Henk van de Goor's Bloggers@large

This week Google launched yet another service to enhance the experience of Internet users in general and Google users in particular; they came up with their own public DNS services. For those who are not tech-savvy: when you type in an address in your browser, your PC sends of a request to what is called a DNS service (Domain Name Server). This will translate the easy to remember name (i.e. www.cnn.com) into a not so easy to remember IP-address like 157.166.226.26. You could look at DNS services like a postman; he knows where to put your mail - well, most of the time ;-). DNS services are provided automatically (and for free) by your Internet provider (ISP) or you would not be able to surf the web or do things like emailing. Anyway; chances are that you, until you read this, didn't even knew about the existence of DNS.

This new Google service immediately sparked some debate among myself and some of my co-workers. I was amazed at some conclusions they drew and some of their reasoning behind it. The same - negative - attitude was also reflected on many Dutch websites (like Tweakers.net) and internet fora. And even a post on "Digitalrendezvouz": a blog of a friend of mine was very critical. It triggered a lengthy response (and discussion) by me and I decided to also post about the same matter on my blog.

First: I am amazed at how much negativity Google is getting lately when they announce new services (Wave, ChromeOS, Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation) or business ventures. And much of it is unfair - in my opinion. It is almost seems like people are looking for a new “Microsoft” to bash.

As long as Google was small and independent it was fine because they we’re kicking the establishments ass. But now Google has gotten big and main stream (i.e. part of the establishment), they suddenly are perceived by many as a threat to privacy? As if Google has some evil master plan.

I don't know if this is just a typical Dutch attitude - but I have a feeling it is. In the US people respect success more than they envy it.

Let me say this: unlike Microsoft, Google has not showed any signs of any intentional (notice the word "intentionally") abuse of their market position whatsoever. Like buying competitors and then killing of their products or blackmailing hardware companies into selling their products with Windows pre-installed for instance – to mention just a few documented court cases against Microsoft.

But let's analyze the criticism more in-depth and have a look at some facts and fiction.
Continue reading "Google bashing the new fashion" »

Ok guys, I was pretty much amazed when I saw this video, showing people fail on a huge scale when asked: "what is a browser". Flabbergasted is actually more like it. It's like people not knowing the answer to the question: "what is an engine"? This video shows people trying to come up with an answer. There is actually a Dutch version of this video as well (crappy), shot in Rotterdam and it shows exactly the same result. Sorry, how can millions of people use a browser, but not know what it actually is? Well to answer the question: a browser is just a piece of software that runs on your computer and enables you to actually look at webpages and "surf the web" in order to see my Blog.

I guess it proofs one point: the browser has become so ubiquitous that people don't even realize it's there!

Big news in IT land today. Google announced officially it's working on Chrome OS. As usual the press immediately translated this news into something like "Google declares war on Microsoft Windows", which is complete and utter nonsense. I used to be a journalist myself and I find it increasingly annoying how the press nowadays is just giving a twist to news that is besides the truth. Just another hype then?

Don't get me wrong: I love competition and the choice for consumers that comes with it. But Chrome OS is not intended to compete with Windows per se, simply because it is targeted at a different group of users. The idea and business model behind Windows is completely different and Chrome OS may become popular - but I don't think it will replace Windows. I simply do not see companies getting rid of Windows in favor of Chrome OS.

So yeah, Microsoft might lose some market share but I predict that will be mainly in the consumer market. To really hurt Microsoft there needs to be a competitor for the business market. We all know IBM tried that once with OS/2, and failed miserably.

Now, the consumer market is another animal. That's where Google has been ripping Microsoft a new asshole as they dominate the web. Google has launched the Google Chrome browser, which has become my standard browser for the web but it hasn't had the impact yet that many people predicted (or hoped for): at the moment Internet Explorer is still loosing market share, but mainly to Mozilla Firefox, not Chrome.

Android, which is a different Google project, is targeted at almost the same audience and devices as Chrome OS will be: netbooks and other mobile (phone) devices. Google admits there is an overlap between the two projects, but states that it believes that "choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google." I second that.

As Google explains: "Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems." That is not the average person. Or better said: that is not the average person now. But we all see how the market is shifting towards a complete "always on, always mobile" .

As I see it there will be a short-term and a long-term effect. Short term effect will be that many manufactures of cheap netdevices (netbooks, mobile phones etc.) will definitely consider Chrome OS as it cuts costs (no license needed as it is open source). But the use of it will be limited or equal to the amount of usefull applications that will developed.

So let's say I want to play the latest cutting edge games: I won't be doing that with Chrome OS. That's not what its for. Say I work for a bank: I'm sure they will not use Chrome OS. Now, if I am a consumer that travels a lot (commuting), I want a no frills lean and mean fast way of getting online. And that's where Chrome OS will score.

Oh, and by the way people: both Android and Chrome OS are based on... Linux! So actually Google is just building on existing experience with existing open source technology and I see it as proof that Linux will become mainstream in the near future. And let's not forget: Mac OS/X is based on several BSD derivatives which is a cousin of Linux.

Bottom line: does Microsoft need to worry about Google Chrome OS? Hell yes! But not for the reasons that the press is trying to make you believe.

It's more because the long-term effect I foresee.

I blogged about it before, but in back in 1995 when Microsoft launched Windows 95, I attended a press meeting with Larry Ellison CEO of Oracle. He predicted the future (of Internet) in a way when he said "the network is the computer".

What he meant was, that he predicted a shift from big 'bloathed' desktop computers to lean, mean machines that connect to the network and 'load' their applications from there. In fact your PC will become a 'dumb terminal' again (like in the old mainframe days) and all that you need will be in a virtual 'cloud computing network' (essentially: the Internet).

Back in '95 this seemed very unlikely because the infrastructure of the Internet was just to weak. We had no ADSL, cable internet was sparse and (fast) connectivity was expensive and unreliable. But low and behold: it is 2009 and the infrastructure has improved so much and costs has come down. So I believe Larry Ellison's vision will become true.

And that's where all the Google pieces come together (also Google Wave etc).. Google understands the future. Google is the Microsoft of the future.

So yes: it maybe is a hype today (explained the wrong way by the press), but it will be a reality tomorrow.

The future is bright. The future is Google online.

Forget about Bing. Do the Google Wave! While the evil forces of steve Ballmer were introducing their feeble attempt to regain control over the Internet with their search engine 'answer machine' Bling Bing, Google had their own party. While Steve was trying to do his best to convince the press why Bing will be important, Google VP of Engineering was rocking with his own keynote speech. The same developers that gave us Google Maps (it's just brilliant), came up with a new technology called "Wave". And yes, as with all Google products, its going to be available for everyone and there will be API's for programmers that want to do their own cool things with it.

So, the most important question is: what the heck IS Wave? In Google's own words:

"Google Wave is a new model for communication and collaboration on the web."

Now, that is as generic a statement as you can make, I guess. As far as I am concerned Wave is Google applications (Docs, Reader, etc..) on steroids. Anyway: looking at the video that Google made during the presentation, is probably telling you a lot more then I can. No wonder that at the end of the presentation about 4000 developers were cheering like crazy. Once again Google schooled Microsoft on how to do things.. The Web Way.

So check out the video below

Seems like Microsoft is still trying to get back in the race for dominating the Internet. Or should I say: trying to beat Google? I haven't been following too much of this, as I have been quite busy lately, but it seems that Microsoft is working on a new search engine technology called... "Bing". That's right folks; not 'bling bling' but 'Bing'. Last Thursday (May 28th), Steve Ballmer (yes, him again) revealed this latest attempt to catch up with Google and make good on their completely failed "Live" search engine. Bing is based on the technology from a firm called Powerset, bought by Microsoft for a whopping $100 billion last year.

If you are interested (...) you can find out what Microsoft claims are about what makes 'Bing' different than Google, by going to this website: http://www.discoverbing.com/ (catch phrase: "bing & decide").

Bing? Sounds like the sound my microwave makes when my TV dinner is cooked.