The 'cloud' gets crowded with the Times entering the scene

The latest entry in two rapidly expanding fields -- cloud computing and Adobe AIR applications -- comes from an unusual source this morning: The New York Times.

This morning, The New York Times officially launched its public beta of a new service called ShifD, aimed at allowing users to share content via PCs, phones and other mobile devices.

In its most basic form, instead of being forced to e-mail or text message yourself a link to an article or other content, ShifD is able to "seamlessly shift content back and forth between [users'] desktop computers and mobile devices." Users will be able to save information to one central location, while no longer having the same document spread across a PC and mobile devices.

The basic ShifD dashboard page can be accessed by any PC or mobile device that has access to the Internet. The Times also offers an Adobe AIR-based toolbar that lets ShifD users share content without opening a Web browser.

The dashboard has three different user interfaces: "Notes," "Places" and "Links." Further, a "tagging" system allows users to add a single tag to help describe an individual item listed in one of the three categories.

If you've just finished a meeting and need to remind yourself of a name or other basic information, it's possible to use a mobile phone to add a reminder to the "Notes" function of ShifD. Even though that feature was functioning in the beta release BetaNews tested this morning, users will eventually be able to send text messages to update information in the ShifD dashboard.

Developers plan on adding e-mail to ShifD, but probably in a later beta version. It's feasible that the Times may implement advertising through the service -- which could be its most likely method of monetization -- though any discussion of ads will be withheld until the service is a bit more stable. Still, the possibility exists that advertising through functionality may yet become NYT's Web 2.0 cash cow.

The program was the brainchild of Nick Bilton, NYT's design integration editor and UI specialist, along with Michael Young, NYT creative technologist. After it was publicly unveiled during the Yahoo BBC Hack Day London competition last year, the device-independent service will be tested until developers believe it is stable enough to be moved out of beta.

Many traditional newspapers of late have been feeling something of a squeeze. In order to reach their readers to remind them they still exist, they've been offering news updates via e-mail, Internet and PDA messages. However, their mindset continues to interpret the Internet as something that erodes their core business.

This new effort from NYT comes at a time when more companies are looking at cloud computing as a viable method for data storage and communication. Cloud computing essentially allows users to use an Internet-based application to store data on servers elsewhere instead of on a local, physical device. Cloud computing has been especially useful for users who travel or do not have access to a PC, but still must be able to access information.