storing files in the Internet "cloud"

[haven]

Storing your files with an Internet service is not a new concept. But with smarter portable devices and faster wireless data services like Verizon's LTE, storage in the Internet "cloud" is becoming more realistic. It's also a great way to make your docs, browser bookmarks, audio files and video clips available across multiple computing platforms. Some services help synchronize your docs, as well.

Here's a quick review of three "cloud-based" storage services, namely Windows Live Skydrive, Dropbox, and Amazon's Cloud Drive:
http://gizmodo.com/#!5787057/cloud-...ive-skydrive-vs-dropbox-vs-amazon-cloud-drive

Users of Apple products should also consider Apple's MobileMe, currently $99 a year for 20 GB of storage. There are plenty of rumors that Apple is planning to reduce the price of MobileMe, perhaps as an online extension of your iTunes library.

 

[haven]

A specialized cloud storage service that most people are familiar with is photo sharing. Sites like Flickr and Photobucket hold hundreds of millions of photos for customers world-wide. Most photo sites offer free file storage to start, and charge for services like storage of larger files (read: RAW format), more advanced slideshow presentations, and FTP file uploads.

I use Photobucket to hold about 1000 photos related to adventure travel. Storing photos online is convenient for me because I can access them from just about any computing platform, and it's easy to link them to posts on ExPo. It's easy to transfer files to Photobucket from any shop with WiFi access while traveling. Photobucket includes a simple photo editor that helps make basic adjustments to your photos. It's no substitute for Photoshop, but it handles maybe 75% of the editing I usually do to photos.

 

[nwoods]

Dropbox has been very useful for me, and it plays well with my iphone too

 

[coastsider]

Apple Mobile Me and off roading

I'm a Mac fan boy, I love the Mobile Me service and have used it since beta. I have multiple folders in the 'Cloud' that house USGS Topo maps, GPS .gpx files, Google .kml files and many more navigation related files. When on the road (or off) I use my iPad to access the files I need for my trip. It's also great for live blogging, sharing photos and video as you progress through your trip. I have the WiFi/3G version of the iPad so I can normally get a few bar somewhere in the journey, enough to access my stuff.

 

[Cabrito]

I just signed up for DropBox, but my partner has been using it for a while. She likes the way it syncs with your computer. Unfortunately the Dropbox site is blocked at my workplace so I'm thinking of going over to the Amazon one.

 

[brained]

Unsatisfied with the above listed services I opted to roll my own.

I put an iFolder server up on Amazon's EC2 platform (not related to their recently announced service).

I get:

True cross platform sync - Windows, OSX, Linux
No per installation client charges/licenses
$.012/GB - no free starter, just a straight flat rate
20TB limit
Anywhere web access
Data encrypted on server

 

[evldave]

I use skydrive and the new amazon service (although I do not use their music storage because of privacy concerns). I use smugmug for photos and also run a dedicated server at home that feeds up my mussc collection via subsonic. My wife uses mobileme on her iphone.

I've never used dropbox, but will have to try it. Using an android phone, I love smugmug for photos, and subsonic for music, but don't care much for the file access options out there...google docs is ok for business stuff but not for mobile access to files (like gps)

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

 

[BKCowGod]

I use Dropbox - never had a problem with my mac, my Linux netbook, or my iPhone.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Anybody tried the Fire fox sync feature?