Gear up with Google Gears
August 10, 2007
Internet connection disconnected? Browsing allowed during some specified timing? Ever wanted to use online applications such as email and calendars without an internet connection? It is now possible through Google Gears.
Google recently launched this tool that allows access to online data and applications inside the web browser when offline. It is an open source plug-in of 700K download for Firefox 1.5+ and Internet Explorer 6.0+ that installs three developer APIs:-
1. API will handle the creation of data objects to store application information locally
2. A SQLite relational database for searching the data
3. Will enable asynchronous JavaScript so applications can sync data in the background without overburdening the browser
More on APIs here
The data is stored offline on an individual’s computer and then synchronised when the user logs back on to the web.
The server starts downloading information to the user’s hard drive and puts the service in offline mode on clicking an icon. The user can then again disconnect from the web and continue to use the service.
Other than Google Gears, Adobe offers this as part of its Apollo platform, while the Dojo open source Ajax toolkit unveiled a trial of Dojo Offline.
Gears’ functions are currently limited to Google Reader,
Adobe is said to have plans to add the Gears application interface to its Apollo platform. A Google Gears trial is available as a free download from the Google Gears website.
Take A Look at Google Gears Working with Google Reader on SERoundtable.
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