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Predictions

by Mike Masnick

Wed, Jul 7th 2004 1:00pm





Does Gmail Prove Web Applications Can Work?

from the fast-as-a-desktop-program dept

Simson Garfinkel is still a bit worried about Gmail's privacy implications, but believes it's one of the first web applications that performs like a desktop application, and believes that's what makes it really powerful. The problem many people have had with hosted applications is the speed at which they run compared to similar desktop apps. However, by using some sophisticated javascript code, Gmail loads a lot of stuff into local memory, making it quite fast, despite being a web app. Of course, there are those who believe that in doing so, Gmail also "breaks the web" in that it doesn't follow typical rules about URLs that a "true" web-based app should follow. There is also the issue, mentioned earlier today about just how safe various online applications are. Either way, it's looking like the vision of the "network computer" might finally be making a comeback. Update: As if on cue, Broadband Reports points us to a new Gmail exploit that shows how some of your info may be vulnerable.

7 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    My stars and garters

    identicon
    David A. Kearns, Jul 7th, 2004 @ 1:56pm

    wow! I might inadvertantly learn the potential username (and full name) of some random Google user! Please tell me what possible nefarious purpose this could have, i.e. - why is this important?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Errrm

    identicon
    Ben, Jul 7th, 2004 @ 2:14pm

    Every time I read about how fantastic GMail is and how great it is that people can write apps in Javascript, I get pissed that the Oddpost guys don't get a mention.

    Oddpost blows Gmail out of the water in terms of javascript features, and (apart from threading) does everything that gmail does and a heap and more.

    Their one huuuge problem is that Oddpost (currently) only runs in IE. I imagine with all the bad IE press, they will have a mozilla/firefox compatible version out pretty soon.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: Errrm

    identicon
    someone, Jul 7th, 2004 @ 2:20pm

    Rumors are flying, by the way, that a large competitor of Google may have recently bought Oddpost... so they should be getting plenty of attention soon. ;)

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: Errrm

    identicon
    Ben, Jul 7th, 2004 @ 7:08pm

    Seriously? Interesting - time to google...

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Gmail, UI

    identicon
    Jesper Ib, Jul 8th, 2004 @ 4:47am

    If they would offer me Gmail at work instead of Outlook, I'll take it any day. The interface is really smart, the label functionality is simple yet efficient - and you can't beat the search speed. They might be able to keep the html compliance clean by just letting 3rd parties mess it up with stuff like notification tools ... you can then just bypass that if you don't want it.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    web applications

    identicon
    David Kaspar, Jul 8th, 2004 @ 6:14am

    Isn't the web version of Outlook 2003 a very good example of a web application?
    Or is it classified as a client only?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  

    Re: Errrm

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jul 8th, 2004 @ 8:55am

    And after 30 days oddpost isn't free, thats one reason gmail gets so much press it's free and a gig of storage. Oddpost no matter how impressive it is is not free and offers 50 mb of storage.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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