Oh my god…… I can’t believe it…… Am I dreaming?
Let me preface this by saying: The best systems out there are MACs – NO question about it. However, when it comes to any user interface, the developers at google are so far ahead it’s insane.. In time, I predict there will be free google operating systems for both PC and Macs. I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on both the iphone and the G1 phone (codename “dream”) reading reviews watching the development of both platforms. Needless to say, I’ve been dying to pick one up! I’ve been patient. It’s been hard, BECAUSE for the first time ever, I would streamline all of my programs – MY LIFE…. Seems dramatic, but it’s true: My calender, my contacts, my tasks, my laptop, my imac, my phone (including possibly switching cell phone providers) and finally my email – Which is the most critical aspect of this all. In my life, I spend 97% of the workday on any one of my devices. I’ve been dying for the day that they would all come together. As most of you know, I’m obsessed with efficiencies, I LOVE Systems and productivity. So as an observer of my own life and all those around me, it’s been tough! Watching as one company would offer a great program or application that wouldn’t run on a certain platform – but that other plaform had another great program that you could only get with this one service provider…. etc. It’s all bullsh*t….
I had alot of faith in google – For starters they have the budget for Research and Design, they love simplicity, functionality, userability and most importantly they break apart the traditional roles of applications and programs. I could go on for days. Needless to say, I’ve been leaning towards putting all of my life into google. Over the last year and a half they have created a program or app that files every one of my needs. (and some) But my biggest problem was something I was never sure they would ever be able to fix. E-mail. I love gmail, but my problem was that EVERYTHING was online and unavailable if I was on a plane or without an internet connection. In my line of work almost everything is communicated in email. This has been a HUGE problem….. Until NOW……………………. It’s incredible really…..
Two days ago google added offline support for its Gmail service. Offline Gmail uses Google Gears software to store a copy of your email inbox on your hard disk. When you are connected, this copy is constantly synchronized with Gmail’s servers. When you lose your connection, Gmail switches to using the local copy. You can continue to write messages which are stored in the outbox and automatically sent when a connection is re-established.
The system does not store all messages but uses an algorithm to store automatically only recent emails and those conversations that seem to be important.
There are limitations to the new offering – you can’t add attachments to message while offline, the contact manager is not available and it is currently only available for the English language version of Gmail. I’m sure that over the next 6 months google will work through most of these limitations and surpass any and all expectations.

Needless to say, I’ve spent the last two days switching my entire life over to google. For the first time in my life, everything is on ONE platform and IT IS incredible!
*Heavy sigh*
So efficient………………………………