Google should learn from Buzzword
Doug McCune posted a blog entry named Google Sucks at Flex in response to the SearchMash Flex application that they recently posted which I wholeheartedly agree width.
Compare this application to the newest release of Buzzword (recently acquired by Adobe) and you will see how awesome a Flex application can be.
Buzzword is one of the coolest Flex applications ever and there is very good reason why Adobe acquired this company. The addition of the Buzzword AIR desktop application will revolutionize document editing and sharing. You can sign up for a free Buzzword account now at http://www.buzzword.com
October 31st, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Google doesn’t get it. They still seem to be taking the argument that JavaScript is good enough for everything they do. In my opinion, there will always be a very low ceiling limiting what Google can do, until they embrace Flex. Google Docs for JavaScript will never catch up to Buzzword for Flex because for every 3 steps forward a Flex developer takes, a JavaScript developer is taking 3 steps sideways fixing browser compatibility issues.
Google should stick to backend coding because that’s what they are good at, and they should leave RIA development to the professionals.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Hi,
i fully agree with you. But that Adobe acquired Buzzword does not need to be a good example. I refer to an analysis recently posted here: http://kuwamoto.org/2007/10/01/quick-analysis-of-adobe-and-buzzword/
I don’t think, that Google will set up a Flash- or Flex-based environment. Their apps are straight AJAX based and I believe that they will not rely on a non-standard technology that soon. Maybe they fear, that their apps will loose audience with it or something like that. In fact, I believe many of the restrictions the google apps have could be solved with Flex. Just look on the Presentations app. It is way to simple and feature-less to be a serious alternative. My opinion is, that they run into problems with the restrictions of HTML/AJAX when they tried implementing the classic thoughts of a presentation software. So now look whats possbile with Flex, referring to Slideshow. This application will (when it will be released finally :)) even blow away PPT and Keynote.
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:31 am
Google implements Flex based application:
http://www.horwith.com/index.cfm/2007/10/30/google-finally-uses-flex
February 29th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Flex good platform for such jobs!