Changes to Google Docs hint at GDrive release
Once PDFs, the change to files could signify big changes afoot at Google Docs.
The sharp eyes over at the Google Operating System blog noticed that Google quietly changed some wording in Google Docs from "PDFs" to "files." While small, this could signal that Google Docs may soon support the viewing and editing of other file types, and possibly double as an online storage service--like the fabled GDrive.
Google has long-allowed users to upload PDFs to Docs. These could be viewed in Google's online viewer, but not edited. However, the service would not allow other items such as photos and videos to be imported, despite Google offering other products like Picasa and YouTube that would accept these files.
Google began an overhaul of its Docs service late last week, and noted that it was putting in some small changes ahead of a much larger release which was just around the corner. Some of these changes included the addition of special search modifiers that would let users more easily hone searches for their files. Many of these came from Google's search engine and Gmail.
If, in fact, Google Docs allows users to upload other file types for viewing and re-downloading from other locations, it's still a long way from the promise of an integrated, cloud-based storage system. All signs of a GDrive from Google have pointed toward a software component that will allow users to access their Google storage as if it were a local hard disk. Google is also expected to release the service in advance of its Chrome OS, which will make heavy use of files that are stored in the cloud.
Josh Lowensohn writes for Webware.com, CNET's blog about Web applications and services. E-mail Josh, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Josh. 
There has been talks of integrating Google Chrome settings with your Google Account over on the Chrome discussion and dev groups as well.
Why not release it and test it before the full system gets up and running?
The file system management on their end is, after all, one of the most important parts that would need a lot of testing to make sure that it functions.
All the interfaces have been slowly integrated, and the process still continues today.
I wonder what their statistics are on people who have bought additional storage for Picasa and Gmail.
If you don't remember, this lovely little page here that is hidden away:
https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageStorage?hl=en_US
Surprised at how much space they are still giving away for Gmail, yet so little for Picasa, poor little Picasa.
Hopefully this page will soon show Sites, Docs, etc. and share storage. (well, Gmail could have permissions for allowing your other services to access them if you want, off by default)
There are several caveats to using all the google services: security from shared/stolen personal info, corrupted/lost data, or being herded into another monthly payment.
while I would like to believe that google finally will be releasing a cloud storage option to give us all gigabytes of free storage, I think people are going way to far to find explanations as to when.
- by cassisaari July 29, 2009 9:29 AM PDT
- Speaking of Google Docs changes, what happened to the "last edited by _____" column? Now, on my shared documents, when a document gets edited, it indicates that the owner of the document edited it, rather than a specific shared user. Talk about annoying when I used to use this feature to keep track of spreadsheet updates argh.
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