Google Alternatives

[vratnica]

The last news say Google will also start its TV

Now, it seems that Google will actually try to take all main internet services and become Big Brother, knowing everything about us, which scares me.

Too much power in hands of only one company is never something good.

I use many google services, and, although it is very practical to have them all in hand with only one login, I would be ready to sacrifice that in order to get rid of this kind of control.

So maybe some of you could mention the best google alternatives for mail, reader, text and documents, blog, and photo sharing, with some of them offering combination of different services?

Thanks

[droadtrip]

Your point is valid and I won't try to change your mind on the issue. But this is my view.

Over 12 years ago, my favorite channel on USA Satellite TV was TECH TV. After their short lived stay, they were taken over by "G4" with very limited Technology shows and more male flare and things totally un-related to technology. It seems the only things tech around TV now is occasionally when MSNBC spontaneously speak about tech, although it is very slanted since they are owned my Microsoft. Also I can catch PC Laptop sales on Home Shopping Network. But with the news that Google is starting up, I say for now, "Have at it!" They got so much money that almost anything they do could scare a fraction of the population, but I still believe in them that they keep most data beyond 6 months private and anonymous. We need a new TECH TV!

Thanks for letting me do this blog.

[adeypoop]

sorry but i don't think google has any comparison with tech tv. Google is an organisation intent on mining every scrap of information they can and storing it (we only have their word for it that they anonymise it and discard it after 6 months). The services they provide are tools to assist them in that aim, there is no similarity with a tv broadcasting company. Recently they have been shown to be sniffing wireless networks while doing there streetview sweeps. this is creepy., although they say it was an honest mistake.

maybe they don't do evil (yet) but what is to stop them doing evil in the future any time they want, maybe it will be quite profitable selling information to governments or other organisations one day?

To be fair to google, many of the services they provide are so good that it does make it hard to switch, i use gmail and would find it hard to switch back to hotmail. i am now trying other search engines such as yahoo and bing more often, tho not exclusively. I also use the firefox addons to block google tracking cookies.

If a good alternative to gmail is out there i'd be interested in trying it

[Linux_junkie]

A few months back I wrote a thread asking if Google was getting too big and the majority of users stated that it was no problem to them if Google was getting too big and may one day take over the internet.

Now I read this thread with a few worried users suggesting the same thing I did months ago. Now do you agree with me that its not good for one organisation to dominate the internet whether it be Google; Microsoft or Ubuntu/RedHat etc.

Of course if anyone is really worried about having their personal details held by large organisations the best thing to do is disconnect from the internet for good. They won't be able to get your data then.

[Johnsie]

I think Google is trying to get big and failing. Yeah they were successful with search and with Android but most of their other projects have been flops or arent used by a significant number of people. Youtube is successful but technically it wasn't a google technology, just something they bought. Every week you hear about Google putting its finger into another pie and then nothing comes of it..... Chrome browser, chromeOS, Google Earth, Google Docs, Nexus One and GTalk are all Google endeavours that have failed to attract a significant number of longterm users/interest. I think they even tried social networking at one point but failed to make an impact.

The sad thing is that the whole internet is just a big data collection tool for web companies, so no matter where you go on the Internet there will always be someone tracking your every move.

The only way to stop that happening is to not use the Internet.

[Rasa1111]

Startpage Search Engine (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstartpage.com%2F&rct=j&q=startpage&ei=Qm72S8nsMIH88AaBl4HaCg&usg=AFQjCNEotEUjiJG3T6_cQ2-whq_Tjv8tcw)


you can add it to your browser to, as the default.

but really.. in a police state masked as a democracy...
nothing is private mate. lol

anything "they" want to know about you, or anyone else,
they already know. ;)

[Ms_Angel_D]

Google is a company not a government. they have their hands in so much because they want to make money not because they want to the "The Man" Google T.V. is just another way for them to try and make cash nothing more nothing less imho.

[Rasa1111]

anyone/group whose primary focus is "ca$h" is not to be trusted anyway.
they will do anything for it. ;)

[pwnst*r]

..... Chrome browser, chromeOS, Google Earth, Google Docs, Nexus One and GTalk are all Google endeavours that have failed to attract a significant number of longterm users/interest.



Lol?

[vratnica]

I wouldn't say they are unsuccessful. One third of all the adds-money is theirs (about 60 billions $), so it is telling you enough about their piece of pie.

On the other, hand, it is true that everybody dissipate ones information by the way of surfing, but only those who can track every your activity (the docs you use, your calender, your emails, your friends, your photos, your searches), can try to make something more out of these information

If you would, for instance, use all these features by all different companies, everybody of them would know something about you, but not all, and wouldn't be able to portrait you.

[samalex]

Your point is valid and I won't try to change your mind on the issue. But this is my view.

Over 12 years ago, my favorite channel on USA Satellite TV was TECH TV. After their short lived stay, they were taken over by "G4" with very limited Technology shows and more male flare and things totally un-related to technology. It seems the only things tech around TV now is occasionally when MSNBC spontaneously speak about tech, although it is very slanted since they are owned my Microsoft. Also I can catch PC Laptop sales on Home Shopping Network. But with the news that Google is starting up, I say for now, "Have at it!" They got so much money that almost anything they do could scare a fraction of the population, but I still believe in them that they keep most data beyond 6 months private and anonymous. We need a new TECH TV!

Thanks for letting me do this blog.

Hi droadtrip,

I also was a HUGE fan of TechTV, and ZDTV before that, and even TheSite on MSNBC before that which was the program that helped launch ZDTV (thanks to Leo Laporte who was DevNull on TheSite with Soledad OBrien). I really think I had some withdrawals when the network was eaten-up by G4 because I loved those guys and the shows they hosted.

But honestly Leo and gang have basically recreated ZDTV/TechTV through Twit.tv, and I think it's about 1000% better! This week's episode of This Week In Tech actually did some flashbacks to Patrick Norton's first time to host TSS and they reminisced about it for a while. Everyone on the show agrees that it's much better the way they're doing it now without corporate hands in the mix because they can do what they want and host the kinda shows they want. I do miss knowing that at 6pm every day I could get my fill of tech, but I listen to most of the programs TWiT has. I even love to put live.twit.tv on the TV as background, and it's pretty much the same type of stuff minus the cheesy commercials they had on ZDTV/TechTV.

So give it a shot if you haven't already, and I think you'll be surprised. Between TWIT.TV and Revision3 you'll see probably 90% of the folks who were on the camera on TechTV/ZDTV.

http://twit.tv/
http://revision3.com/

Take care --

Sam

[jrusso2]

You guys are so paranoid about google all the time while missing the real spies which are the cell phones and carriers which know where you are at all times in real life not where you go on the internet. But I never see the paranoid speak of this issue which to me is worse that his information can be sold to anyone.

[Merk42]

anyone/group whose primary focus is "ca$h" is not to be trusted anyway.
they will do anything for it. ;)
Which basically means "trust no one"

[Rasa1111]

Which basically means "trust no one"


almost.
sadly.
but thankfully..
not all. :)

[RiceMonster]

anyone/group whose primary focus is "ca$h" is not to be trusted anyway.
they will do anything for it. ;)

Considering Canonical is a for profit company, you may want to stop using Ubuntu.

[pwnst*r]

Bam.

[McRat]

Never get religious about software. It's a tool, and it constantly changes.

Google is a tool (software) company, just like MS, Lotus, Novell, WordPerfect, Yahoo, etc.

Find the best tool and use it. Don't start using a tool just because it's new, but do check now and then to verify you have the right tools for today.

The whole Update thingy is mostly a marketing ploy, but that's whole 'nudder fuzzball.

Google has 3 pieces of software I find to be Best-in-Class:

Google Earth - Dang. What an incredible piece of freeware. Indispensible for mapping out antenna directions, and desert racecourses.

Google Chrome - If there is a better browser, use it. Chrome is the best I've tried.

Google Ads - Targeted internet advertising you can trust.

[chessnerd]

If you are looking for alternatives, try this:

Google Search Alternatives: Bing (http://www.bing.com), Yahoo Search (http://search.yahoo.com/), Ask (http://www.ask.com)

G-mail Alternatives: Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com), Yahoo Mail (http://mail.yahoo.com)

Google Reader Alternative: Bloglines (http://www.bloglines.com/)

Google Docs Alternatives: Zoho (http://www.zoho.com/), Feng Office (formally OpenGoo) (http://www.fengoffice.com/web/index.php?lang=en)

Blogger Alternatives: LiveJournal (http://www.livejournal.com), WordPress (http://www.wordpress.com), Xanga (http://www.xanga.com)

Picasa Alternatives: Flickr (http://www.flickr.com), PhotoBucket (http://photobucket.com/)

Chrome Alternatives: Firefox (http://www.firefox.com), Opera (http://www.opera.com/browser)

Zoho and Windows Live (which includes Hotmail and Bing) offer a wide range of services similar to some of Google's services, but you'll want Windows to take full advantage of Windows Live's features.

[chessnerd]

Google has 3 pieces of software I find to be Best-in-Class:

Google Earth - Dang. What an incredible piece of freeware. Indispensible for mapping out antenna directions, and desert racecourses.

Google Chrome - If there is a better browser, use it. Chrome is the best I've tried.

Google Ads - Targeted internet advertising you can trust.

All of those are good, but not necessarily the best.

Google Earth has an equal. Microsoft Virtual Earth and Bing Maps. They are also very impressive and even have some features that Google Earth lacks (like Bird's Eye view).

Google Chrome isn't the best. Opera 10.5 is faster than the latest stable build and has many more features than Chrome. Also, Firefox has more extensions and better overall compatibility.

Google Ads is the best ad service. I'll give you that one.

[BoneKracker]

If you are looking for alternatives, try this:

Google Search Alternatives: Bing (http://www.bing.com), Yahoo Search (http://search.yahoo.com/), Ask (http://www.ask.com)

G-mail Alternatives: Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com), Yahoo Mail (http://mail.yahoo.com)

Google Reader Alternative: Bloglines (http://www.bloglines.com/)

Google Docs Alternatives: Zoho (http://www.zoho.com/), Feng Office (formally OpenGoo) (http://www.fengoffice.com/web/index.php?lang=en)

Blogger Alternatives: LiveJournal (http://www.livejournal.com), WordPress (http://www.wordpress.com), Xanga (http://www.xanga.com)

Picasa Alternatives: Flickr (http://www.flickr.com), PhotoBucket (http://photobucket.com/)

Chrome Alternatives: Firefox (http://www.firefox.com), Opera (http://www.opera.com/browser)

Zoho and Windows Live (which includes Hotmail and Bing) offer a wide range of services similar to some of Google's services, but you'll want Windows to take full advantage of Windows Live's features.
Finally, after two pages of people prognosticating and pontificating out their nether orifices, somebody answers the question. Even better, both his/her posts are based in fact, concise, and articulate. =D>

[Twitch6000]

anyone/group whose primary focus is "ca$h" is not to be trusted anyway.
they will do anything for it. ;)

Because making money to live off of is evil right :rolleyes:?

Oh wait then canonical must be evil aswell, I mean there goal is to make money from linux.

[NCLI]

Your point is invalid and I will try to change your mind on the issue.

The last news say Google will also start its TV
It's simply going to organize TV programs in a better, easier way, and integrate regular TV-programming with Youtube. It's not starting its own channels.

Now, it seems that Google will actually try to take all main internet services and become Big Brother, knowing everything about us, which scares me.
Data is mostly anonymous, and deleted after six months. I'd be more vary of Facebook if I were you.

Too much power in hands of only one company is never something good.
Depends on the company, and the regulators.

I use many google services, and, although it is very practical to have them all in hand with only one login, I would be ready to sacrifice that in order to get rid of this kind of control.
What kind of control? I wasn't aware that the censored anything.

So maybe some of you could mention the best google alternatives for mail, reader, text and documents, blog, and photo sharing, with some of them offering combination of different services?

Thanks
Google is #1, use the best tool for the job.

I also have to (http://xkcd.com/386/) refute some FUD:

sorry but i don't think google has any comparison with tech tv. Google is an organisation intent on mining every scrap of information they can and storing it (we only have their word for it that they anonymise it and discard it after 6 months).
They are often checked by regulators, and haver so far never been caught in not deleting the data.

The services they provide are tools to assist them in that aim,
This is silly. Google isn't out to get as much information about you as possible to do its ev1l deeds, it's out to get as much information about you as possible in order to be able to target ads at you more efficiently.

there is no similarity with a tv broadcasting company. Recently they have been shown to be sniffing wireless networks while doing there streetview sweeps. this is creepy., although they say it was an honest mistake.
They sniffed a few gigabytes of data from an entire country. If you do some basic math, you'll quickly work out that they can't possibly have sniffed enough data from individuals to use for anything malicious, and most of it is probably useless data from public hotspots. Besides, if you have an unencrypted WiFi network, you're asking for it.

maybe they don't do evil (yet) but what is to stop them doing evil in the future any time they want, maybe it will be quite profitable selling information to governments or other organisations one day?
Our government. Trust it. I sure do.

[BoneKracker]

Because making money to live off of is evil right :rolleyes:?

Yeah, but Obama said "Spread the Wealth".

So actually doing something productive (or creating something valuable) enough that people want to pay money for it -- that must be The Devil, because it results in a concentration of wealth (unless, of course, it's owned by the Gubbment, in which case "want" has got nothing to do with it).

[MasterNetra]

I think Google is trying to get big and failing. Yeah they were successful with search and with Android but most of their other projects have been flops or arent used by a significant number of people. Youtube is successful but technically it wasn't a google technology, just something they bought. Every week you hear about Google putting its finger into another pie and then nothing comes of it..... Chrome browser, chromeOS, Google Earth, Google Docs, Nexus One and GTalk are all Google endeavours that have failed to attract a significant number of longterm users/interest. I think they even tried social networking at one point but failed to make an impact.

The sad thing is that the whole internet is just a big data collection tool for web companies, so no matter where you go on the Internet there will always be someone tracking your every move.

The only way to stop that happening is to not use the Internet.

So a number of stuff flopped big deal, do you honestly expect everything to be a success? At least they are taking the risks and putting stuff out there. If it sticks and is successful then great, awesome, but its unrealistic to expect everything to succeed, indeed more often then not things fail/flop. Google isn't small either and its doing quite well for itself. Many due to search and android no doubt but they know not to rest on what is doing well for it might/will become obsolete in the future, thus their other project attempts.

[BoneKracker]

The sad thing is that the whole internet is just a big data collection tool for web companies, so no matter where you go on the Internet there will always be someone tracking your every move.

The only way to stop that happening is to not use the Internet.

That's the kind of logic I love. That's right up there with, "Why bother to wipe your butt when you know darn well it's only going to get funky again."

[yester64]

I don't know.
A lot of people get upset if the government collects datas about everyone. Last time that happend was with the patriot act and not much people opposed it.

Private entities have a lot of information about you and everyone. Just try to aks about your credit score and you will see how much they have and how much they sell these informations.
Every wondered how you get these nice commercial advertising in your mailbox?
I opted out of this.

Google is another string in this event. Google can not survive by just making nice tools and a search engine everyone likes. Add selling is their core business.
In order to do that they collect datas about every user to craft the perfect add which flashes right next to your search.
Do no evil. It a nice slogan, but thats what it is. A slogan.

You do not need to be paranoid, but aware of what entities do.
If you are fine with it, well don't complain and enjoy.
If not, maybe you need to scarifies some software.

The world is not just black and white, but has a lot of greyshades.
Judge for yourself and be informed.

[vratnica]

If you are looking for alternatives, try this:

Google Search Alternatives: Bing (http://www.bing.com), Yahoo Search (http://search.yahoo.com/), Ask (http://www.ask.com)

G-mail Alternatives: Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com), Yahoo Mail (http://mail.yahoo.com)

Google Reader Alternative: Bloglines (http://www.bloglines.com/)

Google Docs Alternatives: Zoho (http://www.zoho.com/), Feng Office (formally OpenGoo) (http://www.fengoffice.com/web/index.php?lang=en)

Blogger Alternatives: LiveJournal (http://www.livejournal.com), WordPress (http://www.wordpress.com), Xanga (http://www.xanga.com)

Picasa Alternatives: Flickr (http://www.flickr.com), PhotoBucket (http://photobucket.com/)

Chrome Alternatives: Firefox (http://www.firefox.com), Opera (http://www.opera.com/browser)

Zoho and Windows Live (which includes Hotmail and Bing) offer a wide range of services similar to some of Google's services, but you'll want Windows to take full advantage of Windows Live's features.




Thank you very much!

Finally something on the topic!