I apologize in advance – but I’m going to talk about the cloud.
I’m starting to get worried about the number of platforms I’m beholden to – my only solace comes from the fact that they are mostly independent platforms, so losing any singular one, won’t cost me everything.
The exceptions to this rule: Google, and Apple.
I rely on Google for: email, web software, search, browser, syncing across devices, and sporadically, cloud storage and mobile OS.
I rely on Apple for: (nearly all) hardware, desktop OS, mobile OS, mobile software, desktop software, cloud storage / sync (iCloud), music (iTunes) home entertainment (apple TV, iTunes again) and content (App Store, iTunes) across all platforms.
When I feel uncomfortable with Google, it’s because of the depth of information that Google has on me, just from my search history and email.
When I feel uncomfortable with Apple, it’s because of lock-in: nearly all of my devices and software is Apple, and I rely on it heavily. Leaving would cost me thousands upon thousands in content, software, and charger plugs (seriously, I have dozens).
So, I’m trying to find independent solutions for more of my digital life, shifting to a model based on Jamaica’s motto: out of many, one people. Instead of buying in fully to any ecosystem, I’d rather create my own, out of multiple services. To do anything else makes you a pawn in someone else’s turf war.
(Ironically, the tools I use currently more or less insist on my being on either Android or iOS – they only (meaningful) players in mobile.)
This is why I’m interested in services like App.net, Dropbox and Rdio. Services that 1) are independent from OS overlords and ecosystems like Apple and Google, 2) charge money from the outset, so I can make the assumption they will be around for a while, and 3) either invest in being platform agnostic, or encourage independent devs to invest in making them platform agnostic.
I’m thinking about this today, because Apple has apparently banned an issue of the comic Saga, which I read through the Comixology iOS app, from being sold via the App Store. While there are several ways around this (buy it from comixology.com and download, buy it in store, buy a PDF from the publisher, etc), the real issue from my perspective is that it makes it clear we’re all computing in benevolent dictatorships. And that they are less benevolent than we thought.
So, my advice is to take a good look at what you’re buying into, when it comes to platforms. Aim for resilience when it comes to picking services, rather than just convenience or cheapness.
Make your own ecosystem. All the pieces are there.
(And seriously – if you see me, remind me to stop using iBooks to buy reading material.)