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Google Gears

derek wong [PersonRank 1]

Thursday, May 31, 2007
17 years ago14,902 views

has anyone seen a new button on top of google reader? it reads OFFLINE!

clicking it gets me a popup
**************************
Set up Google Reader for offline use.

This feature enables you to read your 2000 most recent items even when your computer is not connected to the internet.

To use the offline features of Google Reader, you will first need to install the Google Gears plug-in for your browser.
Before you begin:

This installation requires that you restart your browser, so we recommend you close all other windows before you begin.
*************************

downloading the plugin now, just thought you guys should know

derek
iam.kiamsiap.com

Martin Porcheron [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

This is actually part of a wider update to Google Reader.

They've actually hinted at search capabilities and moved the trends link aswell.

I've got some images & proof at http://mpwebwizard.com/2007/05/31/google-reader-updated-hints-at-searching/ if your interested ;)

derek wong [PersonRank 1]

17 years ago #

getting error code 0x80040800 when trying to install
sigh...

Charles [PersonRank 0]

17 years ago #

haha I created the same thread as you 1 minute ago. Excellent. Mine works flawlessly

Martin Porcheron [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Several people have reported this already, see: http://groups.google.com/group/google-gears/browse_thread/thread/134145863b4f9f67

Colin Colehour [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Techcrunch article about it:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/30/google-gears-lets-developers-take-apps-offline/

Zim [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

A gift for dial-up/mobile users!

Haochi [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Not sure if anyone has read the API documentations yet, but...

Security of End-User Data

<<Google Gears data files are protected with the user's operating system login credentials. Users with separate login names cannot access each other's Google Gears data files, as enforced by the operating system.

On the other hand, two people using the same OS login could theoretically access each other's Gears data files, just as they could access any other file on the machine.>>
http://code.google.com/apis/gears/security.html

more links:
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/05/google-gears-offline-functionality-for.html – Google Operating System
http://googlified.com/2007google-gears-enabling-offline-web-applications/ – Googlified
http://erik.eae.net/ – Erik Arvidsson's Blog (a Google Gears Engineer)
http://code.google.com/apis/gears/sample.html – A list of demos by Google

BTW, I have no problem install here with FF on Ubuntu.

Niraj Sanghvi [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Is there a way to remove locally stored data? I'm not seeing an option in the Gears settings (on FF).

Josue R. [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

this is a preview of things to come... remember when we all started talking about offline access to Google Docs and GDrive data, well, i can see this coming sooner than we think.

Mysterius [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I can't install it, which is sad, because this sounds so awesome! :(

Here's hoping Google resolves it soon (preferably tomorrow).

Inferno [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Works like a charm. Great update, only if they integrated this with Docs, Mail, Calendar and Photos.

Google Rocks!!!

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

.exe 200 ko, I can install it but there is only manifest & chrome files installed in C:Program FilesGoogleGoogle Gears
:-S

Ludwik Trammer [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I had to restart Firefox two times, but now it works :) It downloaded last 2000 items from my Google Reader, and I can access them while being off-line...

Bryan Burkholder [PersonRank 1]

17 years ago #

Here's some more info:
gears.google.com to download – note: it says it is only for linux.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/gears-puts-google-in-the-drivers-seat/2007/05/31/1180205350391.html – article

David Hetfield [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Nice move!!
I really like it! :)

photoactive [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I think it's wonderful, and a wonderful sign, and it will be even wonderfuller when applied to other Google services – Gmail, Docs etc.

Ludwik Trammer [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

> it says it is only for linux

It's for all majer platforms:

WIndows: http://gears.google.com/?platform=win
Mac: http://gears.google.com/?platform=mac
Linux: http://gears.google.com/?platform=linux

It's funny like Linux page says it REQUIRES "Linux, Firefox AND Internet Explorer"

derek wong [PersonRank 1]

17 years ago #

apparently, everyone thats getting 0x80040800 error code has one thing in common... everyone goes through proxies

The install files can't detect proxy setting and tries to connect to the net during installation. So go figure, error comes out.

Anyone else getting this?

Mrrix32 [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

AAAHHHH!!! Doesn't support Win 98(SE), Is this a sign telling me to switch to Linux on my Laptop?

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

It's a sign that you have a 10-year-old OS and you should change it... ;-)

Here, at work (:-D), we are on Windows Vista and it works. I like the design in grey-scale colors when you're offline, good_job Google. As usual.

Venkatramanan [PersonRank 0]

17 years ago #

Derek Wong is absolutely right.
I am also behind a Proxy network & faces the issue.
Any tweaks available?

Venkatramanan[at]gmail[dot]com

Mrrix32 [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

[put at-character here]TOMHTML
I've got XP on my Desktop PC, I'm happy as I am except from the fact all the newer Google stuff doesn't work on my Laptop :-(

Max [PersonRank 0]

17 years ago #

Will it be used to have offline gmail too?

Hashim [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Wow, mark this as the day the web browser hit puberty. Get ready for the awkward growth stage.

Eytan Buchman [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Confirming its pure awesomeness in Linux. Hurrah for new toys.

Shane Kelly [PersonRank 0]

17 years ago #

For me the most exciting use of this would be an offline version of Google Calendar, with an offline version of Documents and Notebook close second and third.

Mysterius [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

[put at-character here]derek wong: I don't believe I'm behind a proxy, but I get the error anyways. I'll have to check. Do have a source for the "proxy error"?

CelloFellow [PersonRank 0]

17 years ago #

Rocks on Xubuntu. Doesn't help me though. This box is always online.

If I had a laptop, I'd love it.

If they put this together to make GMail run faster, and have Docs & Spreadsheets sync with the desktop, I'd be a happy camper.

derek wong [PersonRank 1]

17 years ago #

[put at-character here]Mysterius: Firewall perhaps?

From what I read on the Google Groups of Gears, seems anyone with a proxy or firewall cannot install.

Oh, and it's broken on Firefox 2.0.0.4
can anyone confirm this?

Inferno [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I don't think it is broken because I am writing here while the synchronization has completed to 20%, as far as I remember I had used gears today in the morning. But I have to keep my proxy turned of to make it work smoothly.

I hate proxy. It does not have any good use!!!!

Eytan Buchman [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I am just waiting for Google Calendar to come out with Gears. Its one of my only two complaints about it...that and the lack of todo lists.

pri [PersonRank 5]

17 years ago #

how slow is synchronization? because i have been trying and it seems to be frozen at 5% for a long time (5-10 minutes). at that time i try to restart the sync and again it stops at 5%. I've tried in IE7 and FF 2.0.0.4 with same results, and on two different computers. Any help or suggestions?

Jared Cherup [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Just imagine the possibilities for Gmail, Calendar, Docs and Spreadsheets. I wonder why they did this for Reader first.

Pierre S [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

There's already an update to Gears, and it asked me to allow www.google.com in addition to google.com/reader

Massoud [PersonRank 0]

17 years ago #

I write these words from Iran. Your google gear does not work with any computer in Iran. Regard popularity of Google reader we are eager to work with your offline rss in Iran. Looking for your improvements.

Eytan Buchman [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Hi Massoud – I remember reading about internet censorship in Iran. There is a chance that you are functioning from behind a proxy of some sort. There are known issues with Google Gears and proxies.

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Weird, it's broken for me. All I get in Reader after installing Gears on the latest stable Firefox is some pixels of a confirmation dialog, which then completely disappear when I resize the window...

http://blogoscoped.com/files/google-gears-reader-bug.png

TonyB [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Remember The Milk has come up with a Google Gears application of their To Do program. It might be the first 3rd party use of Gears.

http://blog.rememberthemilk.com/2007/06/tasks-on-plane.html

Tony

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I wonder how useful this whole thing is. Let's say Google Reader is offline-capable and my connection breaks down, I still won't be able to follow a link to a cool-new-website from within a post I'm reading. And let's say I can read some emails through a Gears-capable Gmail, I wouldn't be able to answer most because I always need to look up pointers online (e.g. someone asks "How can I contact Google?" then I look for [contact google] on Google Blogoscoped but as not every blog is offline capable, it won't work). As another for instance, I already have a fully capable offline "Docs" (MS Word), but I couldn't use it to write say a tutorial on anything remotely touching the web, because I need to constantly research stuff online. When the connection breaks down the best bet seems to be to actually read a book or something!

It seems like the development overhead of this "cookies 2.0" thing is only really useful for giant players with huge web apps, to make sure that 1% extra use is in relation to the costs?

Eytan Buchman [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I found myself using Gears in a university class and wondering the same thing. There are a few things it could be good for though – full newspaper articles and Google Calendar pop to mind.

Reto Meier [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

[put at-character here]Philipp: I think the big advantage here is for people that don't have (or expect) constant uptime. Think people who have a laptop connection at work and want to browse their RSS feeds (starring particularly interesting ones to follow up online later) while on the train ride home.

Likewise for Docs / Spreadsheets, editing or reading a document on a flight or on the train (or in the park) is very useful.

Calendar even more so as I could keep my laptop version up-to-date, adding new appointments, inviting new participants, then when I get online it all synchs up.

For people whose business is 90% online (like you I suppose) offline accessibility is less useful. For a lot of people though, their work is offline – but their tools (until now) have been either either online or offline, Google Gears promises to make them both.

Tony Ruscoe [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

<< Think people who have a laptop connection at work and want to browse their RSS feeds (starring particularly interesting ones to follow up online later) while on the train ride home. >>

That's exactly how I use Google Reader for Mobile at the moment.

photoactive [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I agree with Reto.

It's the ease of use/invisibility of online/offline thing that's very promising indeed, particularly when everything synchs automatically without your having to remember to press the download button before you go offline.

It will be excellent when applied to Docs, for instance: a functioning Gdrive, really; the version on your hard drive – which you can work on offline – being a local cache of the golden copy, which will be kept on Google servers.

Eytan Buchman [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Another really useful function that this could be used for is Google Notebook. It would mean that you can go through the intertubes, clip whatever you think you will need offline...and you're set.

James Xuan [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

It is not of use to me however as I have broadband which is always on, so its easier and more practical to go online. Though not everyone has broadband, I would guess (maybe I'm wrong) that most people using reader and notebook have broadband already.

Eytan Buchman [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

But what about people who move around with their computers? I have broadband at home and wireless in most of my classrooms at university...but if I want to sit in a cafe and do work or slack off during a class that doesn't...Gears can work charms.

James Xuan [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

In Ireland every restaurant, café and hotel over 3 stars has to have an eircom hotspot.

Reto Meier [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I'm in London, and while Wireless Hotspots are pretty ubiquitous in the square mile, *free* hotspots are almost unheard of. I can assure you that while I'm keen to read my email and RSS feeds, I'm not £1 / 6mins keen.

Much like Tony I use my phone for email and RSS feed reading at lunch / on the train. In fact, I've set my phone up pretty much as a gPhone these days. I'm almost finished a blog post with the details...

James Xuan [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I believe eircom hotspots are €2.50 per 24 hours. Many restaurants and hotels do not charge to customer but pay the bill themselves

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

The bug mentioned above has now been fixed here...

http://blogoscoped.com/forum/97528.html#id98013

Mehran Heidarzadeh [PersonRank 1]

17 years ago #

I can't install google gears in Iran. We DO have a direct internet connection, but the setup program terminates immediately after it starts. I think it is because Iranian ips are not authorized to download the browser extensions. Is there any way to download the browser extensions directly, i.e. without the setup program?

Inferno [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

You say "terminates" I think you should try it on a different computer. May be the software crashes...

Mehran Heidarzadeh [PersonRank 1]

17 years ago #

By "terminates" I mean the window closes after a second or so. I can't even read the caption of the window. I checked it on at least 5 different PC's with different kinds of internet connections.

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