Google Gears Thoughts

I use Google Gears with Google Reader and find it works quite well. Yet it leaves me wanting so much more –both in capabilities and additional Gears enabled web applications.

A Refresher

In case you’ve missed all the shouting:

Google Gears (BETA) is an open source browser extension that enables web applications to provide offline functionality using [?] JavaScript APIs

For example, with the aforementioned Google Reader, the user has the option of going into an offline mode which copies down the most recent 2000 posts (circled red in the image). Disconnect from the Internet and keep on reading. When the user switches back to online mode the read articles are synchronized. Very slick.

RememberTheMilk’s online list management application has joined the party as well.

Side thought: Anyone keeping a list of gears enabled sites yet?

What’s Missing in Gears?

Let’s suppose you use both RememberTheMilk and Google Reader and are headed for the airport. Of course, it would be nice to sync up before heading out so the apps are both available while on the plane. You better remember to visit both of your Gears enabled sites and switch to offline mode.

That seems to be what’s missing: There should be some sort of a “control panel” page or toolbar option (add it to Google Toolbar?) to get to a one-button online/offline state for all of your apps. Would be a heck of a lot more convenient as more of these sites crop up.

How about…?

Just blue skying a bit here… but using Gears or other means, it seems like there are some sites what would benefit greatly with on/offline capabilities. Perhaps Google will consider leading the way with their tools? How about gears enabled Gmail? Notebook? Calendar?

Or maybe Zoho could jump in with Notebook and/or Planner?

Any other planner or task management apps? Seems this would be heady stuff for the web-based GTD tools…

What might be even more interesting? Let’s get someone in the online office space to try this out. Zoho? Google? (to be honest, I think I vaguely recall a recent announcement of someone doing this but drawing a blank on who it was — anyone help?). I like the web based processors, but not getting to my files (and programs) when not connected to the Internet is dissatisfactory.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Google Gears and Offline Web Applications
2. Remember the Milk Gets Gears
3. Netscape Navigator and Google Gears
4. Farewell Google Gears
5. Google Reader – Offline