Bridging the Browser and Desktop
Comments(0)I was reading a funny post earlier (Ten Things I Hate About You, Web 2.0) that got me thinking. I’m no fan of the Web 2.0 buzz, but I do like sound business models. Over at Webware, I saw an exciting preview of new Trillian Astra Web Client. Basically, it uses Flash (not the new Apollo) to launch an application independent of the web browser. According to Webware, “the new client has access to the PC’s system tray, the file system, and more.” That’s exciting.
There’s a lot of talk about the WebOS and lots of companies in the space, but I think they’re missing the point. The browser is too limited to support truly rich applications. Desktop applications and web applications each have their strong points–how can we get the best of both worlds? There’s a huge opportunity for someone to create the next Windows/Java/Flash.
Imagine using technology similar to the Trillian Astra Web Client. But instead of building an application, build a lightweight platform. Then open it up to developers to create applications that bridge the browser and the desktop. The distribution model would be unbeatable. A catalog of applications–both free and paid–which users could instantly launch from their browser. Let developers develop the applications and the “WebOS” could handle user accounts, preferences, and applications. The local file system and online storage companies could exists side-by-side. And of course the platform would be designed with collaboration in mind. The possibilities are endless, the key is scale.
