.  The playing guide alone was 20X the volume and weight of the iPhone.
Myst - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.