The Death Of The Web Browser – Coming To A Desktop Near You

Have you taken a step back and thought about what your online experience looks and feels like?

I bet it’s nothing like the days of firing up the old Web browser and clicking through your Bookmarks. Things are changing at such a rapid pace that I’m not sure Marketers understand how big the changes are… or will be.

I was watching as a couple of people at Twist Image played with their iPhones, then noticed a couple of widgets on someone else’s desktop, and from there I caught myself floating through a bunch of news items in Google Reader at which point it hit me (square between the eyes): the death of the Web Browser is imminent.

Nielsen BuzzMetrics has already lauded that the Pageview – as a measurement metric – is on its way out, and Web Analytic experts are desperately helping us Online Marketers better understand what a metric means in a world of Ajax-enabled Web pages. In this flurry it seems blatantly obvious that we’re moving towards an always connected experience that will transcend the desktop versus mobile convergence discussion. It will also obliterate the need (or desire) to go from a computer (or device) “on to” the Internet. It will, simply, always be there… always be on.

It does seem simple and realistic. The idea that all of your data is stored in the “cloud” and that the concept of having anything stored locally seems insane (one place, where it can be lost or destroyed… why?).

Yup, I’m feeling a little Geeky with a Techy edge at the moment. Maybe it has to do with the new Sony Vaio ultra portable laptop that I just ordered… or maybe it has to do with the seemingly silly task of having to reinstall software that could just as easily be a Web-based (and driven) application.

I’m thinking about a bigger picture for Marketers, Digital Marketing and Online Advertising. This picture is completed by a theme of “connectedness.” No Web to log on to, but rather a Digital environment that’s driven by a connected desktop.

Dare to dream.