Recycles.Org  BETA Nonprofit Materials Exchange Network Computer & Office Electronics Recycling & Reuse

Date: Friday, 10 March 2006

Title: Google Inadvertently Leaks Storage Plan

Source: http://apnews.myway.com//article/20060309/D8G7OA3O2.html

Remarks: By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google Inc. (GOOG) apparently hopes to persuade computer users to entrust all their digital data with the online search engine leader, even though the company is having trouble controlling its own internal communications. Plans for a Google service offering "infinite" storage capacity leaked out last week when the company inadvertently shared some information about several projects, including one named "GDrive," on its Web site. Google quickly removed the previously confidential notes, but not before some eagle-eyed Web surfers had already made copies. Excerpts remain available on some Web sites. In its internal notes, Google discusses an ambitious storage system that would keep its users' word processing files, e-mails, Web history and photos on the company's own computers. Google believes the service would be enticing because the information would be unleashed from a single PC in a home or office, allowing users to access their data from any Internet-connected computer. "The online copy of your data will become your Golden Copy," Google's notes said, while the original information kept on a users' PC would serve as a backup. Google spokeswoman Lynn Fox declined to discuss the possible storage system. "We are always working on new ways to enhance our products and services for users, but we have nothing to announce at this time," she said Wednesday. In its leaked notes, Google acknowledged it would have to overcome current limitations on transmission speeds and storage capacity. Google also would have overcome privacy concerns and possible trust issues.