google plus, bing, new cloud apps and the achievement of balance
I think that this is my first blog post that has any significant intersection with my professional life, but after listening to a couple of Podcasts on Google Plus and hearing the incessant plugging for Bing on the Slate Gabfests (it is, IMHO, a little over the top... just let them run their ads, don't become their mouthpiece) I felt compelled to throw in my two cents about balance in the cloud-o-sphere out there...
As a human being out there in the technosphere, it is in your best interest to preclude the emergence of a Goliath from the fields of competitors. In no market since the discovery of fossil fuel has this been easier than it is with the internet in this age. In the evolution of modern computing, anti-trust regulation against Microsoft and ongoing similar actions (mostly in and by the EU) works to thwart some of the most abusive practices that are trending toward monopoly. But, the most important thing is user behavior, where you click and for what is the main determinant of the balance of power between the players. So my advice is simple: spread the wealth. If you are intentional about spreading the wealth of your clicks, you will become the most powerful force against web hegemony.
If you use Google for search, use someone else for social networking. If you use Microsoft for your operating system, use someone else for your web browser. This sounds easy, but keep in mind that every one of the large companies in this fray is constantly attempting to leverage the one or two services that you use with them to entice you into using them for all of your online services.
In case you don't know this:
THE LAST THING THAT YOU WANT IS FOR THERE TO BE A SINGLE CORPORATE PROVIDER FOR EMAIL, SEARCH, SOCIAL NETWORKING, CLOUD APPLICATIONS, ETC.
(& This is exactly the opposite of what Microsoft, Google, Facebook, et. al. want.)
As a human being out there in the technosphere, it is in your best interest to preclude the emergence of a Goliath from the fields of competitors. In no market since the discovery of fossil fuel has this been easier than it is with the internet in this age. In the evolution of modern computing, anti-trust regulation against Microsoft and ongoing similar actions (mostly in and by the EU) works to thwart some of the most abusive practices that are trending toward monopoly. But, the most important thing is user behavior, where you click and for what is the main determinant of the balance of power between the players. So my advice is simple: spread the wealth. If you are intentional about spreading the wealth of your clicks, you will become the most powerful force against web hegemony.
If you use Google for search, use someone else for social networking. If you use Microsoft for your operating system, use someone else for your web browser. This sounds easy, but keep in mind that every one of the large companies in this fray is constantly attempting to leverage the one or two services that you use with them to entice you into using them for all of your online services.
In case you don't know this:
THE LAST THING THAT YOU WANT IS FOR THERE TO BE A SINGLE CORPORATE PROVIDER FOR EMAIL, SEARCH, SOCIAL NETWORKING, CLOUD APPLICATIONS, ETC.
(& This is exactly the opposite of what Microsoft, Google, Facebook, et. al. want.)
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