Google Docs: What Happened Wednesday
googledocs.blogspot.com
googledocs.blogspot.com
Good writeup though.
All this replaces the previous work they did for online/offline through Google Gears -- which they're continuing to support until they've migrated data into HTML5 features.
[0] http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/using-gmail-calendar-a...
Also, please update your info: Adios, offline Gmail on Chrome for now:http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20066170-264.html
The Offline feature for Gmail I was referring to was the new Chrome app. It's mentioned in the Google Blog post I linked to and can be found here on the Chrome Webstore: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ejidjjhkpiempkbhmp...
When you wrote "Google and Offline are like Oil and Water", I took you to mean (1) that the two don't mix, and (2) you think this is a deliberate strategy or approach by Google, and that it's wrong.
I think (1) is correct, but I accept that I may have inferred too much with (2).
If so, please accept my apologies: newish user here finding my feet.
I just felt it necessary to point out that Google has not abandoned offline capability, and understands its importance. I believe employees use a version of Google Docs internally that has offline functionality, as they have beta-tested new Google products / features before.
In the HN thread from last week for the new app announcement, one of the Gmail offline team members contributes with comments about why offline is proving tricky to implement:
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2946150 (user's name is nex3)
There's also further comments about how other Google employees have contributed on HN about how offline access to Gmail, Docs and Calendar is understood to be fundamental for ChromeOS.
50 minutes of downtime is certainly an annoyance, but there are very few companies where this happening once a year or so is a deal breaker.