Google’s announcement that it is ending support or shutting down web services such as Google Notebooks, Google Catalogs and Jaiku should serve as a stark warning to Business and Start-ups lured by the promises of cloud based only computing.

Yes – the above named services where not necessarily cloud based offerings such as Google Apps, SalesForce or Amazon WS. But the principles remain the same – instead of building, supporting or procuring on-premise applications and infrastructures you are lured into the cloud.

But what happens when your ASP or S/PaaS provider decides to pull the plug on that service, what do you do? What happens to your data? And more importantly how do you continue to run your business?

Thousands of businesses have  invested heavily in building key line of business applications on top of SaleForce. There’s nothing wrong with that, but when they openly promote an end to all software I grind my teeth because they just don’t get it.

Cloud based and on-premise solutions are not enemies, so why does SaleForce treat them as such? In my opinion Microsoft has the right idea with the up and coming Windows Azure.

With Windows Azure Microsoft are saying “Look you can have the best of both worlds.”  They understand the shift towards the cloud, but they also understand the importance of running services on-premise. And with that you have the ability to build hybrid-applications that use both the cloud and on-premises services.

Microsoft is not choosing one over the other; they are simply giving you a choice which I think is the way forward.

SaleForce on the other hand have backed themselves unnecessary into a corner with that hideous no software campaign. Only time will tell who the true winners and losers will be, but I’m backing Microsoft on this one.

While reading through the newspaper yesterday, I happened to glance upon an article regarding a new and emerging technology called WiTricity. As the name suggests, WiTricity has the ability to power devices through the air wirelessly.

The possibilities for this are endless, if I could do away power cables I’ll be a happy man. Imagine a Wi-Tri enabled home whereby the mobile phone in your pocket charges as soon as you enter through the front door. And let’s not stop there, how about Wi-Tri enabled cars? airports or internet cafes.

Rumors have it they are even researching WiTricity desks, whereby the desk surface charges any device placed upon it. Mobiles, iPods, PCs you name it. Certainly with new Technologies comes great responsibility, security springs to mind.

Just how would we secure these Wi-Tri appilances? Will it be similar to Wi-Fi? WPA, WEP keys anyone? exciting times. Definitely an exciting technology to watch through 2009-10.

• The Guardian
• Digitaltrends
• PowerBeam

Barrett Lyon Co-Founder and CTO of BitGravity talks about some of the technology behind their Video Distribution System and his time spent working as a security researcher. It’s always awe inspiring to listen to someone who talks about technology in such a profound and engaging way.

Scoble does a good job interviewing Barrett, only interrupting him when he goes off on a tangent using all sorts of security and networking acronyms. Barrett is truly passionate about his work and sadly constantly downplays his evil genius throughout the interview.

This 30 minute video would mainly appeal to the networking bods of this world, but as a techie I found the interview to be very interesting. Especially when he talks about being employed by companies to protect their infrastructure from denial of service attacks by Russian heavies.

Another likeable part of the interview is when he explains what inspired him as a kid to get involved in technology. Referencing the War Games movie poster hung up in his office.

I have to get me one of those vintage posters to hang up on my wall, only my movie would probably be Lawnmower Man or Hackers, mind you Sneakers was pretty good too.

Anyway if you’re interested in Technology and Networking in general, I suggest you go watch it.

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