(Tech) Cloud 9 ? (Web Apps vs Desktop Apps)

[rs43rs]

Most of the disadvantages u mentioned about web apps can be easily overcome with intelligent working , all the backs ups facilities etc can b easily provided to work offline.. but the advantages that v have with web apps cant b completely and efficiently full filled by cloud in most of the cases.. for me surely web apps are primary.. cloud is secondary..

[topcat5665]

interesting... I don't use web apps, I use my computer HD

[aigar123]

Good and interesting video

[TimUK90]

A very good video, I totally agree.

Subscribed ;)

[Deafkid10]

I think on the idea of "being able to access your documents and apps anywhere that has an internet connection" is a bit outdone by the current option of USB Flash memory OS's. Many Linux distributions currently can be installed to a flash drive, can be used on any computer you plug them into, with space to save files inside the drive.

[mrbit10]

I have no problem with sharing and collaboration, but will not switch to computing on the web, it centralizes computing when all of our efforts are for distributive computing. I myself program many web apps to allow easier sharing and cost efficient way to collaborate. That said forcing all computing to go to the web, we are many years away from having a worthy backbone to support it.

[Kapishi]

Agreed. It takes too much freedom away. I also hate the Microsoft's idea about pay-per-use computer service they are thinking about implementing in the near future.

[DRBUK]

per use computers, dumbest idea, but i have a feeling they could make a lot of money, but i heard the the patent has been turned down, and they are going to re-apply.

[carlheanerd]

Cloud technology is coming along at a really fast pace. No, it won't replace disk-intensive apps (until fios=dialup) however, I see that productivity apps can easily have a "web version" that comes free with your local version.

On a side note, Microsoft is developing a cloud service called RedDog, that would be a neat topic of discussion.

[Secret1337]

They named it Azure actually . . . but if We're talking about 2 different things please enlighten me.

[carlheanerd]

I think Red Dog was the R&D codename for it. I hope Azure succeeds, along with Win7. They need it. (BTW, Mac is my primary OS).

[Secret1337]

well i also have a mac [I'm using it now] but since it doesn't have a keyboard i use a windows laptop as my primary PC . . .

[xFYCNxcps22]

I guess i am the only one who likes the idea, lol. I would love to have iWork 09 cloud, of course with the option to install on your HDD. I am never on my mac without internet, so i love it. Less hdd space taken up, less ram taken, less cpu, since you are doing 2 things in one app ( Safari). Cloud is the way everything is going, we have to get used to that. I love that i won't have all the crap on my HDD, and on a server, it makes your computer run faster, and enhances the overall experience.

[Secret1337]

Negative, I don't mind if Office applications are on the internet...

but with Games and Other things like that we need it to have DIRECT access to the Hardware on our PC's.

I'm not saying Cloud is bad, I'm just saying it hasn't been perfected yet.

[WorkTheShell]

There is a feature in OS X that allows you to have your iDisk available offline. Under mobileme preferences you can set iDisk Sync.

I have mine set to sync. This way, whether I have access to the internet or not, I always have my iDisk. Furthermore, if I happen to be on a different computer with internet access, I have access to my iDisk. So essentially, iDisk is always available to me, except in a rare situation where I'm on some other computer without internet access.

[Pinwormx]

Meh, I like desktop apps.

[projiuk]

interestingly though, microsoft have been working on putting office online, i've not had a chance to look at it myself, but given the amount of money MS are investing in "Cloud" computing, there's a good chance it should be something pretty good.

[projiuk]

speed is not as big an issue as it may seem, with remote connectivity using systems like citrix, the performance is generally pretty good. certainly good enough that businesses are moving to a thin client network with internal servers hosting all user apps etc.

that said the load on the servers can be quite high when using heavy processing based apps. i can't see photoshop cs4 being cloud based without limitations, but ms office and google docs do work pretty well

[Brukki]

I can't wait for the day the entire OS moves onto web servers although I do agree the webs reliability needs address before it can happen, Google are nearly there with Google Gears which allows you to access your web apps even without an internet connection & I don't think were too far away from seeing a 100% web based OS probably within the next 3-5 years.

[reallyred123]

I would like maybe something little online that has to do with those programs but i would like them to just keep the desktop apps, much more reliable.

[YEE941]

Agreed

[twgoldwood]

isnt cloud nine a george harrison album?

[DRJ0K3R]

I really don't think web apps will begin to replace desktop apps UNTIL internet speeds increase dramatically (as in Japan) and readily available to the general public.

[Edfrommars]

Agreed. I also find it ridiculous how the a-hole telecom companies are too cheap to upgrade their networks... America's not even in the top 10 when it comes to internet speeds, and that's PATHETIC considering we are the ones who invented the damn thing.

[ashinyjade]

Agreed

[tavogp]

it sounds like cloud would do better for only some apps not all

[piratedave89]

Is Twitterrific an example of a Web App? That's basically a empty database that gets its data items from the net right? I use that all the time, maybe 'Cloud Pages' 2010 would just get it's instructions (code) from the net or sumink?

[kyle8293]

no twitterrific isd a desktop app that accesses the web kinda like safari in a sense

[Runner50783]

I really like you have talked about this topic... "The Cloud", is a technology movement that will just make us more net-dependent. Corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple are pushing up this technology because is seen as the XX century way to take money out of your pocket, reliably and constantly... You are not just going to depend on an ISP, now you will depend on what application service provider ASP? Don't support this, as we did not support DRM and was taken down by the ones who care...

[brandonmrv]

I don't like the cloud idea right now I like my reports all of my docs all of it right there on my computer maybe in a couple years as things like internet speed and reliability increase then maybe but for now I would like it my computer completely urn reliant on any server possibly thousands of miles away

[SubJuiced]

i think iWork would be really good in 'the clouds'. it would be like google docs (i think its called that)

[ki2594]

i would love some applications on the web, just definitely not everything, you right...it sure as hell isn't a substitute, at least for now.

[Fireflame117]

What if the web apps were implented with the mobile me subscription so basically it was part of the mobile me service as I assume the web apps would be targeted for the type of people that use mobile me.

[lawrencejob1]

I'm pretty sure this isn't what the rumour's about.

Sounds more like MobileMe and iWork syncing better, not necessarily a total replacement.

Does that make more sense now?

[cphellp]

I love the long videos keep them up

[chazybrewster]

I'm loving the longer videos. Like you've said before, if people don't want to watch the whole thing they don't have to. Personally, I've been watching even your longest videos in full

[greenday052492]

If I understand how the whole cloud thing works, it could be great for some people. Using any computer and just going online and accessing your programs, but bad in the fact that if the internet is down, you're basically screwed. I prefer having my apps on my hard drive.

[Salvakins704]

it's a good and bad thing

i prefer having it on my harddrive not webapp

[mobilephone2003]

I'd like to see both implemented. eg I work inside pages and as I work it incrementally backs it up to a web version so that I can work when away, or on a computer which doesn't have the software/OS

Apps won't go completely cloud, we'd only need a web browser for computing.

[DRBUK]

Apps won't go completely cloud, we'd only need a web browser for computing.

well thats the point.lol. i heard developers and ppl at microsoft and google want things to be like that.

[mobilephone2003]

I know, I'm just thinking that there would be no need for high specced computers if everything runs online.

Some people don't even have the internet, or are in areas where they can't get to them.

I think that if it was all switched, people would just keep the latest local copy and use it as long as possible (I know I would).

I think the cloud computing should be used as a backup, and not the primary source.

[DRBUK]

yeo totally agree, i hate this cloud idea for a primary thing, but love it as a secondary.

[lawrencejob1]

That's how I make my living - I develop for Adobe AIR.

AIR's a cross-platform runtime designed for web/desktop apps to work together. For example, half of the Twitter apps out there run on AIR. lol.

It really has a lot more advantages than that... awesome video though, it's nice to see someone explaining emerging technologies like this.

Just sayin'. xD

[onthenetgear]

I think that Apple should offer both versions- Web based and HD based.

[Argcz]

I dont know man. To me all these webapps seems sort of like raping the technology. Look at..for example rss readers. First we had a desktop based client. Then someone had an idea to make an online app and now google is developing Google Gears to make their online app work offline. That seems ridiculous to me. I agree with you, tho, about the whole 'secondary option' opinion. I think it could be useful to have access to synced folder with your data and webapp that could process those data.

[wowowkool]

if i want to buy sum software, i want the freakin CD/DVD and the box. THE BOX IS ONE OF THE BEST BITS. and if my mac crashes (which it doesn't but hey) and i have to re-install leopard. SAY GOOD BYE TO YOUR £100s worth of software. i just can't see this thing happening. good video adrian!

[linkinpain]

no web apps T-T

[Atheismrulez]

Desktop apps are better. Web apps are meh.

[itztehgeorge]

Web apps are good, however it just doesn't feel the same as a desktop app, you feel..... different. Its like... MobileMe, great web app, but I couldn't imagine it as a desktop application.

[jp0ALK]

WEb apps are a good idea, but I like a good solid app on my computer, not on the web. Danger wise, having a desktop app is like being in the suburbs while a web app is in the city, your exposed to many more threats in the city.

[alibabaG420]

g8 vid adrian.. well organised

good points.. and i totally agree with them

[jp0ALK]

great topic to cover :)

[smallbot1]

honestly, this is just making us more lazy.

the example you gave of the pro for web based was that if your battery dies you could pop to an int cafe and 'boom' but seriously when was the test time your battery died on the job?

ummm take a charger?

[piratedave89]

Surely only thing that a network is better for than local usage for is files and things that multiple users need to access simultaneously? FaceBook for example is basically a big database. For stuff like iWork or whatever, I'd want it on my HDD.

[GlockNinja]

Self reliance is better than having to rely on the community (internet). But I think what you are paying for is the convinence. It is a go everywhere and anytime application. Meaning you do not have to take a computer with you, you just need a computer at where you are going. Far as backing up, your apps and data should be backed up on your personal external HDD AND Optical Discs. Relying on internet to back up your data is putting too much out there. I personally do not trust the security.

[genie92]

another great vid from you keep them coming

[TheMightyM94]

great topic man, u rasied some very interesting points. im very intrigued in what apple will bring out in macworld 09!!!

[smallbot1]

heyy first to comment

any way

are you looming at getting the new mac mini ?