REALTOR® Magazine PRINT EDITION - February, 2008
It’s no secret that search engine behemoth Google is muscling in on Microsoft’s territory with its suite of online applications called Google Apps. One of the big drawbacks of using these application tools is that you can only work on them when you are online. That is about to change in a big way…
Free Software Applications On Demand
Google Apps is an online suite of applications including email, chat, calendar and document creation (word processing, spreadsheets and slide presentations). Google Docs is the part of Google Apps that allows you to create, edit, share and manage these documents all through your Web browser for free. Do these online word processor, spreadsheet and slide applications have the same bells and whistles as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint? Not even close. However, for many people and businesses they have enough to get the job done and, in addition to no cost, have the added advantage of allowing collaboration with multiple parties through the Web. Also, you never have to worry about backup because everything is stored on the Google servers.
The problem is, very few people are always online which is a big limitation to the practicality of using these applications. Google in its prescient wisdom recognized this early on and has started a beta program to address this issue for its Google Docs applications and for any other online application from any vendor.
Putting Online Applications Into High Gear
Google Gears is an ambitious initiative that promises to supercharge the ability of online applications to work just like the ones installed on your computer. It is essentially an open source browser extension which enables web applications to provide offline functionality using the following JavaScript APIs (Application Programming Interface):
• Store and serve online application resources on your computer
• Store application data on your computer in a fully-searchable relational database
• Run asynchronous Javascript to help your online applications run faster
The importance and impact of Google Gears cannot be overstated. It is the last piece of the online application puzzle that will finally bring online applications into the mainstream as viable software alternatives to the ones you install on your computer. And remember, Google isn’t just creating this for their Google Docs suite of applications. They are building it so any vendor offering online applications can provide offline functionality. No wonder Microsoft is concerned.
Google Gears is still in beta testing and will eventually be released as a finished product. When it is stand back and watch the entire world of online applications suddenly become viable (and much less costly) alternatives to traditional “shrink wrap” software we’ve all come to love / hate for so long. And when that happens, everyone wins.
NOTE: Mr. Internet®, RUSSER Communications, its staff and officers receive no compensation whatsoever from any third party vendors (unless he/they are directly involved with the creation and/or improvement of a vendor service or product), and make no recommendations as to the suitability of the products or services mentioned in this article. Always thoroughly investigate any product or service before trying or purchasing.
Mr. Internet is the alter-ego of Michael J. Russer, an internationally recognized Internet speaker, trainer, author, and strategic consultant to the real estate industry. He’s dedicated to helping real estate professionals leverage their people skills into profit on the Internet. Send your Internet questions to help@askmrinternet.com or you can visit his Website at http://www.russer.com
This article is reprinted in its entirety from the February 2008 issue of REALTOR® Magazine by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved other than mentioned above. Mr. Internet® is a registered trademark and IEC™ and Ask Mr. Internet!™ are trademarks of RUSSER Communications.
