Goowy - an AJAX desktop
Forget about AJAX-ified office and AJAX-ified e-mail and AJAX-ified maps - what if your entire desktop was stored online on a remote server, and getting back to the familiar settings amounted to just logging on to a specific Web site? That’s what Goowy is all about - creating a complete virtual desktop with dedicated applications running inside of it.

Currently it contains some very basic application set, which includes Flash games, mail client (@goowy.com and pluggable into any account that supports POP3), online calendar with pretty slick and efficient interface and the desktop gadgets, which, a lot like Konfabulator Yahoo! Widgets, can be dragged anywhere on the desktop.

The widgets include a Google search window, Icerocket blog search, RSS reader, a Flickr widget and calendar reminder utility.

Would be pretty interesting to see apps like text editor and spreadsheets appear on top of Goowy. An instant messenger like Meebo would also seem pretty useful in this environment.

November 18th, 2005 at 8:43 am #Alex
Alex,
Thanks for your great review and support. Please make sure you try out the desktop exe that brings the power of goowy directly to your desktop. We are currently working on more powerful widget (we just launched the delicious widget take a look it also integrates with our rss reader). In addition we have virtual storage and IM in the works. Stay tuned and please help spread the word.
- Alex
November 20th, 2005 at 4:14 am #Evan’s Blog » Blog Archive » Goowy - your entire desktop in AJAX
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November 20th, 2005 at 9:04 am #mlingo
It’s not made with Ajax, it’s made with Flash.
November 20th, 2005 at 9:12 am #Ricky
Sorry, but your post is inaccurate in that Goowy is completely flash-based. (Please recall that AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML). I would have actually viewed the source before making a Digg post.
November 21st, 2005 at 5:22 am #psc0425
try to register …beep…asp.net error!
March 3rd, 2006 at 4:47 am #Mikael Bergkvist
There are better AJAX desktops that this one, which is’nt AJAX to begin with.
http://www.naltabyte.se/howto.htm
http://www.naltabyte.se/desktop.asp
May 15th, 2006 at 4:29 pm #Jimie
Here is one more http://www.startforce.jp. It has the best storage system that I have even seen in Ajax apps.
June 8th, 2006 at 8:32 am #Dev1
Like NetVibes, Goowy is designed using BOTH Flash and AJAX.
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:08 am #Charlie777
Hi guys,
all stuff around web-based operating systems seems to be great idea, but..
my opinion is, that ajax technology is useful in CMS and its interface - to help users managing their content in more comfortable and faster way.
or just like some widget on webpage.
but trying to make a ajax operating system is like trying to build a skyscraper from wood - nobody will invest into that.
why?
ajax-based applications are pretty slow and unable to read data from hard-drives (just by user-managed upload process). Also they are limited by their parent - web browser - and connection speed. Who needs to create his powerpoint presentation on the web page? With crying small count of options?
Me not.
Charlie (sorry for my english :))