This didn't dawn on us until quite recently, due to the fact that we weren't aware of the existence of this cloud, or our personal proximity to it. We discovered it only when we started to explore further the concept of the network as computer which we mentioned last week.
We thought we were embarked on a purely personal journey, but it seems we're just one more participant in a movement that has been dubbed "Working in the Cloud".
In our case, we probably started levitating towards this condition quite innocently, a few years ago, when we began using the IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) email services of Fastmail.fm. Because IMAP email is stored on the server, rather than being immediately forwarded to an email client under the more common POP (Post Office Protocol), users can access it from any internet-connected device.
We experimented with several IMAP-enabled email clients to access our Inbox, but we've always reverted to the web interface, which we access through the Firefox browser. In cloud computing, it's the browser that becomes the focus of activity, which is no doubt why Steve Jobs tried to spirit Safari on to Windows PCs.
Despite the subterfuge, Jobs and for that matter Bill Gates' Microsoft have found themselves playing second or third fiddle to the browser of choice for us denizens of cloud computer land — Firefox, which has become even more attractive for these sorts of activities with the release of version 3 (recently updated to version 3.0.1). We particularly enjoy using keyboard shortcuts like Alt-D to jump directly to the address bar, or typing in a word then hitting Ctrl+Enter to turn it into a www.something.com address. You might be interested in some useful Firefox shortcuts.
The other winner is Google, with its own IMAP-capable service Gmail becoming the spearhead for powerful browser-based applications. While we still rate FastMail as a superior email service, we've also got a couple of Gmail accounts. They're free, powerful and a useful backup, but they also serve as the gateway to invaluable cloudish services including Google Calendar, Google Contacts, Google Maps and iGoogle, the personalised home page and "gadget" centre, which we've found compelling. You can learn how to get the most from them with these iGoogle tips.
If you use Gmail, you'll probably be interested in several Greasemonkey scripts that enhance its utility, and have been packaged as Better Gmail, available from
Google's focus on cloud-dwelling workers is being continually updated and improved, requiring one to track its developments at, say, the Google Systems blog.. Last week, for instance, there was the public release of Google Knol — a Wikipedia-like knowledge sharing tool which allows authors to write, share and potentially "monetise" articles
Many cloud workers use Google Docs (docs.google.com) to create and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Others use Campfire to create online collaboration spaces for group chats and document sharing. We went looking for some ideas for a typical cloud-based collaboration system.
We'd be interested in readers' suggestions for other useful cloud-based applications.
Recently we've started using Penzu. It's a free Web-based journaling service that works with Firefox or Opera (but not Windows Explorer). One of our first entries, which we've decided to share with Steve Jobs, explores our feelings about people who board our little cloud without permission.