Gmail hacker offered job by Google?

[HiddenNook]

Google news is bringing up interesting stuff! I thought this might be something of interest to you guys!
news source

Jon Barker, from Woking in Surrey, was one of those who believed Google had done well with its Gmail product but thought improvements needed making. He set about creating 'Pop Goes the Gmail' - a handy piece of software that enabled account holders to download their GMail messages via POP3. After tens of thousands of downloads and some cash to show for it, Barker awaited the backlash from Google for his breaking of Gmail terms and conditions.

"The terms of service [for Gmail] forbid reverse engineering – which I had done," said Barker, speaking to the Independent Review. He said he was then contacted by a Vice–President at Google, who congratulated him on his creation and asked if was interested in a job. "I was expecting a lawsuit rather than congratulations," recalled Barker.

His Google experience is similar to other Gmail users, such as 22-year-old Mark Lyon, who made his way from Mississippi to California, after passing a rigorous phone interview. He said his rogue creation of the 'Gmail Loader' - an application that allows other message formats to be loaded into GMail - afforded him interest from 37 different organisations, but none of them as interesting as Google. Lyon said on attending Google HQ he was overwhelmed by a unique corporate culture that among many ingredients blends the informal with hard work.

"People were outside playing volleyball, and everyone I ran across, including those not interviewing me, was willing to stop and chat for a few minutes and tell me what they were up to. A few even asked my thoughts on their projects." His comments reflect innovative corporate code at Google that dictates that all staff spend 20 per cent of their time devoted to their own personal project of their choice.

Sometimes you wish you were a hacker, Selah?

[geekerati]

Nice post Google has the future written all over it. Dang, I wish that I would have stayed in school and
had at least earned an Associates degree. It is all about skillz. I think it is really cool for Google to let their employees spend so much time on their own interests for the good of the company, the flexiblity
that they are showing will keep attracting talented people from all over the world. Can you even imagine the phone interview that they have for their perspective employees, I bet it is crazy hard!

[intelliot]

Anyone have ideas for Gmailhacks.com?

[tokkolo]

Interesting article.

Rather enjoyed this part:

He said he was then contacted by a Vice–President at Google, who congratulated him on his creation and asked if was interested in a job.

"I was expecting a lawsuit rather than congratulations," recalled Barker.

When a company can do that, they have got the potential to do anything.

I must say I wouldn't mind working for Google, but I don't wish I was a hacker, I don't even know anything about computers. I'll stick to Business Administration, at least I know something about that (if I actually pass those exams).

[neno.tu]

I tried to be a hacker once but too many people telling different things...
Hacking is learned by doing it and I didn't have the time hehehe

But is not too late...

[darrenstraight]

I’ve tried quite a lot of things do to with hackers and brute forcing but I have never used it against anybody/company and I probably never will as I have only ever used it to learn how it works and how to protect myself.

All I can say as they say in the hacker world: it’s only for educational purposes

However I haven’t been up-to-date with the latest hacker stuff for a quite a while now.

Peace out.

[intelliot]

Hey, maybe some of you are interested in joining me to launch a new site to be known as Gmail Hacks.com.

[geekerati]

I'd love to help you intelliot, but I'm not sure if I'm capable. I'm sure there is something that you could put me to work doing. I'm all ears buddy!

[Mike AkA Don]

I'll help you with the new site...

I was thinking of writting an edition of Gmail Drive that changes files larger then 10 mbs into batches and uploading them then you download them all through Gmail and a batch file puts them all back together

[intelliot]

Do you know how to write such a program?