[mirkules]

Personally, I still use Gmail because IMAP and POP access is still available. My machine at home downloads my emails via IMAP while I'm at work. No problem.

But I find it creepy knowing that Google is keeping an eye on everything I do. Therefore, I started to diversify: use Bing for search, use Bing or Yahoo! maps, never stay logged into Google services... actually these are the only Google services I use regularly, so that's pretty much it. I do have to say, for searching programming stuff Bing is kinda "meh" but livable.

I do have a question: suppose you sign into your Google account, and now your account is correlated with your IP address, then you sign out. I wonder if Google keeps track of searches from your IP address while you are signed out and correlates it with your account (perhaps with a little less weight)?

Edit: Forgot to mention Android. Definitely more than creepy.

Also, even if Microsoft is collecting information, it means MS will have only some of the info.

[kalistoga]

Who knows what they are doing behind.

What I'm annoyed about is that they seem like they are trying to commit suicide. I can understand they want to "leverage" their existing assets, but the sacrifice is too much.

As you said, there's no problem if you use IMAP and POP access with your desktop client, and therein lies the problem. Google is supposed to bring everything to the cloud. They used to be good at it. But they are now going backwards and making people become dependent on devices. I already see many people using the mail client Sparrow just for that reason.

I think they've lost their mind being too obsessed with Facebook and Twitter.