AirSet
Encyclopedia
AirSet is a privately held consumer cloud storage
company based in Berkeley
, California
, United States
, their main product works via a web browser and various mobile platforms (iPhone
, iPod Touch, and Windows Mobile
handsets)
AirSet was launched as a calendar service in 2003 and began by offering a mobile PIM solution. The mobile application also comes with the AirSet web service. The product was expanded to cover other platforms and uses.
AirSet introduced its cloud desktop interface in 2008 at the Web 2.0 Expo and was featured by CNet news as "one of the most innovative companies" at the conference. AirSet was also featured by Webware as one of the three “most interesting new products and services on display” at the conference.
However, AirSet struggled with the cloud desktop metaphor as it lumps AirSet with other cloud products that target only the individuals, such as G.ho.st
and Cloudo. Moreover, the desktop metaphor did not seem to be well received by the AirSet users. As a result of user feedback and many months of R&D, AirSet redesigned a new cloud network UI and launched at DEMO Spring 2010. The product received positive press from USA Today and cio.com, but the jury is still out for its subsequent commercial success.
To manage other groups like family, work, and community in ones life, a user can add as many Group Cloud Computers to their AirSet network. A Group Cloud Computer comes with all the apps and features of a Personal Cloud Computer. But it also helps members of a group find out what’s going on in the group, make plans together, and contribute their input to the group.
Once a user sets up more than one cloud computer in their network, all of these cloud computers are networked together. The user can band together with other individual users in a number of groups that are of varying degrees of permanence. When the user leaves one group, he/she may lose membership to that one particular group, but retain all his/her other relationships.
One comment in the AirSet user community forum compared AirSet with other competitors. Creating new groups in Google Apps, Zoho Business, Blackboard, and Moodle follows a pyramid structure. If anyone wants to create a new group, they have to ask the person above them in the hierarchy. AirSet, on the other hand, is more like “an ideal 18th century town. Everyone is queen of her own castle, and people join together in different overlapping groups, needing nobody else's permission. I am the head teacher in the school and I rule the school group. Jeff is the head volunteer fireman and I am a member of his group. And so on. Importantly, groups can come and go. Some of us decide to hold a summer fair. The originator of the idea starts a temporary group. We join. The fair is held. The task is done and the group is disbanded. In this model there is no King, and groups are tools through which people come together for as long as necessary – and groups interact and overlap as needed.”
HP TouchPad / WebOS Not Supported: As discussed in the Airset user community forum, the WebOS on the HP TouchPad is not supported due to lack of testing. Both web browsing and Exchange synchronization are affected.”
Cloud storage
Cloud storage is a model of networked online storage where data is stored on virtualized pools of storage which are generally hosted by third parties. Hosting companies operate large data centers; and people who require their data to be hosted buy or lease storage capacity from them and use it for...
company based in Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, their main product works via a web browser and various mobile platforms (iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, iPod Touch, and Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
handsets)
History
AirSet is the fourth start-up founded by Brian Dougherty.AirSet was launched as a calendar service in 2003 and began by offering a mobile PIM solution. The mobile application also comes with the AirSet web service. The product was expanded to cover other platforms and uses.
AirSet introduced its cloud desktop interface in 2008 at the Web 2.0 Expo and was featured by CNet news as "one of the most innovative companies" at the conference. AirSet was also featured by Webware as one of the three “most interesting new products and services on display” at the conference.
However, AirSet struggled with the cloud desktop metaphor as it lumps AirSet with other cloud products that target only the individuals, such as G.ho.st
G.ho.st
G.ho.st was the trading name of Ghost Inc. and the service name and URL of the company's hosted computer operating system or WebOS service. Its name is an acronym of Global Hosted Operating SysTem. The old URL G.ho.st is a domain hack using the São Tomé and Príncipe .st country extension and more...
and Cloudo. Moreover, the desktop metaphor did not seem to be well received by the AirSet users. As a result of user feedback and many months of R&D, AirSet redesigned a new cloud network UI and launched at DEMO Spring 2010. The product received positive press from USA Today and cio.com, but the jury is still out for its subsequent commercial success.
Product
When users registered with AirSet, they each get a Personal Cloud Computer that helps to manage his/her personal life. The personal cloud computer helps individuals keep track of personal calendars and contacts on the web and across different devices (cell phones, PDAs, desktops, etc.). The personal cloud computer also makes it possible for an individual to access his/her files anywhere anytime.To manage other groups like family, work, and community in ones life, a user can add as many Group Cloud Computers to their AirSet network. A Group Cloud Computer comes with all the apps and features of a Personal Cloud Computer. But it also helps members of a group find out what’s going on in the group, make plans together, and contribute their input to the group.
Once a user sets up more than one cloud computer in their network, all of these cloud computers are networked together. The user can band together with other individual users in a number of groups that are of varying degrees of permanence. When the user leaves one group, he/she may lose membership to that one particular group, but retain all his/her other relationships.
One comment in the AirSet user community forum compared AirSet with other competitors. Creating new groups in Google Apps, Zoho Business, Blackboard, and Moodle follows a pyramid structure. If anyone wants to create a new group, they have to ask the person above them in the hierarchy. AirSet, on the other hand, is more like “an ideal 18th century town. Everyone is queen of her own castle, and people join together in different overlapping groups, needing nobody else's permission. I am the head teacher in the school and I rule the school group. Jeff is the head volunteer fireman and I am a member of his group. And so on. Importantly, groups can come and go. Some of us decide to hold a summer fair. The originator of the idea starts a temporary group. We join. The fair is held. The task is done and the group is disbanded. In this model there is no King, and groups are tools through which people come together for as long as necessary – and groups interact and overlap as needed.”
HP TouchPad / WebOS Not Supported: As discussed in the Airset user community forum, the WebOS on the HP TouchPad is not supported due to lack of testing. Both web browsing and Exchange synchronization are affected.”