Google combines all of its services ... into the Google Grid, a universal platform that provides a functionally limitless amount of storage space and bandwidth to store and share media of all kinds. Always online, accessible from anywhere.
Each user selects her own level of privacy. She can store her content securely on the Google Grid, or publish it for all to see. It has never been easier for anyone, everyone to create as well as consume media.
Until now, it's been all or none. Google Base and Google Video certainly allow the user to share information, but there's no control. All content uploaded to Base or Video is visible to the world. On the other hand, Gmail promises perpetually expanding storage, but it's all private and not shareable.
But I'm detecting a subtle yet important shift in direction in Google's new products that may move Google closer to the Google Grid model:
Item 1 - Redacted Analyst Day notes - in the presentation notes from the March 2 Analyst Day that Google accidentally released last week, there are several hints of a coming collaborative shift:
Encourage our large user base to actively contribute metadata that leads to better search results•Wiki of search: empower users/experts to improve search results in their domains of expertise — create a million verticals
•Effectively integrate user feedback (ratings, comments, tags) into search
Item 2 - New calendar application - in leaked screenshots of Google's long-rumored calendar application, you can see the beginnings of a collaboration tool
Sharing calendars and events publically or just with selected people
Merging public calendars into your personal calendar
It's still a far cry of the Google Grid many have envisioned, but you can sense a shift in direction here that will be important to Google's future.