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Google's Next Steps

danimlp writes "An article at SearchEngineWatch states that Google and Yahoo have become as almost parts of the operating system, a 'layer' above Linux, Windows or Mac OS. Another article at Kottke.org says that Google is building a a huge computer with a custom operating system that everyone on earth can have an account on. Some people predicts that, after Gmail, Google could start a new instant message service or even its own electronic currency."

21 of 355 comments (clear)

  1. Re:GooOS by KrispyKringle · · Score: 3, Informative

    Considering that the Google Toolbar only works on IE, Google doesn't actually come across as THAT Linux-friendly (as a client; obviously, they use Linux industrially-speaking).

  2. Argh! by dbarclay10 · · Score: 3, Informative
    Google is a company that has built a single very large, custom computer. It's running their own cluster operating system.

    ARGH! LINUX!?!?

    Not that Google's magic isn't in their own software, but the least they could do is mention that it's running on Linux.

    --

    Barclay family motto:
    Aut agere aut mori.
    (Either action or death.)
  3. Re:Let me be the first to say... by platipusrc · · Score: 4, Informative
    lies!!

    --
    Whois Server Version 1.3

    Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
    with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
    for detailed information.

    No match for "GPONY.COM".

    >>> Last update of whois database: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 07:11:51 EDT <<<
    --
    --
    And the muscular cyborg German dudes dance with sexy French Canadians
  4. If oyu want to google your email... by curious.corn · · Score: 2, Informative

    ... try ZOE. The interface is sometimes clumsy, but the idea and the feeling are king.

    --
    Mi domando chi à il mandante di tutte le cazzate che faccio - Altan
  5. Re:GooOS by maxbang · · Score: 3, Informative

    I used to love the toolbar, but that was before I 1) discovered Mozilla, and 2) switched to Linux. Mozilla already has a built-in search Google functionality in the address bar. Firefox has a separate box just for searches on Google. On Opera for a search on Google, I just type in 'g' and my search terms and it will automatically send a query to Google for me. I don't have a Mac, so I don't know about Safari. I think Konqueror and Galeon have similar functionality. All three browsers have built-in pop-up blocking technology and good autoform support. Those are the only three things I have ever used the Google toolbar for, and all three are only lacking in IE. I don't think the toolbar fixes any security holes in IE. Point is, anyone still on Windows needs to switch to something different as soon as they can. Along with built-in google toolbar functionality, they'll get a much superior web experience.

    --
    I also reply below your current threshold.
  6. All of this... by No.+24601 · · Score: 4, Informative
    is just pure speculation. I think it's foolish to think that Google can translate their "limitless" (ya sure) computing power into actual revenue. This essentially boils down to whether people are willing to give up the freedom they have storing and managing their data on their PC. Remember .NET ;)

    There is limited demand for web services today and I don't see this demand growing in the near future. There's only so much one can do in a web browser before you're better off working locally. Things like client-side ActiveX and Java, while supposedly making web services a reality, are slow, bulky, ugly and difficult to use.

    Besides their foray into email (essentially nothing new), Google will find little potential for growth in their product line. I think the company should stick to improving their search technology by getting access to more data sources and making their results more relevant (there is still much work to be done!)... that's if they want to be dominant player 5 years from now.

  7. Re:Wow, Google IM! by SansTinfoilHat · · Score: 2, Informative

    It interfaces with Gmail (all the benefits of MSN/Hotmail, none of the drawbacks! w00t!) Gmail isn't even out yet. You have no way of knowing that it will have "none of the drawbacks".

  8. Googlebar for Mozilla by jrockway · · Score: 4, Informative

    True, and this is the google baar for mozilla, if you want one :)

    --
    My other car is first.
  9. Re:Not another "standard"! by uhoreg · · Score: 2, Informative

    It should be fairly trivial to add email notification via a Jabber client. As long as they have good spam filtering -- I don't want to be bothered whenever new spam appears in my inbox.

    --

    To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three persons, two of them absent.

  10. Re:Let me be the first to say... by MrNonchalant · · Score: 2, Informative

    Note for anyone as gullible as myself: The DNS record is forged, gpony.com is not registered.

  11. Microsoft's own layer by Mahler · · Score: 2, Informative

    I believe Microsoft is working on a search system integrated into the next Windows version.

  12. Re:two good alternative currencies by sashako · · Score: 2, Informative

    two even better alternative currencies (though they are complementary currencies, unlike e-gold) DEM and Geek Credit. Both are p2p and can work w/o banker.

  13. GMail Beta by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    I'm on the GMail Beta test, and it is indeed possible to delete email messages. Archive is the "default" action, but you can delete them if you really want to.

  14. Re:Does anyone here HAVE a Gmail account? by KFury · · Score: 4, Informative

    I have a Gmail account, but then I helped build the thing.

    No, current users aren't under an NDA.

  15. Re:Yahoo what? by bluesnowmonkey · · Score: 2, Informative

    I personally use Yahoo Yellow Pages on a frequent basis. Personally, I find it almost as valuable as a good search engine. (You do know go out, don't you? As in, into the "real world.") Maps, Mail, and Groups are occasionally useful too, and I always hear about people playing in Yahoo Games.

    Let me put this into riddle form for you: No one searches the web with Yahoo, yet millions of people use Yahoo every day.

    Let me know when you figure it out.

  16. Re:GooOS by memco · · Score: 1, Informative

    Safari has a built in google search next to the address bar. Also has the pop-up features you mentioned. IE as always is the only one lacking all the good stuff.

    --
    Get me a meat pie floater!
  17. Re:GooOS by vegetasaiyajin · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nothing beats konqueror support for google and other things.

    To search, yo simply put gg: plus the search terms on the location bar.
    To search on google images, yo put ggi:
    You can make your own for whatever site you like.

    --

    My heart is pure, but make no mistake, it's pure evil
  18. Re:GooOS by an_mo · · Score: 2, Informative

    I can search/feel lucky google with mozilla without putting the gg

  19. Re:GooOS by It'sYerMam · · Score: 3, Informative
    Firefox beats this.

    You can customize bookmarks to be "quick searches." Basically, you assign a keyword to the bookmark, and typing that keyword takes you to the site.
    Then, you stick %s in the URL where the search query goes, and what you put after the keyword is used as the query.
    This means you can quick-search anything - dictionary.com, thesaurus... you name it, if it uses CGI, it can be done.

    --
    im in ur .sig, writin ur memes.
  20. Re:Let me be the first to say... by destiny_uk · · Score: 1, Informative

    This SQL wouldn't work, cause you need to specify what you're selecting, unlike with a DELETE clause. SELECT * FROM .... etc. Maybe he does have a sense of humour?

  21. Re:gBucks? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    no one successful comes out of Stanford undergrad

    John Elway.

    Now the question is: did I confirm you refute your statement?