Skip to main content

Google Spreadsheets

Google is launching web-based spreadsheet application called Google Spreadsheets.

Still under beta test, requiring invites to try out this new application; nothing much can be said about the application & its future as of now. But, as I was going through various news articles, people are already claiming that Google is seriously competing with Microsoft by launching this spreadsheet program. In my opinion, it’s just small view of a bigger vision.

For, I believe it’s not just about Google taking on Microsoft or any other XYZ Co., but what Google is trying to achieve is reducing the dependance of the users on an operating system largely.

When we observe the recent moves made by Google, we observe that Google launched Email, Instant Messaging, Calendar etc and now Google Spreadsheets, a spreadsheet application. The straight & obvious advantage of all such applications is availability on the web, so no matter where you are, you’ve access to your information everytime; no more dependancy on the personal desktop PC, that is. Whenever you need to search, share files; you can use Google Search, email/invite people & share the files.

The only skepticism would be the usability of such applications, as they are web based & security of the information. Usability I would define, how responsive the application is while the user is working on it. Well, a web based application is not that responsive in comparison to a desktop based application, but largely all such applications are usable as most of them are javascript based, which gets downloaded once the application is accessed through the Web Browser.

Regarding the security of the data, it’s as secure/insecure that your email account is. Since, it’s password protected, we can say the data is safe/secure till the time you’ve chosen a medium-to-high strength password. But then, most of the desktop pc’s are also not completely safe. It’s a debatable topic, for people also doubt the security/integrity of the provider of such applications.

So, I observe that Google is not competing with Microsoft by launching another Operating System, but they’re eliminating/diminishing the role of the OS itself for the users by offering web based applications & I agree that such approach is right & smart.

It’s hitting the market perfectly with every application it has launched. Now, all these developments could be labelled as Google killing Microsoft or killing similar desktop applications viz. OpenOffice Calc alike.

Popular posts from this blog

iPod Nano 5G synchronization issues in Ubuntu

I was able to manage my iPod Nano using Ubuntu until now. When I recently upgraded to Ubuntu 11.04 Natty which was a clean install, a weird problem started. I could not synchronize my iPod using any application like Banshee, Rhythmbox, gtkpod, Amarok etc. On closer look, I realized that when I transferred any file, it was copied to the iPod but the database on iPod was not updated. None of the applications seemed to work and it was same error in each case. Since the iPod database was not updated, iPod could not see the file and was unable to play it. It was an iPod Nano generation 5, which comes with a video camera on the back side. To debug the issue, I executed Banshee in debug mode (banshee -debug on the terminal), and I noticed the following error when trying to transfer any file on iPod. ‘Failed to save iPod database – GLib.GException: Failed to generate sqlite database (in `libgpod-sharp)’ I searched for solutions on Internet but was confused at various solutions suggest...

Sydney Trip

I went to Sydney on a business trip for 2-3 weeks. Since, it was a business trip I was going to travel alone and miss my family. Therefore, I appreciated the short duration of the trip but it did not feel like a short one. Most of it was work only and some time for me during the two weekends. I had decided to make the most of available time instead of idling and feel more homesick. Also, I was going to stay in the CBD area so it was a big advantageous factor since not much effort was to be spent for sightseeing. The journey began with the longest flight I’ve ever been on (17 hours) with a stopover at Bangkok for 2 hours. I had a terrible time in the flight from Delhi to Bangkok; I was struggling a lot in the airplane seats and couldn’t sleep at all. However, the flight from Bangkok to Sydney was much better. On my flight from Bangkok to Sydney, an Australian lady was seated at the window seat on my right hand side. She asked me if I wanted to swap my seat with hers as I had starte...

Configuration of Gmail on Gnus/Emacs (Ubuntu Gutsy)

I tried configuring Gnus/Emacs to send/receive mails through Gmail using IMAP/SMTP protocol on my Ubuntu-Gutsy Linux Box. Emacs Version: 22.1.1 Gnus Version: 5.11 I performed the following steps: I had to install sendmail and starttls programs using apt-get first and start sendmail service. Enable IMAP support for your Gmail account online as described here : http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=77695 Create a file named .gnus.el in your home directory and copy the configuration as given below: ;; Configuration of ~/.gnus.el ;; Customize the next three lines with your ISP information. (load "starttls") (load-library "smtpmail") (setq user-mail-address "username@gmail.com") (setq user-full-name "User Name") ;; Configure incoming mail (IMAP) (setq gnus-select-method '(nnimap "gmail" (nnimap-address "imap.gmail.com") (nnimap-server-port 993) ...