That's where http://www.companionlink.com/ comes in. Its software wirelessly keeps the app of your choice in sync with Google, letting you view, edit and add information as if your desktop were part of the cloud service. CompanionLink supports both one-way and two-way syncing, so you can keep your local data in sync with Google's servers, too, if you want.
CompanionLink's Google-Outlook syncing software costs $50; the Google-Lotus Notes program runs at $80. The company offers a variety of other syncing options, too, including software that works with services such as GroupWise, Zoho and Salesforce. On the mail server side, it offers product options to connect with Windows Live in addition to Google. CompanionLink's programs are currently available for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, with Mac support said to be coming soon.
Google's new Chrome Remote Desktop tool, still in beta, lets you access and control any PC remotely, right from your browser. All you need is the free Chrome extension; no additional software is required. That means the service works seamlessly on practically any operating system -- Windows, Mac, Linux or even the cloud-centric Chrome OS.
Chrome Remote Desktop currently requires someone to accept the start of a new session manually on both sides. As such, it's geared primarily toward troubleshooting someone else's computer -- a boon for all of us who act as the family help desk. Google says it plans to eventually expand Chrome Remote Desktop to allow for unmanned remote access too, which should make the tool even more useful.
Tune up your cloud experience with http://chromeunderground.blogspot.com/2011/04/pandora-extension.html, a third-party Chrome extension for the Pandora music-streaming service. Anesidora gives you the full Pandora experience without the need to keep a Pandora tab open in your browser.
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