The move by Google is sure to leave Apple and Microsoft shaking in their boots, and quite frankly, I鈥檓 certain this is the beginning of the end for Ubuntu & co. What I鈥檇 like to focus on here however is Apple, a company which just weeks ago I couldn鈥檛 see myself ever abandoning, and who had convinced me that beauty, elegance and reliability were my top priorities when it came to an operating system.
Since the increasing development and improvement of Google Apps (and web apps as a whole), the increased speed of Chrome, the release of Android and now, the Google OS. I鈥檓 left torn. Nearly everything I currently do is online, and I鈥檇 say approximately 80% involves Google Apps. I realise, your average non-geek Joe is a long long way from this, but I鈥檝e never been more convinced that in time 鈥 everyone will use the web, an online word processor/spreadsheet etc.. (probably Google Docs) to work just as many have used windows and office for so long.
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Commitment to Google Apps
My current commitment to Google Apps (until something better comes along of course) has left me frequently day-dreaming. Entertaining ideas of what it would be like to truly incorporate all my primary web services into an operating system designed to really make sure they work as best as they possibly can. An operating system so reliable, smooth, fast and secure that using the web would feel local.
My day-dreams came true today, and it means I鈥檓 left wondering what Apple can bring to the table between now and Google鈥檚 OS release, aside from a gorgeous UI and decent hardware that will pumped about Apple again. After two years with the iPhone I鈥檓 already considering abandoning the device for an Android phone, primarily because of its integration with Google鈥檚 applications. Android has a local Gmail client, maps is fully featured, everything is pushed, email, contacts and calendar events鈥ts all slick and its all built in.
The point is this鈥
As long as Google and web applications continue to improve at the rate they are, Apple is the only company I can see with potential to retain its current user base, but to do it, they鈥檙e going to have to start thinking far more Google-like. Apple鈥檚 propriety strategy, I believe, is an advantage, but Google鈥檚 offerings are increasingly more attractive a proposition and unless Apple rethink their local OS strategy (as I鈥檓 sure they will by the way), this is the beginning of an era of Google dominance, the likes of which we鈥檝e never seen before.
The company is slowly but surely taking over every aspect of our lives from email (a backbone to nearly all our lives), to how we work, video and photosharing, how we maintain voice communication, the operating system our phone runs on鈥or some its scary, for me鈥 I鈥檓 excited. And for now at least, the one company I want to see step up to Google鈥檚 surge in dominance is Apple, and I predict they will, but its not going to be easy.
Although, I am writing Microsoft鈥檚 long term consumer market off now, and saying loud and clear that the future is Google vs. Apple. Robert Scoble has just posted on Friendfeed: 鈥淲hy did Google announce Chrome OS this week? Well, of course, Microsoft has a big announcement coming on Monday (I鈥檓 embargoed).鈥 So you never know, I could of course be very very wrong and Microsoft might just have a few tricks up its sleeve, one might work..I doubt it.
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