The Cloud, Google, the Future, PM’s View

Popular Mechanics has a very interesting piece on Google’s GDrive. The core of the article is a discussion with security –

Leaving files exclusively on a virtual drive or data cloud could, eventually, usher in a new era of computing where mobile devices replace large, clunky desktops sitting in offices and homes. A virtual drive means that your cellphone, MP3 player and laptop all draw from the same data and sync with one another seamlessly. Take a photo on your camera, and it’s ready to be retrieved by your laptop to edit. Create a spreadsheet on your laptop, then add to it on your cellphone during your next train ride. The Gdrive looks like it will take a quantum leap in that direction—whether you like it or not. “

First a little background. Most readers have probably heard of Gmail. We use it here at ThirdPipe. I use it personally as well. But many are not aware that then Gmail went thru a second update that Google provided the ability to use the free space on the Gmail account for drive storage. For example if you use Firefox or Mozilla there are applets that available to utilize that space online. Google “GSpace” for the applet. GSpace as a public offering will happen in in 2008 from all accounts.

Second, security as detailed in the article. I think to a fine point, PM missed the opportunity for the end user to encrypt the file(s). I routinely encrypt sensitive files with GnuPG or Ncrypt then upload them with GSpace to my Gmail account for safe backup. Anyone can do it and it would reasonably solve any concerns about Google scanning your files for AdSense discovery. When Google opens up GSpace it would be wise to provide 2 options. 1) A built in encryption subassembly. User supplies the private key and files uploaded are encrypted. Downloaded the key is asked for an decrypted on the fly. Could a key component be OpenID? I think so. 2) Totally open an the end user enables their own encryption plan as they desire. Either way, the issue of snooping would be moot.

Third, the impact to Wireless technology. Permit me to lay some ground work. Assume that it is now Dec 2008. Google has won a 700mhz band license. Android is showing up in device form. GSpace is implemented. So what synergies can be had out of this?

• The first thing I can envision is disruptive pricing for wireless Android enabled devices. Surely Android will implement a seamless encrypted GSpace link. A key price point of handhelds is RAM for storage and programs. With a seamless WiMax link the memory required insitu of the device is minimized reducing its system cost vis a vis devices that do not use virtual wireless storage.
• The form and function of a PC will probably change. Again back to storage, aka the hard drive. Nothing wrong with a hard drive other than its the last mechanical component on a PC which makes it the weak link on reliability. But SSD (Solid State Drives) are about to pop sometime in 2008. Add Wimax-GSpace to this. Then consider an OS that is burned in Flash memory. [aka, WinCE like or embedded Linux]

  Fold it all together and you could have a PC that would be no larger than a cable modem. All the functions would be there. But it would be much like a Sun SunRay without being a SunRay. But it would be a net computer with some local storage. Offsite storage would be xD/CF/Microdrive cards. All primary storage would be in the Internet Cloud. But no moving parts folks. [But of course if you are data paranoid, plug in a usb external drive and be done with it. User choice.]

• Finally, figure by 2010 either Google or one of its partners along with Intel will develop a hybrid device that is a dockable handheld device. This device in form would be much like iPods and it plothera of dockable accessories. Plug it into the base and rather than being a 2core device it now a 8 or 12core unit. Data syncing is performed automatically for backup. The two units would select the fastest available transport automatically. Surely there is more that could be dreamed up as well.

Truly a brave new world ahead.