The Data Liberation Front - Getting Your data from google services

This is a great start. I'm glad Google has the wisdom to devote a team to just this goal. I look forward to end-user tools they may develop to further accelerate this progress.

There are inherent privacy issues with any cloud service, and even more with a company as big as Google.<p>Still, I'm VERY impressed with how easy they make it to take your data and leave. Can you imagine Facebook helping you migrate to another social network?

Liberate - sure; Delete - maybe later (if ever).

I can't help but think there's something ironic or cynical about the site's branding...<p>EDIT: from the FAQ (<a href="http://www.dataliberation.org/home/faq" rel="nofollow">http://www.dataliberation.org/home/faq</a>)<p>Quote: "What's with the logo?<p>It grew out of the fact that we see ourselves fighting for the freedom of the users. So basically, it's another joke. Har har har. :-)"

Excel really took off when they allowed you to <i>SAVE</i> in Lotus format.

Very cool move. Especially coming form a big company like this, and indeed it was a smart move to "design" this part of Google as a stand-alone team instead to delegate every other team to take care about data IO.

The name sounds scary though. Reminds me of Whackos belonging to the "Earth Liberation Front" who toppled several AM radio towers in Washington a few weeks ago. Reason; "AM radio waves cause adverse health effects including a higher rate of cancer, harm to wildlife, and that the signals have been interfering with home phone and intercom lines."

I can export. Can I erase?