Let’s stop mulling it over, for the technically aware there can be no doubt the future of computing is cloud based (both locally and out across the www), it’s going to happen (it is happening). But what does this new virtual world present to us in terms of the good old desktop operating system?

Well, cloud access needs a browser, a browser needs a software platform to run on and a software platform requires a host device. Voice and gesture recognition technology is presently a touch under the horizon for general use so we’ll still need keyboard & mouse functionality, as such it’s a fair bet to expect a substantial increase in laptop style/tablet & personal device (iPhone) use in response to what will be corresponding growth in mobile infrastructure connectivity.
The personal computer will become less “personal” with the mindset for mainstream data ownership shifting away from the concept of local storage and becoming akin to the way vinyl (and soon CD/DVD media) is regarded today, i.e nice to own & “collectable” but at the same time unnecessary and cumbersome in comparison to what will in effect be instant delivery of most any content we can think of, anywhere. It’s true we humans do like to have our “stuff” but lifestyle technology (or should I say Apple) will most certainly re-dictate (re-train?) our behavioural traits.
Spotify is already a real world emerging example of this, why bother paying for GB’s of hard disk storage when you can stream pre-configured playlists to all and any of your your devices for free (albeit with an ad thrown in here and there) with no danger of media corruption? It’s only present infrastructure shortfall restricting increased adoption, but that will change, forces are at work (and have been for some time).

iTunes will expand to become an all encompassing on-line portal where Apple will happily manage all our personal media collections and deliver them back to us through “terminal” devices (be they laptops, dumb screens or variations of the imminent Apple Tablet). Google (of course) will also expand it’s virtual empire to take care of our business enterprise (check out Apps, it’s a killer), and Microsoft? Microsoft are obviously developing their own cloud cover strategy (Azure) but if I had to choose I’d predict a sway toward Google, why? I just think there’s more perceived trust for the big G, and although I do say “perceived” trust it’s also said with a certain degree of irony – “Many a true word” etc, for example – content filtering for word processing files? Your data should be YOUR data (and there begins the case for local cloud systems, more on that another time).

Anyway, browsers. Browsers indeed, and operating systems. A browser is a browser is a browser (more or less) and with Mozillas ubiquitous Firefox available for free across all platforms the question of cost arises. Why pay for an expensive operating system and the high end hardware it needs to function when all you’re running on it is Firefox? Answer – You don’t have to, and that’s where Linux slots in superbly.

Not only is the Linux platform free of charge it’s also incredibly stable and incredibly secure, two things you REALLY want when exposing your personal data to the world (wide web). We did mention Google before and here once again they come into view with their like vision of future cloud access – the “Chrome OS“.

Google vision is going to happen, Google (along with Apples iPhone) are going to take over the world and Chrome OS will be Google’s cloud entry portal, and guess what, Chrome OS is built on Linux. It’s no surprise really, Google know a good thing when they see it.

If you would like to find out more about cloud content storage & delivery through a Linux platform TooMuchGreen can help, we are specialists in this area and offer the full spectrum of Linux based advice and solutions tailored to your business and budget. Feel free to send us a message via the contact page, we would be more than happy to come and visit you to assess your needs.

Cost saving and stability from the cloud, that’s the name of the game for 2010, are you playing?

Up and away from the industrial depths of server side technology and groupware the lighter side of the “home-user” Linux desktop continues to offer a changing face of optional identity. Obviously at ground level we have base GNOME, KDE and XFCE window managers but around the big three rotate a whole array of tweaked distros all claiming to offer the definitive desktop interface of today. Some are barely functional, some are too functional, some try too hard and are confusingly neither and some have completely missed the point, but, there are an odd one or two which actually survive the statutory 60 minute evaluation period and for me gOS is one such release.

gOS stands for “Good Operating System” and is produced by a correspondingly named and relatively recent company based in Los Angeles (Good OS LLC). Through 2007 onwards gOS achieved somewhat greater exposure than regular distros due to pre-installation on the Everex Green PC sold by the US supermarket giant Wal-Mart, several releases later and here we are at version 3.1 – “Gadgets“.

gOS utilises the lean and snappy “Enlightenment E17” window manager in conjunction with GNOME, it’s Ubuntu based which adds to it’s flexibility (all the best distros are these days) and presents a nicely rounded Mac-esque feel focusing heavily on the Web 2.0 world of Google grooviness to provide the full range of G’Apps ready to roll from the OSX-ey style doc. It’s so “Google-centric” they’ve even gone as far as to include Picasa through a pre-configured installation of WINE, a VERY nice touch which offers seamless installation for extra Windows programs (should you wish to install them). There’s a menu tab to install Google Gears and Gadgets are accessed from a task-bar icon for the usual array of desktop annoyance (although I do seem to have taken a shameless liking to the virtual flower pot and to be honest the clock is more useful and less aesthetically cluttering than I thought it would be).

Other pre-installs on the dock include the ubiquitous (and wonderful) Skype VOIP app, Open Office and Pidgin plus configured web links to Firefox, Blogger and YouTube, it’s all very well thought out and comprehensively ready to roll for the Google-ised web populous.

“Regular” Ubuntu appears as normal from the expanding program menu’s to line up all the old favourites (including Thunderbird mail for non Googlers) and although the more hefty Linux user may be disappointed with Tasksel offerings (there’s only a solitary DNS option) gOS isn’t really produced as a server platform, that said Ubuntu is Ubuntu (is Debian) and until Terminal is removed completely the option to add some meat and configure it via the CLI means those of us who wish to do so can still be “serving” under the hood whilst enjoying some fresh eye-candy up front.

For home use I really rate gOS. I think the company is pitching and presenting with intelligent simplicity and I’m also most intrigued with their other offering, the “yet to be released” Cloud, a “browser only” operating system bearing a more than noticeable resemblance to Googles own “yet to be released” Chrome OS (or vice-versa?). Most intriguing indeed.

gOS 3.1 “Gadgets” can be downloaded for free (of course) from the website HERE.

This is the logo (and link) to The Pirate Google website, how long it will stay active for is anyone’s guess

Pirate Google is basically a search site dedicated to pulling back results of torrent searches ONLY from Google, which, as the site shows, you can do yourself through the actual Google search page merely be prefixing any entry string with filetype:torrent.

Now, I’m not saying that pirating movies and creating/posting the resulting torrents should be something which is freely accepted, of course not (however nor am I going to start throwing stones from sections of my *glass* house), plus I’m also a huge Google fan, the reason for me posting this is just to reinforce the issue of double standards (as highlighted by Pirate Google themselves), yes, it’s always the little guy who get’s nailed in life (by the Big Guys with money that nobody dare touch).

One rule for us and and ‘none’ it seems for them….(where is that rule book anyway? Can I get a copy from Amazon?)

Vive Le Revolution…! LOL