Via a post on Google Operating System, I learned today that Google Browser Sync will be discontinued at the end of the year. It was a pretty neat idea: You’d install a Firefox extension on your browser, which would upload your web history, cookies, etc. to a central server. Then if you installed the same extension on another browser, you’d be sync your browser state between machines. Basically, this means that each browser would appear to function as the same browser.

That’s a shame, I thought it was a good idea. I tried using it for a while and thought it was pretty neat, but I had to stop using it for a couple reason:

1.) Security. I don’t like the idea of my cookies and web browsing history in the hands of another party. Mostly the web-history, too. I develop sites for a living, and there are some URLs in my history that I don’t want anybody else to see. Passing URLs, even as a Firefox data, is not something I can responsibly allow.

2.) Had to start separating work from home. One of the best features of the program is that it lets you close down your browser at work, drive home, and then bring up the same browser, but think about that. Is that something you really want to do? I work from home enough, so when I’m on my home laptop I’d rather just have all of my work URL’s out of my sight.

These problems aside, I thought Google Browser Sync was a neat idea. According to the post above there are some alternatives, and perhaps I’ll check them out soon.

I just read an article that pointed out that out of the four big email providers, Google’s Gmail now offers the least amount of storage. This is interesting because just a few years ago when most providers were offering between only 2 MB to 10 MB, Gmail jumped on the scene by offering 1 GB of storage. That made the storage for other email services look pretty pathetic, so they had to step up their game. Now that Microsoft has announced that they’re bumping their storage up to 5 GBs, now Google is the one that’s behind everybody else.

This reminds me of one of longer-lasting benefits of great ideas and products under capitalism. Not only do you get the short-term benefits of that idea or product, but you’re also going to get the benefits of all of the competing products that will come about by those who are trying to compete. Google’s idea to offer such a vast amount of storage pushed everyone to offer the same within a few years. Now what’s going to happen when Google fights back? Whatever they do, we’re going to receive the benefits. Competition is good.

There is a somewhat new feature with Google Maps that many people may not be aware of. Google Maps now lets you adjust the driving directions it provides by dragging the line on the map to new locations. The line will automatically adjust to where you move it and give new directions.

It may not seem like a big deal, but it makes adjusting and fixing online directions much easier. My home address is a great example of the potential uses for this new feature. I know better than to list my address here, so I’ll just say that there has been recent construction around my home that makes giving directions difficult. The road most mapping software tells people to turn on no longer exists and the new route doesn’t show up on some maps, so I usually tell people to call me once they get close. Now, I can drag the directions around the missing roads and to an alternate, simpler (but slightly longer) route.

Try this link to see it for yourself. This route is from Arrowhead Stadium to my old apartment in downtown Kansas City. Normally the directions would have you take I-70 most of the way, but I drug the route north to take Independence Ave.

Check it out!

Congratulations are due to Google! Once people start talking about whether the government should restrict what a company in what it can do because the company is too big, you know you must be very successful.

Note that the author says that Google has grow so quick while being “fair in square,” but that the government still needs to step in. Now the only thing that is missing is the attempts to demonize Google, but I’m sure it’s coming.