Google is making waves in the software industry, pissing off Apple and teasing Microsoft with plans to build an operating system, Chrome, based on its browser of that name. But by skipping the ‘interim’ step of making desktop software it is missing a big and present opportunity. The new model in software is "syncing" in which several platforms–phone, web site, desktop – run "applications" (apps) that synchronize content / data. When given a choice, the browser is usually the last resort for the user. She would rather run an app than open up Safari (et al) and go to a URL. Likewise, it’s easy to open a program on the desktop and enjoy a ‘rich’ experience.

Microsoft understands this, and is able to offer Windows Live Mail, which syncs Email and Contacts and Calendar from the desktop with the Hotmail / ‘Live’ web programs. Google understands this, to the extent of mobile devices and the web (by the way, it licenses the sync technology from MS). But on the desktop, Google only offers..er, Google Desktop. It requires ‘Google Gears’ if you want to access certain apps off-line. In either case, the apps (Calendar, Mail) run through the browser. The apps are ‘read-only’ when off-line: you cannot create a new message or event. Strange.

Google’s offering is the result of a way of thinking that seemed plausible 2 years ago (before Apps and Adobe AIR took off), but now seems silly: that the web means the browser. And it thinks a user accesses a desktop version only when off-line, rather than the other benefits of specialization and richness. Being online does not only mean browsers, but, web browsing does mean being online in people’s mind. People hate using a browser off-line. It’s counter-intuitive. Sure, there’s a lot one can do in a browser as Firefox shows. And there’s a lot more that can be done, as the Chrome OS will no doubt prove. But today, in Dec. 2009, I just want to access my Gmail on the desktop. The best way to do that is with Windows Live mail program (which supports Gmail). But the best overall experience for mail / contacts / calendar syncing is with Windows Live (Hotmail) itself. So I am switching to Live.

Maybe soon Google will at least support an Adobe AIR developer who can make a sweet Google AIR app. Is there anyone out there?

Adobe AIR, Chrome, email, Google, Microsoft, syncing

Most office workers like to look at Facebook on their PCs. But not only is it easier for the user to view their ‘news feed’ on a desktop, it’s also easy for passersby to see. For privacy and job security reasons, the user would prefer to conceal the content and source of data. The Facebook page design is well known and distinguishable from afar. The solution for desktop browsing of a News Feed is to use a desktop application, which is now possible using Adobe AIR technology and the Facebook Feed API (which developers use to tap into the FB server).

I propose making a desktop application that resembles an Excel sheet. Each row could contain, in one column, a friend name, and in the next column, their status or news item. In subsequent columns, the user could ‘like’,'unlike’, and ‘comment.’ In this way, instead of having to “Alt-Tab” away from the Facebook web page to an Excel sheet, the very act of using Facebook would look productive.

Other features: Maybe a workbook could have a sheet for each of Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. And, you could customize the look of the app to resemble your office’s version of Excel (Mac, 2003, 2008 etc). It’s also easy to insert advertising messages. The mockup above innocently includes messages from Del Monte and Coca Cola.

I’m hesitant to create this application because it would likely decrease productivity and because another developer could easily create and market such an app. TweetDeck for example could skin its app to resemble Excel.

But I thought it would be a good sample in my portfolio for an AIR and Facebook app. What do you think?

Adobe AIR, Excel, Facebook, software