by Steve on March 9, 2010
I use Google’s apps for domains, and have for some time, but it may be time to change.
While the email is great, and has awesome spam filtering, the problem is that I think Google may not keep it around for very long. Why do I think this? Because Apps just doesn’t get the new stuff. It really still doesn’t have the old stuff. Being in Apps means your cut off from the rest of the Google experience. This thread on Google Groups demonstrates it best – Google Apps for your domain is just not connected to the rest of Google.
Recently a friend invited me to Wave. When I went there I found it was connected to my ‘other’ account – the one that has analytics, adsense, adwords, etc. I can’t get to either Buzz or Wave from my email account that is tied to my domain. That’s a huge problem. I can’t get to either Buzz or Wave, even though they are tied to email, and I can’t keep the contacts I use for any of them together.
It comes down to either use Buzz & Wave, and choose another email provider, or put off Buzz and Wave until Google decides to make Apps part of the family. Pardon me while I hold my breath.
by Steve on March 1, 2010
A well-meaning friend who I respect recently sent me an invitation to Google Wave. So far, Wave seems to suck.
First, even though it’s in invitation only mode my usual username, swduncan, is taken. Even with a 1 stuck on the end. That’s a deal breaker right there as I have enough credentials to remember already…even more so considering that this is Google and given that I have both an account AND domain-based (swduncan.com) apps with them having to pick yet another username with them is stupid. Google has always been brain dead in the username management department.
But when I look at the opening screen I see what looks like an older version of Yahoo mail. Yup, folders, spam, trach, favorites…how is this different from mail?
So I look around trying to figure out why/how this is different then mail, and I find videos. Great. The concept is so complicated I can’t be expected to learn it without watching a 10 minute movie. Looking at the few bullet points scattered in various welcome items, it seems Wave purports to do all the things I already have other sites to do. Only Google’s thoughtfully pulled them together into another tool they can mine data from.
I don’t need another inbox to check, or another system sending me emails telling me I need to go check something, another list of friends to manage, another environment full of extensions to install and worry about, or another infrastructure to organize. Is it me, or is the mere maintenance of one’s online existence becoming a part-time job?
I know, it’s early in the morning and I’m a bit cranky, but Goog’s goona have to bring a lot more more to this table for me to be interested.
