It was a tough call, but we decided to phase out support for Browser Sync. Since the team has moved on to other projects that are keeping them busy, we don't have time to update the extension to work with Firefox 3 or to continue to maintain it.
For those of you who want to continue to use Firefox 2, we'll maintain support for old versions of Google Browser Sync through 2008. After that, we can recommend a few other products that scratch a similar itch. We hope that one of them works for you:
* Mozilla Weave from Mozilla Labs - Offers bookmark and history synchronization across computers.
* Google Toolbar for Firefox - Store your bookmarks online and access them from any computer online. [although, this is not 3.0 compatible as of writing]
* Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer - Synchronizes your bookmarks across all computers where it is installed.
The latest version of Opera also includes a feature that synchronizes bookmarks across computers and mobile devices, so we'll probably see it in the next versions of Firefox and Internet Explorer.
It's pretty sad that Browser Sync wasn't considered important. The extension could have been the first step towards an online Google desktop, available from any computer and always updated. I'll miss the feature that restores the last session remotely.
Update: Mozilla Weave will add support for synchronizing cookies, passwords, saved form data and sessions, in addition to bookmarks and browsing history. "The next major update to Weave [is] expected to be ready for wider testing shortly after the release of Firefox 3". As you probably know, Firefox 3 will be released next Tuesday.
{ via Alex Polvi }
Update: There's an official announcement from Google. "Phasing out Google Browser Sync was a tough call but we have decided to focus our efforts on other products, like Toolbar and Gears, that also extend the capability of multiple browsers. We've posted the code to Google Code in hopes that someone will use it to develop something cool."
That stinks. I love Google sync. :-(
ReplyDelete"It's pretty sad that Browser Sync wasn't considered important."
ReplyDeleteNot true. Browser Sync _was_ considered important. However, other things are also important, and given the changes in Fx3's architecture, Fx3 support would have basically meant a complete rewrite, which is a large engineering commitment.
Very sad news. Maybe I will keep using Firefox 2 only to maintain this feature. When I switch off my job's computer and them arrive home, open fireox and magically i have all the pages I had opened at work I feel great.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Browser Sync is my favourite Firefox extension by far, so this is very sad news.
ReplyDeletesad day. This was the best browser sync out there.
ReplyDeleteI already use Google Toolbar with its bookmarking capabilities. So, I'm not so concerned about "synching bookmarks."
ReplyDeleteI also turn on PageRank in the Google Toolbar so that I can take advantage of Google Web History, so I'm not so concerned about "synching history."
What I DID love about Google Browser Sync was that is synced not only cookies, but saved passwords. This meant that websites that stored settings in cookies would maintain those settings no matter which machine I started browsing from. It also meant that if I saved a password when logging in from work, the password was still saved when I logged in from home.
Does anyone know of an alternative for cookie and saved password synching, or was Google Browser Sync the only kid on the block for that type of functionality?
Also, might there be a possibility that Google would be willing to open-source Google Browser Sync since it is being dropped anyway? Obviously there is a server requirement for it as well, but perhaps this might be re-written (maybe even using Google App Engine) by the fans of Google Browser Sync. Just a thought.
That is unfortunate, its one of the only extensions I have installed.
ReplyDeleteThis is a tradgedy. This was one of Google's better successes, and personally I think it is as important as Google gears. Oh well, maybe the Mozilla team can import a similar feature in a future version of Firefox, that will implement the features Google Browser sync offered.
ReplyDeletenooooooooooooooo
ReplyDeletethis can't be happening!!!!
I love browser sync :(
This is very bad, because it is for me the best feature of Firefox.
ReplyDeleteSO I will stay with FF2, until a good solution appears.
Google, sometimes I find you so great, but in this case, you make me feel angry, that's not a good choice.
Oh no!! I have been waiting to update to FF3, and now I don't know what I'm going to do. Weave isn't nearly ready, and does not sync all of the things GBS would. I guess I will be staying with FF2 until weave is a little mature.
ReplyDeleteRest in peace GBS
Angry? I'm very angry with Google about this decision, browser sync is the most useful extension for Firefox, but Firefox 3 is so much better and faster than its previous versions to stick with Firefox 2 only to keep the browser sync extension ... and anyway it will be supported on the Google servers only for 2008.
ReplyDeleteIf these bad news are true I hope that Mozilla Labs will release a stable version of Weave soon: bye bye Google, if this is the kind of support you give to your users I guess that I will stop using your web services and desktop apps.
Why not releasing code in code.google.com as open source so developers can continue this as community project?
ReplyDeleteshit... sync is a must have utility... i can't live without :(
ReplyDeleteQue vaina pues... esa extensión es una de las más usadas por mi y por un equipo de trabajo en el que estoy.
ReplyDeleteMe desagrada esta decisión y ojala lo reconsideraran, pues es simplemente maravillosa esa extensión.
I used to use this, but occasionally when I started the browser it would take quite a few seconds to sync.
ReplyDeleteSo far the Google toolbar hasn't had this problem and it pretty much does the same thing.
To save a "seesion" you can use the toolbar bookmarking to save all your tabs into a folder that can be quickly opened on another computer.
This really suck. I just hope Google release the plugin as open source so we can take the code and offer the same service else where.
ReplyDeleteBad news. Last sync can use from FF3 RC3.. but this is really bad news for me. Always was stupid passwords and login sync, wiith home, work and virtualMachine! Too saaddd :((
ReplyDeleteTake a look.. last browsersync...
http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Firefox-Extensions
I'm not sure this is true. Why the unnamed source?
ReplyDeleteGoogle Browser Sync was a miracle for its time. A stellar design where the user need do almost nothing, and soooo useful. Google Toolbar is not an alternative for UMPCs--a few more "mandatory" toolbars and we've got no screen space left to see what's on the internet!
ReplyDeleteExcept for Google Notebooks and the ability to startup with multiple tabs open, I would just abandon Firefox for IE7 (the "2-second youtube" bug has bit on my primary computer).
That is really frustrating. I used Google Browser Sync on all my computers. Having current web pages, bookmarks, cookies, and passwords seamlessly updated was a HUGE win!
ReplyDeleteAny tips on a replacement add-on would be appreciated.
Once 'zilla Weave gets their act together, I think it has a lot of potential to do all of this stuff.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I'm pretty amazed the tool lasted as long as it did, relative to server cost for syncing and virtually zero ads/subsidy.
What becomes of everyone's synced data
ReplyDeletegosh i cant belive it! browser sync is maybe the best thing google does for me on a daily basis. syncing between office and home is just awesome.
ReplyDeletei dont see how google toolbar can reopen my tabs, or store my passwords. and honestly i dont trust mozilla or other services the same as google.
Sad. Since GBS, i never had to back-up my firefox profile. Changed 6 computers over the past 3 years and re-installed windows a thousand times without ever having to worry about my bookmarks etc.
ReplyDeleteI hope mozilla would just build this functionality into Firefox.
browser sync (and gmail) is maybe the best thing google does for me on a daily basis. syncing between office and home is great.
ReplyDeletei dont see how google toolbar can reopen my tabs, or store my passwords.
you can go home, open you browser and have all open just like in office, still logged in!
this sucks, i use browser sync daily... i hope weave gets the job done
ReplyDeleteWell I haven't looked at Firefox on my PC for a while, but doesn't Gmarks work on PCs as well as Macs? And there is always Google Notebook's Unfiled bookmarks..
ReplyDeleteWhen I read "Google Browser Sync to be discontinued" I thought it was an atomic's clock feature, not a Firefox extension.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Foxmarks? That's what I use and it works pretty well for me.
ReplyDeleteI am actually using FoxMarks to sync my Firefox 3 bookmarks between 3 Macs, but that's all ... no history/passwords/cookie sync as in Google Browser Sync.
ReplyDeleteBAD NEWS!
ReplyDeleteGBS was catalyst for me to make use of my Google account. Without GBS I might not have bothered to take advantage of many other Google tools. This is a nuts decision and undermines trust in selecting Google offerings - why would I go with google if they may unexpectedly pull the plug. GBS is a great implementation that solved a real problem with ease. They should reconsider this, if it is indeed true.
ReplyDeleteto sync bookmarks u can use "foxmarks" in firefox
ReplyDeletevery bad news :-(
ReplyDeletewas the only solution a couple of years ago that really worked... worked fine ever since...
Don't like Foxmark as it doesn't encrypt the bookmarks, as I don't want anyone to see my bookmarks. It also doesn't sync anything else bu bookmarks :-(
Please Google, reconsider this decision! Or at least release the code!
I use GMarks for my bookmarks. Will google sell it, or make it an open source project. Could it be ported into google apps?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it...
ReplyDeleteI hope they reconsider and rewrite this absolutely useful extension for Firefox 3.
It's only reason I'm still using FF2 and maybe I stay with it for a while...
Ah, I can't belive! That's the only reason I didn't change to firefox 3 until now.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm gonna try one of your recomendations...
What an idiotic decision.
ReplyDeleteGive the code for free or at least sell it to somebody, so they can market it as a service, instead of just shafting your clients!
This was the most useful Google service for me, as it allowed to sync everything (cookies, passwords, ...) and allowed streamlined surfing regardless of location (e.g. home, work, ...).
And they say that Google are the "nice" guys - yeah right. :-/
This really is a tragedy. Seems to have stemmed from short-sighted thinking when this project was approved - FF3 and future versions will always have significant architectural changes. There should have been a strong commitment up front to long term support.
ReplyDeletePopular projects that get killed don't give the community a nice feeling.
-Pete
:-(
ReplyDeleteRIP Google Browser Sync.
If this is because of money problems, they should try charging for the product. I would gladly pay for it if it would keep it alive.
ReplyDeleteFirefox rules, Google drools !
ReplyDeleteOh man...I depend on this extension so much that it's the only reason I haven't moved to Firefox 3 yet.
ReplyDeleteI bet there are people like me who would pay for the service.
If money is an issue, Sergey could cancel that spaceflight he has scheduled. Seriously, I have three versions of Windows, not to mention Linux and MacOS installed on just one of my computers. Then there is my wife and kids computers, and my server, notebook and work machines. The glue holding these together was GBS. I too have been holding off on FF3. It will be very sorely missed.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the STUPIDEST decisions I have seen in a long time from Google. I vote that they open source the code and allow people to sync through their GMail accounts (whatever is used to sync stuff is taken from the available space in Gmail). Geez Google....you make me look like an idiot after I have set friends and family up on GBS.
ReplyDeleteLook at what Mozilla posted about Weave
ReplyDeletehttp://labs.mozilla.com/2008/06/weave-status-update/
Ability to sync:
Bookmarks
History
Cookies
Saved Passwords
Tabs
Saved Form Data
Extensions
Themes
Search Plugins
Microformats
Hot damn! I'm excited now
too bad I will stay on firefox 2,..
ReplyDeleteGoogle Browser Sync was the only reason, why I actually switched to Mozilla.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it. This is very very bad. I can't use another extension like this because Google is the only one I trust. It's sad that the best browser (Firefox 3) doesn't have the necessary support from Google :(
ReplyDeleteRelease the source code. "Don't be evil", don't let the software dies as abandonware like other corporations.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad if it's true, but not surprising as GBS doesn't raise any revenue for the company. I think the key reason that browser sync needs to be done by Google to make it a success is that they are one of the few companies I trust to save this particular information, from both a technical and ethical perspective. Are their any comparable sync servers and extensions that can be run on private hardware ?
ReplyDelete-Drew
Damn! Damn! Damn! The way I heard about what would have been a massively useful tool for me was via the cancellation story on /. I've been manually carrying bookmarks.html around on USB between home, work and university, and now I hear I could have been doing it so much better?
ReplyDeleteOh, well, at least I hadn't become dependent on it. . .
Are there any solutions for synching the entire profile? Preferences and extensions included? It's a huge pain in the butt to recreate everything on every computer I use.
ReplyDeleteJoe, not yet, but Weave is from Mozilla, and will most likely get there.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great extension until it became dormant some time ago. It was important enough that I was considering not switching to FF3 just to keep using it. Finally I decided on another course of action - use Foxmarks instead.
ReplyDeleteGoogle could simply release this extension under GPL instead of just abandoning it. I'm sure there are enough fans to keep it alive and healthy.
Craptastic. Maybe it's time to look at Opera 9.5.
ReplyDeleteVery Sad. Going to use foxmarks for the moment, until Weave gets into full swing. I know it would have taken google a bit to rewrite the app to work with FF3, but looking at the amount of folks they're sending to find other software (competitors?) to replace it I still don't see how this is "good" for them to drop it.
ReplyDeleteI use this to resurrect my tabs each time I open the browser - is there another way to do this in the new firefox??
ReplyDeleteIt was one of the reasons I stuck with Avant for so long
this was by far the most usefull firefox extension. so i am very disappointed about this decision. very very sad. i will check weave now.
ReplyDeletethanks anyway for this badass extention ;-)
Completely agree with previous posters, Google need to open source this plugin and let the community to take over, if they cant afford to keep one person on this. I was using this plugin on all of my computers, and I relly liked it. Since I switched to Firefox 3 already, I had to switch to Foxmarks, but they don't give me password/cookie sharing. Weave looks interesting, and I haven't tried it yet. Once again, very strange decision by Google.
ReplyDeleteAlternative for passwords sync:
ReplyDeletePasspack, Online Password Manager
It's a secure online storage, so no need to sync between browsers.
[disclaimer: I'm a founder]
Shame on you, Google. GBS was the extension I always install first, the one that work really seamlessly.
ReplyDeleteIt would cost you really nothing to keep supporting it, but again political reasons ruined good thing. Too bad.
please no, anything but this...i've 6 computers and GBS is invaluable to me.
ReplyDeletefund it. develop it. we beg you. =o(
Good example of the risk we run when we integrate on-line services into our life in such a big way. Google is one of the few to succeed in breaking down these barriers so far from my perspective, but it won't take too many examples like this to undo all that good work.
ReplyDeleteMozilla Weave indeed looks great for the future from a functional point of view, but data consistency and continuity are just as important when my personal data is concerned - can Mozilla guarantee server capacity and continuity long term? Could Google host the Mozilla service perhaps (you see my trust in the long term Google presence is not yet totally lost yet :-).
Google - please reconsider!
I run the risk of being virtually ridden out of town on a rail, but I tried Foxmarks when it first came out and switched from Google Bookmarks immediately. Much simpler to operate, and GB re-synched the ongoing Firefox bookmark error twice and wiped out my marks. Foxmarks warns you if there's a major discrepancy so that you can decide which version to use, PC or server.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, I used to use browser sync until it started deleting my bookmarks en mass. Now, I don't use it at all. The one feature that I really miss is that it preserved live bookmarks while the sync software I am using just passes over the URL, but doesn't make it a live bookmark.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good app but far from perfect. If someone seriously wants to do the FF3 re-write, they don't need the Google code to do it, FF3 is open. I'd like to see a way to secure the storage of my passwords myself, like via encryption with my own certificate, and it needs to be leaner, and there needed to be a way to turn off the notifications without turning off the sync.
ReplyDeleteBut, Google would have fixed that if there was enthusiasm for the project, there wasn't I suspect in part to the security concerns yet unmet, so it goes.
Stinky, really liked this one. Well fish got to swim and birds got to eat.
ReplyDeleteGoogle you suck! If there is one thing from Google I use the most it's Browser sync. Nothing else out there even compares! Its truely sad that you find it so unimportant. I use it across three desktops and all I can says its awesome and keeps me from wasting lots of time.
ReplyDeleteHow can you back and push Firefox but not support arguably one of the best add-ons that ever who uses it thinks is awesome??????????
SAD SAD SAD. I Guess it just wasn't in align with the Structure of the Google Corporate EMPIRE!
This is the most disappointing news I have ever heard from Google. Sync was my favorite service and it kept me loyal.
ReplyDeleteNow I WILL NOT be upgrading Firefox on Tuesday, so there goes my pledge for download day.
When Weave adds the cookie and password features, then I'll upgrade. I don't even know my passwords for a lot of sites anymore, and without that feature I would be lost.
this is just so bad. there was a real NEED for this kind of functionality
ReplyDeletemaybe we can start an online petition or something?
All I can to say is: ":("...
ReplyDeleteGoogle - Dont be evil. Save GBS.
ReplyDeletePlease don't cancel sync. It has been one of the most useful google tools yet.
ReplyDeleteIn the name of all that's sacred, PLEASE maintain this. Or could you at least just do ONE MORE update to FF 3, then pass it on to a worthy developer to maintain?
ReplyDeleteJust wait until Tues. when lots of GBS users upgrade to FF3 and find out that they're screwed.
ReplyDeleteOn a brighter note, Google Toolbar can now be installed in Firefox 3.
ReplyDeleteI started a petition before this news was released. I welcome everyone to sign it and spread news of it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ipetitions.com/petition/googlebrowsersyncff3/signatures.html
This was the only reason I hadn't tried the Beta... can't go back to not having cookie/form field sync so I guess i'll be staying with Firefox 2 for a while. Its a shame.
ReplyDeleteThat is VERY bad news. This was the number one thing I liked using as a plugin.
ReplyDeleteYou need to rethink this guys.
Please keep this extension going. Nothing out there at the moment has the same functionality, and I want to be able to dump the data up to my google account.
ReplyDeleteThis was a requirement as a plug in. If you want to kill it off when Weave comes up to scratch, I don't have any major objection, but while nothing in the market exists, please find a way to keep this going.
you broke my heart google :(
ReplyDelete:(
ReplyDeleteThis was a very easy to use bookmark sync, and the best one out there. Sad to see Google stop development. They must be able to find someone to continue development.
ReplyDeleteshame on google! :\
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Google Browser Sync was the reason why I didn't install the beta versions of Firefox 3! I NEED this!
ReplyDeleteBy far, the best Firefox extension out there, (besides the obvious one, Adblock Plus). I have to agree with ST2008: Once we start depending on online services, it's painful when they suddenly go away without warning like this.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't care whether the authors are busy on another project. It was very useful to me since I'm on several computers and computer images a day. Having my trove of useful bookmarks and saved passwords available to me was a godsend. Losing that ability at the whim of a corporation is painful and disgusting.
Well, I'm one of those Tuesday downloaders... I use sync @ work and home. This is a real bummer.
ReplyDeleteSync'ing is one of the reason's I switched to firefox - back to ie for me? With all their gazillions of profit they can't afford one developer to update for 3? Very sad.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry to see that this extension is defunct. Especially since it synchronises passwords. Weave is far from std usage quality and functionality. It would have been nice if a quick & dirty solution was found to overcome the time in between GBS & Weave.
ReplyDeleteI' am sad now.
ReplyDeleteOMG,
ReplyDeleteThat's aweful!!!
Along with everyone else here I love the sync...
Can you opensource it?
I understand there is a financial commitment to rewrite however I really think Google has under estimated the convenience and therefore importance of their sync program to their user community.
ReplyDeleteI had feared this, but it still makes me extremely angry. As others have said, this extension is so important that it'll keep me from installing FF 3 even though it's downloaded.
ReplyDeleteI know that Weave will get there sometime, but that's not now. And no, the toolbar and Foxmarks are for various reasons not alternatives, at least to me.
I think you've seriously underestimated how important this is to many people. Really hope you reverse your decision on this ASAP or release the code and whatever else is needed for a hopefully speedy update. Hell, I'd pay for that.
Please reconsider. Browser sync is the best/only out there...
ReplyDeleteSo now I know the service will be discontinued, I won't upgrade to Firefox 3 until I found a similar service that stores also history, cookies, and all other stuff Google Sync was doing so well.
ReplyDeleteFoxmarks stores only bookmarks, Weave is on beta and still closed for overloaded servers, and Google Toolbar still not supporting cookies and cache.
I think I'd like to pay a reasonable fee for a service like this, if they will keep supporting the extension.
bad decision google!
ReplyDeleteI believe the decision is wrong, though I understand that GBS was a complicated and challenging project. I thank Google for the work and hope that the work on the project will continue!
ReplyDeleteThere's no name of the source where the information comes from. Maybe we have nothing to worry about?
Anyone know how to export Google Sync Bookmarks? I get the old list on FF3.
ReplyDeleteAs to Google... Grrrrr
I don't care. I had an awful experience with the syncing that I eventually moved to Weave, despite its beta status and lack of features. You can still use the toolbar for bookmarks and there's another extension that turns the standard Fx Bookmarks menu into the Google menu so you can hide the toolbar and save space. However, you don't get all the awesomeness of Fx 3's new bookmarking system.
ReplyDeleteВот блядство... самое полезное расширение из всех, что есть на данный момент.
ReplyDeleteПорицаю вас говноеды, одна из самых удачных фич гугля.
ReplyDeleteйоптваюмать. из-за этой фичи сижу до сих пор на ФФ2. а терь че?
ReplyDeleteThis Sync feature is my most important tool!
ReplyDeleteI always use. At home, in my job and at the university. This keeps me always updated with my stuffs.....
And a very good funcionality that you can´t find in another Tool is the capability of save Sessions and Cookies....
Google will have to work for add this funcionality in some product!
I really hope that people from google do sometinhg do change this idea to discontinue the Feadure!!
bad decision , arg now i have to stay @ FF 2 , please consider your decision or make it Opensource , for the convinced Google Sync Tool Users .
ReplyDeletecu
Too bad.
ReplyDeleteIf it is not continued, when will the sync service totally shut down?
And how can I delete my saved data?
Very Bad News :(
ReplyDeleteIt's a very bad news.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Google, must to resolve this problem.
Realy, release a Source Code and community said "THANKS!" :)
I'm also very sad and disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI've used GBS heavily for a long time, and I'm going to miss it a lot until Weave becomes good enough to replace it.
For me, the bookmark sync wasn't that important anyway, it was the history, the cookies and the sessions.
Google, please update this or release the source! Don't be evil!
Damn.
ReplyDeleteBecause of Google Sync, I never lost my web password when I reinstall my PC.Sync is the reason I use the firefox.
Bad news....
ReplyDeleteI upgraded to FF3 and then went back to FF2 realizing that GSB is not compatible w/ FF3... Temp solution, I understand.
ReplyDeleteCome on Google, take a look at all the supporters here, surely you can supply some resources here to keep a good thing going.
ReplyDeleteThis was an astonishingly useful tool. I will be using Firefox 2 until someone comes out with something similar. The problem is - who can you trust with your password history these days?
ReplyDeleteAwwwww... Google Browser Sync was the most useful Firefox extension ever.
ReplyDeleteAny chance of reconsidering? ;-)
I'm adding my disappointment in Google discontinuing GBS.
ReplyDeleteI am also concerned about how Google is handling the avalanche of negative response to the "announcement."
Google haven't posted anything official in the Google-Firefox-Extensions group, which has received hundreds of complaints about GBS being dropped, so the only "announcement" we have is the "report of the email received" on lifehack.org.
A long thread in the G-F-E group that WAS called "Please upgrade browser sync for firefox 3.0" was changed today to "Weave is the future. Try Weave instead!"
The user who changed the thread also posted that Mozilla "OFFICIALLY plans" to add these features. He also refers to Google's "official" announcement of discontinuance of GBS by giving a link to slachdot.org which eventually leads you back to the lifehack.org post.
I checked the Mozilla Weave site and I couldn't find anything that says they are going to "officially" do anything. They do say they are planning to implement the framework so that third-parties can develop applications. They do say it's an experimental project. That seems to be something short of "official" plans to offer a GBS replacement.
I made a post (and got a confirmation email) to the G-F-E group, which is moderated by Google, listing several market reasons they were tarnishing their image by the sudden discontinuance of G-B-E. After several days, that post (partially included below) has not appeared on the group. I don't know if it was "moderated" out or what. The user who changed the thread title and posted the erroneous "official" announcement posted a day later than I did.
I'm really beginning to wonder what Google is up to. And I'm really beginning to doubt it has anything to do with the welfare of their users.
Doubting Google, for a very loyal follower, could be a problem. In the past, Yahoo, Lycos and AltaVista had a good share of the market. Each one lost market share when they failed to support users and keep up.
Google has remained on top now because they are good. And they remain good.
They keep up. They develop more. Their applications are more innovative. And they are responsive. Responsive? Well. . .
The discontinuance of GBS may have put doubt in the minds of thousands, if not a million users:
"Will Google do this to another product I rely on? "
I'm asking that question, and I use Gmail, GBookmarks, GHistory, GNotebook, GDocs, GCalendar, Gmobile, GTranslate, GMaps and many more.
I point out something that Google may have failed to take into account: Google said the team that had developed GBS had "moved on to other projects." That is because they *could.*
They built a good product. The users had little trouble with it. It didn't require massive amounts of support. THE USERS USED IT, THEY LIKED IT, AND IT WAS GOOD.
Firefox has evolved. GBS needs to be updated. They could make it good like it was. So users will use it, they will like it and it will be good. Isn't that the Google Way?
Google may well have lost a *lot* of image. Time will tell. So will the actions Google takes with GBS. I still hope they update it. A little work now. The worth is continued loyalty and faith in Google. The cost of not updating GBS may be the insertion of doubt and loss of faith in Google in a whole bunch of user's minds.
If Google bucks up and supports the users while other alternatives are in development it could be a positive move. If they fail to try, they fail not only the users, but the ideals of Google itself.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :( :(
ReplyDeleteVery bad news.
ReplyDeleteI agree with: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
ReplyDelete::plonk::
Is there any chance of a tool being provided to export the data contained within GBS? Anyone with any ideas as to how port stored data over to the alternative offered via Weave?
ReplyDeleteUsers cannot be "moved" like a garbage from one service to another. If we liked GBS, why force us to adopt Weave?
ReplyDeleteAnd if - as I heard, GBS isn't the most secure tool in the Internet, the same is with Gmail, Google Docs, etc.
Briefly, how insecure is it?
GBS is/was AWESOME. I can't use Foxmarks because it's blocked at work (grrrr) and I haven't tried any of the other options, though I guess I will now.
ReplyDeleteGBS scratched my itch and scratched it well.
This is a bad decision that needs to be reconsidered.
Bad google! Bad!
Google Browser Sync is my favourite feature. I can't believe it's gone.
ReplyDeleteDear Google,
Please reconsider the value of Google Browser Sync!
Perhaps we can dream of having it automatically included in a future version of FF3?
Update: Today Google Browser Sync was removed from the list of Firefox extensions:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/tools/firefox/
This "kind of" confirms they are not going to update it (interesting communication strategy).
Update 2: They announced officially in the group they discontinued it and the code will be in Google Code.
ReplyDeletehttp://groups.google.com/group/Google-Firefox-Extensions/browse_thread/thread/885a160804213632
Strangly, the Google Labs page says "Google Browser Sync now available"!
ReplyDeletehttp://labs.google.com/
I want Google Browser Sync yesterday!
ReplyDeletecan't believe it's gone
ReplyDeleteHave you people not downloaded Google Toolbar???????? It does the same thing, what's wrong with you?
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't started using Google toolbar, you really aren't very efficient.
B.M. did u ever use google sync??? ur post just shows u r ignorant!!! it's not just the bookmarks but ability to sync passwords across computers which was the biggest plus point of google sync... recently my laptop had crashed and it helped me recover my passwords for all the minor sites that I had saved on my firefox.
ReplyDeleteThis stinks Google!!! bring back the google sync!!!
I would pay for google synch. 20 USD per year sounds ok.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame, this, Morning Cup, Side Bar to the Right, and Notebook are my favorite and most used extensions. Very huge loss for Google users.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Sync used to be my first extension install. I came to rely on it heavily. I will not likely trust Google with a major extension or add-on in the future. It worries me to the point of thinking of pulling my documents off Google Docs just in case they "get bored" working on useful apps, and want to work on more cool, yet mostly useless apps, like Google Earth.
ReplyDeleteAll those billions, and they can't pay a couple programmers a few hours to keep up one of the few pieces of software actually useful to normal and business users.
Boooo!
This is a real shame Google
ReplyDeleteAfter G-mail you don't have a more useful tool for day to day browsing.
I'd aso be happy to pay - please reconsider this move.
darn it!
ReplyDeletedarn it!
darn it!
GBS is great
I would be happy to pay too. But wait, I pay them $20,000 per year already. :) Ech, I'd still pay for GBS.
What do i think........I think i will never download google rubbish again......yeah......and while im at it i think i will change search engines.......
ReplyDeleteHow dare you offer a product, get people use to it and then drop it.......
Not to happy with the whole computer industry actualy.........they all build rubbish, we get used to it, and it either stops working, or needs patching.............
How many hours have you wasted reinstalling programs, etc etc........or tryed to fix software with little or no support.....
Well im going to a bare bones system, no new software, or new things if i can help it, no more high end gaming computers etc etc etc..........no more money or time spent on garbage which really does not make life better.
Google....thanks you made me see the light......
pls post some new.......google browser sync was great thing!! we need it!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you can try http://www.hibernater.com
ReplyDeleteIt is a window program that stores your data online in a central server,
- histories of Internet Explorer and Firefox
- favorites you choose to save
- Does not need installation
- hibernate/store your current files (Current supported apps : MS office, IE tabs, firefox tabs)
- resume/load next time on any other PC the files hibernated/stored previously
- auto-login your MSN Messager
Just register and try it since it is free now.
Will not, cannot try Hibernater. Not on this box not without Fox (and GBS).
ReplyDeletefirst of all i love Google Browser Sync.google browser sync was great & wonderful thing!! we need it!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm using Xmarks (previously Foxmarks) and it works great for bookmarks, but unfortunately it doesn't sync cookies, stored passwords, or other misc prefs. So I need some sort of more powerful sync tool (perhaps an all-purpose file sync app?)
ReplyDeleteI could use MobileMe if I were a Safari user, but I'm a Firefox user, and plus MobileMe is unreliable and not worth the money. Any other good sync solutions out there for Mac?