I criticize them for locking it up, so I have to give props to Google when they talk about letting users take their own data. I realize it’s only a speech and nothing specific about their own plans, but the fact that the people at the top are talking about giving data back is great. Vendor lock-in sucks. I realize more and more just how much different things could be every time I pick up a new Open Source project. From Linux to Firefox to Asterisk, every one has opened my eyes to what can be done when people are free to choose. And talk like this makes me believe there’s room left before this whole Internet boat sails on over that crapwave.

So thanks for the sentiment Mr. Schmidt, I look forward to seeing how you follow through on it.