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Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 07:52
by Fat Bob
Thought I'd start this up outside of K's thread as I think it's something that is going to come up again and again.

Just seen a good review of the three free Cloud options:

ZDNet review

Personally I think Skydrive is there, and with it's 7GB free (or for some, including me, 25GB), links to hotmail, availability of web based MS Office tools, then I think will be the one for me.

Already uploaded my photos, will now start work on other folders - which will also undergo a cull.

I like the fact that all three seem to hold the files on your harddrive as well as the cloud, so you can access them when not on the net (unlike Google Documents) and then they get synced when you re-attach to the net. Fancy smancy indeed.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 08:26
by Fat Bob
And just found out if you're using Google Documents, converting to Google Drive is easy. Only downside I see if the 5GB limit on free storage, but if you don't include photos, music or movies, then that should be sufficient.

MS SKydrive, with 25GB (for previous users of their online document service) tops out the free side of things at the mo!

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 11:32
by expat yorkshire
Google storage costs have gone up significantly

Then $5 bought you 20GB for 1 year
now 25 GB costs $2.29 a month

http://support.google.com/docs/bin/answ ... swer=39567

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 11:36
by baloo
How annoying is it that you can't upload folders to skydrive...

I'm looking for a Google alternative as after what they've done to Picassa I just cant use them anymore. It's shame as Google is/was intertwined fairly heavily with what I do.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 16:10
by Fat Bob
What do you mean you can't upload folders? Is this through the web app or the desktop app? You can definitely do it via the desktop app.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 16:11
by baloo
Web app. Let me have a look at the desktop app.

Played with Google drive. It's handy because the extra storage I paid for with my account is already available under Google Drive.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 16:17
by Fat Bob
I did the Google Drive thing this morning, both Google Drive and Skydrive desktop apps are pretty much the same: a folder in your area on Windows, drop something in and it gets uploaded. Simple1

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 16:33
by baloo
Yeah, got it now. They have just copied Dropbox.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 2nd May, '12, 18:09
by canuck
Hmmmm i saw cold storage options and was waiting on a new grocery shopping experience...


Cloud storage is just another way they keep an eye on you and what yer up to ;) mr. Oz?

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 3rd May, '12, 17:05
by baloo
Google Drive lets me use a Network location for it's drive.

Dropbox and SkyDrive don't.

I prefer the option.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 3rd May, '12, 21:51
by avatarless
baloo wrote:Google Drive lets me use a Network location for it's drive.

Dropbox and SkyDrive don't.

I prefer the option.
How does that work? Also, what did they do with Picasa that is so bad?

Have you tried Safebox with Dropbox? It supposedly encrypts your files while preserving the version control system. The encryption engine is open source. Of course, that makes sharing difficult unless others also have Safebox.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 5th May, '12, 09:13
by baloo
avatarless wrote:How does that work?
I just set the location of the synced folder to sit on my NAS.
avatarless wrote:Also, what did they do with Picasa that is so bad?
They have made it the Photo Sharing tool for Google+. Google+ now dominates and the access has changed. So if I give you access to a folder or photo, you can share it on your own Google+ timeline for others to see. It's also lost the easy navigating and instead turned itself into a Google+ wall. If I want to share a photo with someone who doesn't have a Google+ account it gets complicated.
avatarless wrote:Have you tried Safebox with Dropbox? It supposedly encrypts your files while preserving the version control system. The encryption engine is open source. Of course, that makes sharing difficult unless others also have Safebox.
Nope, I'll have to have a look.

At the moment, like FB I am looking at the various options. SkyDrive - No NAS folder and very slow. Dropbox - No NAS folder and expensive. Google Drive - Photo solution sucks.

Maybe I should just use different providers for different things.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 5th May, '12, 09:22
by Fat Bob
I'd agree Skydrive is slow, it took a while for about 4GB of photos to be uploaded. For smaller files, then it's almost instantaneous, so documents and possibly single files, but the initial set up is lengthy.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 5th May, '12, 13:49
by Jedi
baloo wrote:Google Drive lets me use a Network location for it's drive.

Dropbox and SkyDrive don't.

I prefer the option.
Workaround to dropbox and network path: http://forums.dropbox.com/topic.php?pag ... ost-407359

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 5th May, '12, 21:54
by avatarless
OK, thanks, Baloo.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 6th May, '12, 07:09
by baloo
Amazon Cloud Drive. 5gb free. All MP3 files don't count so unlimited if I read it right.

Looking for a simple desktop sync applet. If they don't have one it could be useless

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 19th Jun, '12, 23:46
by Fat Bob
Quick update re Google+ and PIcasa. If you don't have a Google+ account (but keeping your google account) then you get to upload photos from the Picasa desktop tool to Picasa web albums. Only if you have a Google+ account does it automatically go to Google+, and no way of stopping.

Well, that's what I've been led to believe, so my Google+ account has been deleted.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 20th Jun, '12, 07:11
by Jedi
When you connect to dropbox from Samsung Galaxy S3, you get free 48GB of storage for 2 years. [smilie=groovy.gif]

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 20th Jun, '12, 09:36
by baloo
Fat Bob wrote:Quick update re Google+ and PIcasa. If you don't have a Google+ account (but keeping your google account) then you get to upload photos from the Picasa desktop tool to Picasa web albums. Only if you have a Google+ account does it automatically go to Google+, and no way of stopping.

Well, that's what I've been led to believe, so my Google+ account has been deleted.
I didn't realise you could do that. I've just deleted my old G+ account now.
Jedi wrote:When you connect to dropbox from Samsung Galaxy S3, you get free 48GB of storage for 2 years. [smilie=groovy.gif]
Another reason to move to the S3

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 20th Jun, '12, 09:54
by baloo
baloo wrote: I didn't realise you could do that. I've just deleted my old G+ account now.
I'm having trouble sharing online picasa folders to public or a select group of people. It used to link to my google contacts and allow me to choose individuals, groups, people with the URL or public. Now it just offers me Google+ Circles and then fails.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 20th Jun, '12, 11:41
by Jedi
baloo wrote:
Jedi wrote:When you connect to dropbox from Samsung Galaxy S3, you get free 48GB of storage for 2 years. [smilie=groovy.gif]
Another reason to move to the S3
I could give you millions of reasons to do it. I love my S3 so much!!

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 20th Jun, '12, 12:28
by baloo
Jedi wrote:
I could give you millions of reasons to do it. I love my S3 so much!!
Careful, you're starting to sound like an Apple Fanboi

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 20th Jun, '12, 15:13
by Fat Bob
baloo wrote:
baloo wrote: I didn't realise you could do that. I've just deleted my old G+ account now.
I'm having trouble sharing online picasa folders to public or a select group of people. It used to link to my google contacts and allow me to choose individuals, groups, people with the URL or public. Now it just offers me Google+ Circles and then fails.
I had to delete the G+ account (as I never use it anyhow), then log out from Google in the Picasa desktop browser, then lg back in and it allowed me to upload to Picasa Web rather than Google Plus.

Are they public? Don't know. Can you see them? Hit this link

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 20th Jun, '12, 15:16
by baloo
Yeah, I did all that and got it to work I think.

Re: Cloud storage options

Posted: 20th Jun, '12, 15:18
by Fat Bob
I can see 11 albums.