So as most people know I am a big fan of Google in most ways. I use their email (for multiple domains and a Gmail account), I’ve been known to use Google Docs, maps are one of their best features — and who could forget good ‘ol Google.com? I have to say that their sites tool is a little on the junky side but all-in-all, their services are great. I recently came across one that I had not seen or used before and now I’m in love. The kind of love that can not be split up by browser upgrades, computer changes or long-distance travel and it’s called Google Browser Sync (for Firefox only).
I’ve used different browser sync tools in the past but this one just blows the others away with its simplistic design, cross-platform capabilities and an online storage system that I have come to love very much. After a quick install (just like any other Firefox plugin) the browser plugin prompts you for your Google account info (no Google for your domain accounts that I know of) and then has you choose a unique PIN number. The PIN is to make sure that someone doesn’t just add the tool bar on a computer where you’ve saved your password. I’m also not sure if the PIN allows you to have multiple Google Browser Sync subsections (i.e. Sync computers A and B and then sync computers C and D). Once this process is done, you’re off to the races. Not only does it sync your bookmarks but it also does browsing history, saved passwords and even keeps track of your open tabs. This means that if you close Firefox on your work computer, go home and open it up, it’ll prompt you to see if you want to reopen those tabs! How great is that? In addition, there is no user intervention required. When you close down Firefox, the small window pops up for a second that shows you that it’s syncing your browser to Google. That’s it.
I know that many of the security gurus out there will yell at me and say, “hey, what about what they do with that information?!?!?!?” Well I’ll tell you what — If you can show me a simpler, clean and fast way of syncing browsers online without using a service like Google (who already knows who I talk to (email), what I’m interested in (search) and where I like to eat brunch (maps)) then I’d be happy to hear it and take a look. For now, I trust Google with my info. They haven’t steered me wrong yet and I’m hoping that they never do.
Please, let me know what you think of the browser wars, syncing your info, sending email or anything else under the sun.
