I think that it's time for Google to integrate all their services (Search, Gmail, Spread sheet, Docs, Calendar, Orkut, Groups, Picassa, Pages, Maps, etc) to one single window OR move them down from browser executable to something that can be executed on a microprocessor, leaving HTTP. And I believe that they are going to do that sooner or later...
The one thing that I am not satisfied with Google is the way they have organized the address book. Look at Microsoft Outlooks address book. Combined with Ms Exchange, it is damn good. Say Google is something like a big exchange server handling all our mails, contacts, calendars, meetings, etc.. The Gmail and all are client programs connected to that big server… The only thing lacking is that they do not provide a mechanism for separating your personal life and office life. If they provide support for things like domains and directory services and categorize all the resources, then we can do our personal as well as official web based presence through Google.
I think the effort to categorize friends in Orkut is a good starting point. But Orkut friends list and Gmail address books are two different things even now… People will start noticing this when they try to collaborate online using Googles online office or share documents they created/uploaded in docs and spread sheets or Picassa. Right now, there is no option for sharing your photo album with all members in your family or all your colleagues with one click.
Already there are rumors that Google is killing their user pool by adding that beta tag to all their services, pointing to it when we ask about the bugs in the system. Then they have to find a solution for the loading time of their services. Anyway Google can do it whistling a song as they are not going to get any good competitors in this field except Microsoft…
If you found this post interesting visit my views on a similar concept at DynaOS.blogspot.com
Faiz
