Google Rival Taking Advantage Of Google's Offline Access Technology

from the helping-out-a-friend dept

Wed, Aug 22nd 2007 11:30am — Joseph Weisenthal

Back in May, Google announced the release of Google Gears, a set of tools for enabling offline access to web-based apps. Although the trend in software is towards web-based delivery, which Google has embraced wholeheartedly, the inability to access or edit documents when not connected to the internet, remains a concern. Now, one of the first offerings to embrace Gears comes from Zoho, which makes an online office suite that rivals Google's own. As we noted when Gears was first announced, Google was clearly interested in advancing the whole area of web-based software, not just in pushing its own apps. Just as Microsoft seems hesitant to give even the slightest endorsement of this model, Google recognizes that it will benefit, regardless of which offerings users choose in the short term.

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Filed Under: offline access, saas
Companies: google, zoho

10 Comments

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Overcast, 22 Aug 2007 @ 11:38am

I just love Web based software *rolls eyes*

Sorry, had to be sarcastic, most of the web based 'software' is slow and buggy. It's ok for something small, like an email client, but past that - I don't know..

A web form is one thing, an 'application' is another.

Like - Veritas used to have some nice backup monitoring software, but switched it over to a web based app. I don't know anyone who likes the web based setup better. I hate the stupid constant refreshing too - don't have that issue in local apps.
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IF, 22 Aug 2007 @ 11:50am

true
True, but think of where even the applications were 20 years ago. 5¼" floppies w/ boot disks and no hard drive. Thats more clumbsy than a web app today. You have to give it a chance or they wont know how to improve it.

The apps do have a lot of really great features and are currently much faster, but wehre do you think web apps will be in 2-3 years?
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Lanny Rosicky, 22 Aug 2007 @ 11:51am

Web based software
I really do not believe that anyone would entrust their data to any web based storage. It is there for anyone to see - the government, the hackers, the future new order. It is no safer than unencrypted email and we all know who reads that. Nope. Off line for me for ever.
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- ehrichweiss, 22 Aug 2007 @ 3:02pm
  
  Re: Web based software
  "I really do not believe that anyone would entrust their data to any web based storage. It is there for anyone to see - the government, the hackers, the future new order. It is no safer than unencrypted email and we all know who reads that. Nope. Off line for me for ever."
  
  Have you not ever heard of encryption? I don't recall it being said that ANYONE could get at it, SSL encryption is cheap and easy, and actually you're the first person I've seen to suggest that it wouldn't be encrypted which means you're either incredibly well informed, or completely uninformed.
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  - Lanny, 1 Sep 2007 @ 4:07am
    
    Re: Re: Web based software
    Your unkind response shows that you have not understood my post which may be due to my poor English.
    
    My concern is not with the connection security. My concern is with the data existing somewhere. You could explain to us, how you would encrypt a Google document or spreadsheet, so that no one with access to the data could read it.
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- chuck newman, 2 Sep 2007 @ 4:13pm
  
  prague visit
  hi lanny (if i have the right Lanny Rosicky that i met in toronto), could you please email me back.
  
  cheers,
  
  chuck
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arturo, 22 Aug 2007 @ 11:52am

AJAX
Web based applications , nowadays, use a technology named AJAX which avoids lots of refreshing. Web applications are the future evreybody knows that.
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Casper, 22 Aug 2007 @ 12:34pm

Web Apps
I actually like Google Apps. There are two reasons I prefer them over installed office suites. First, I don't have to manage my files on an FTP server any more. I can just log in and get them from Google's servers (who has a larger budget for such things then I do). Second reason, I do not use 95% of the functionality of MS Office or Open Office. It ends up being a hugely bloated spell checker.

I'm sure if I were a secretary or in charge of some kind of publications I would need something more heavy weight, but for quick spreadsheets and typing up documents, I really like Google Apps. Of course, they still ahve a few bugs to work out.
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- EdgarMNG, 22 Aug 2007 @ 12:55pm
  
  Re: Web Apps
  I agree with Casper here. Google Apps rock! In developing countries, where piracy is the norm and Linux is a far fetched option for the average joe, web apps are a great option; specially for small or starting companies.
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- spencermatthewp, 22 Aug 2007 @ 1:04pm
  
  Re: Web Apps
  I have found that for the most part, Google's office suite runs fairly well, and the document app is pretty good overall (although it really does need to handle graphics a little better).
  
  The downfall of any Office suite for me is in the spreadsheets. It seems no one has figured out how to incorporate an analysis pack that come any where close to excel. As much as I loathe Microsoft I am stuck with excel until someone comes up with a nice pack of statistical tools for another spreadsheet app. I know that I could spend hours writing them into macros in open/star office, but I don't have that kind of time.
  
  I will say this of Googles spreadsheet app -- It is one hell of a lot better than Numbers (Mac's new Spreadsheet).
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