cloud storage | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Fri, 26 Feb 2016 18:01:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png cloud storage | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Microsoft is giving OneDrive users 15GB free space following complaints https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/microsoft-is-giving-onedrive-users-15gb-free-space-following-complaints/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/microsoft-is-giving-onedrive-users-15gb-free-space-following-complaints/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:48:18 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=278025 A short while back, Microsoft announced plans to switch up its OneDrive cloud storage plans. One of the big changes was set to be the 15GB of free storage shrinking to just 5GB for users, this decision generated a ton of complaints, around 70,000 to be exact, so now, Microsoft is backtracking and letting you …

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A short while back, Microsoft announced plans to switch up its OneDrive cloud storage plans. One of the big changes was set to be the 15GB of free storage shrinking to just 5GB for users, this decision generated a ton of complaints, around 70,000 to be exact, so now, Microsoft is backtracking and letting you keep the original 15GB of free storage.

Speaking about the decision, a Microsoft spokesperson said: “We've heard clearly from our Windows and OneDrive fans about the frustration and disappointment we have caused. We realize the announcement came across as blaming customers for using our product. For this, we are truly sorry and would like to apologize to the community.”

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Free OneDrive users won't get to automatically keep their storage though, they will need to manually opt-in to the program in order to get their 15GB. The same goes for those who use Camera Roll for an additional 15GB of free space. While this is all well and good, the Unlimited storage option is still being removed for paid users, as people were using the service for unintended means.

Those subscribed to Office 365 can request a refund if they are unhappy with the changes being made to payment plans and storage options.

KitGuru Says: I'm not a OneDrive user myself but the service is popular enough, so it's not too surprising that some were unhappy with the changes being made. Fortunately, Microsoft is responding positively to feedback and compromising with its customers in this instance. Do any of you use OneDrive? 

 

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Microsoft removes unlimited storage from OneDrive, cuts free storage down https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/microsoft-removes-unlimited-storage-from-onedrive-cuts-free-storage-down/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/microsoft-removes-unlimited-storage-from-onedrive-cuts-free-storage-down/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:37:17 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=273999 Microsoft has today announced that it is making some major changes to the OneDrive cloud storage service in an effort to compete better with the likes of Google Drive or Dropbox and prevent abuse of the service to make it faster for everyone. The company is starting off by removing the unlimited storage option from …

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Microsoft has today announced that it is making some major changes to the OneDrive cloud storage service in an effort to compete better with the likes of Google Drive or Dropbox and prevent abuse of the service to make it faster for everyone. The company is starting off by removing the unlimited storage option from OneDrive all together, in an effort to stop users from storing their entire movie collections, DVR recordings or entire PC backups to the service.

Additionally, those that use the free service will now only get 5GB of space to start off with: “Since we started to roll out unlimited cloud storage to Office 365 consumer subscribers, a small number of users backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings. In some instances, this exceeded 75TB per user or 14,000 times the average. Instead of focusing on extreme back-up scenarios, we want to remain focused on delivering high-value productivity and collaboration experiences that benefit the majority of OneDrive users.”

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Due to abuse of the service, those subscribing to Office 365 will no longer get unlimited storage. In its place there will be a 50GB, 100GB and 200GB plan available, with the lowest storage option costing $1.99 a month. Judging by this, it seems that Microsoft would rather offer users a faster, streamlined service, then throw as much storage space out there as possible.

KitGuru Says: This is a pretty big change, though understandable given how people were actually using the service. Do any of you use a cloud storage service? 

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Apple halves its iCloud storage prices https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/matthew-wilson/apple-halves-its-icloud-storage-prices/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/matthew-wilson/apple-halves-its-icloud-storage-prices/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2015 18:31:02 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=267277 Apple had a big day yesterday, launching the new Apple TV, iPad Pro, iPad Mini and the iPhone 6S. There were so many announcements last night that this one may have slipped under the radar. Yesterday, Apple went ahead and halved the prices for its iCloud storage. As a standard, every Apple user gets 5GB …

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Apple had a big day yesterday, launching the new Apple TV, iPad Pro, iPad Mini and the iPhone 6S. There were so many announcements last night that this one may have slipped under the radar. Yesterday, Apple went ahead and halved the prices for its iCloud storage.

As a standard, every Apple user gets 5GB for free anyway. However, there are also a number of subscription options for those who need the extra space to store files.

iCloud

The new plan sees 50GB of storage available for $0.99 a month, which is now the lowest plan, whereas previously 20GB was the entry level option. From there, 200GB will cost $1.99 a month and 1TB of storage will cost $9.99 a month. Those two options were previously twice the price.

So Apple is getting pretty competitive in the cloud storage arena, with prices that could take on things like Drop Box or Google Drive.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As an iPhone and Macbook user, I rarely pay attention to iCloud. However, I do know many people who  find cloud storage useful, particularly in large amounts on the cheap. Do any of you have cloud storage set up? 

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Kim Dotcom urges users to drop Mega over soured relationship https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/security-software/jon-martindale/kim-dotcom-urges-users-to-drop-mega-over-soured-relationship/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/security-software/jon-martindale/kim-dotcom-urges-users-to-drop-mega-over-soured-relationship/#respond Fri, 31 Jul 2015 11:23:07 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=261623 Despite having his file locker website seized along with most of his personal assets back in early 2012, Kim Dotcom has been an active entrepreneur ever since, launching several services and a political party. One of those entities was encrypted cloud storage platform Mega, which he was a big proponent of until now. Following what …

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Despite having his file locker website seized along with most of his personal assets back in early 2012, Kim Dotcom has been an active entrepreneur ever since, launching several services and a political party. One of those entities was encrypted cloud storage platform Mega, which he was a big proponent of until now. Following what he described as a “hostile takeover by a Chinese investor” though, he is now urging everyone to stop using the service.

Although Kim Dotcom parted ways with Mega some time ago in order to remove his own personal legal issues from the firm's ongoing status, he continued to support its development and helped promote its projects (like encrypted chat) via his social networking accounts. However in a recent Q&A, he slammed the service, saying it was no longer controlled by those that cared about internet freedoms.

“The company has suffered from a hostile takeover by a Chinese investor who is wanted in China for fraud. He used a number of straw-men and businesses to accumulate more and more Mega shares,” Dotcom said in a chat with TorrentFreak.

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This is actually something that's been ongoing for some time, with the story first breaking late last year. It involves Chinese investor William Chan, who was said to own around 20 per cent of Mega's shares. They have since been seized by the New Zealand government as part of a money laundering investigation.

The fact that those shares are now controlled by the government, Dotcom said, is why Mega has been blocked from listing on the stock exchange. Without that much needed funding and continued attacks on payment providers, Mega is currently forced to sell off more stakes at a low valuation, in order to avoid bankruptcy. That's why he can no longer continue to endorse it as a viable service.

He also announced plans to launch an open source, not-for-profit version of the encrypted site when his non-compete clause runs out later this year.

However Mega's current owners see things differently and said that while there was an investigation into Chan's activities, the company was still run by them and several international investors.

“Mega continues to be managed by its executive team, supported by a Board of Directors and shareholders, who all care deeply about Internet freedom and privacy and are passionate about supporting Mega’s user-controlled encryption for cloud storage and communication services,” it said in a statement.

It also denied claims that Mega was unsafe for use and cited that its source code was publicly available and had been verified as secure.

Dotcom has promised further statements in the coming few days.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It seems a shame that Dotcom has fallen out of love with Mega so much, as he was a big champion of it in the early days. Does this make any of you not want to use the service? 

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Google Photos collects your images even after deleting the app https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/matthew-wilson/google-photos-collects-your-images-even-after-deleting-the-app/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/matthew-wilson/google-photos-collects-your-images-even-after-deleting-the-app/#respond Tue, 14 Jul 2015 14:21:48 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=258872 Google's Android app, Google Photos, seems to have a fairly alarming issue right now as it has been discovered that the service will continue to collect your photos even after deleting the app from your smartphone. This is because the app doesn't use its own settings menu to set up backups but instead runs backups …

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Google's Android app, Google Photos, seems to have a fairly alarming issue right now as it has been discovered that the service will continue to collect your photos even after deleting the app from your smartphone. This is because the app doesn't use its own settings menu to set up backups but instead runs backups through Android's own settings.

This means if you forget to turn the photo backup feature off before deleting the Google Photos app, it will continue to collect and upload your images to Google's cloud storage servers. This issue was discovered by David Arnott, a Business Journal writer.

Google Photos

Some already choose not to use Google Photos due to the fact that it uses ‘unguessable' public URLs for stored images, which can be a security concern, so this news is unlikely to help matters. If you did happen to use Google Photos at any point and would like it to stop stealthily uploading your images, you need to head in to your phone's settings menu and find the ‘Google Photo Backup' option in order to turn it off properly.

Arnott did bring this up with Google, which maintained that the backup feature was working as intended, suggesting that the company has no plans to change how Google Photos handles backups.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There really should be some form of warning when uninstalling Google Photos if it is going to keep backing up your images without you even knowing. Either that or when an app is wiped from your phone, its backup settings should be switched off automatically within Android. 

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Amazon now offers unlimited cloud storage https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/amazon-now-offers-unlimited-cloud-storage/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/amazon-now-offers-unlimited-cloud-storage/#respond Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:20:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=242347 Amazon has announced its new subscription tiers for its online storage service, ‘Cloud Drive’, with one of the options offering up unlimited storage. Those with Amazon Prime or owners of an Amazon Fire device will already have access to unlimited photo storage, but now two extra tiers are available to non-Prime members. As you would …

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Amazon has announced its new subscription tiers for its online storage service, ‘Cloud Drive’, with one of the options offering up unlimited storage. Those with Amazon Prime or owners of an Amazon Fire device will already have access to unlimited photo storage, but now two extra tiers are available to non-Prime members.

As you would expect, the unlimited photos plan will let you fill up Amazon’s cloud servers with as many photos as you want for $11.99 a year. However, there is a 5GB cap on the amount of files you can store that aren’t photos.

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If you want to store as many files as you want in the cloud, regardless of file type, then you will need the Unlimited Everything Plan, which is Amazon’s fully unlocked service, although it comes at a price. For unlimited file storage you will need to cough up $69.99 per year, the service is not available here in the UK at present.

The pricing is actually very competitive, especially when stacked up against rival services like Dropbox, which offers 1TB of storage for $99 a year. OneDrive on the other hand costs $74 per year, so Amazon’s offering is cheap in comparison.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Amazon’s cloud storage service seems competitively priced, although not everyone has the need for a cloud storage service. Do any of you guys use a file locker like Dropbox or OneDrive?

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Microsoft and Dropbox announce cloud partnership for Office https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-dropbox-announce-cloud-partnership-for-office/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-dropbox-announce-cloud-partnership-for-office/#respond Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:21:46 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=220407 Microsoft and Dropbox have announced a new partnership in an effort to better integrate the cloud storage service with the Microsoft Office suite. The joint announcement was made last night, and compatibility to iOS and Android apps is due to come in an update. The desktop and cloud versions will be updated in early 2015, …

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Microsoft and Dropbox have announced a new partnership in an effort to better integrate the cloud storage service with the Microsoft Office suite. The joint announcement was made last night, and compatibility to iOS and Android apps is due to come in an update.

The desktop and cloud versions will be updated in early 2015, allowing users to save documents to Dropbox by default and even edit office files through the Dropbox interface. This will benefit those who use the Office suite across multiple devices, allowing them to open, edit and save files from a phone, tablet or PC.

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“Access to Dropbox content popped as one of the very first Office for iPad requests that customers had. They want access to where their content is. We’re doing it to make sure customers have a great experience”, explains Kirk Koenigsbauer, Head of Microsoft’s Office Engineering team.

The new partnership is another step towards Satya Nadella's vision for Microsoft, aiming to put cloud and mobile services first. Exact business details surrounding the deal have not been revealed although it is likely going to tempt some heavy office suite users in to subscribing to Office 365.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Apple's own office suite has had cloud functionality across iOS and OS X products for a while now so its good to see Microsoft stepping up and providing a similar service. Better yet, Microsoft's solution is entirely cross platform and doesn't force users in to a particular ecosystem, which is always nice. Ultimately, this is a very beneficial move for the consumer.

Source: Dropbox, The Verge

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Dotcom’s Mega becomes biggest NZ site, hits Dropbox traffic https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/dotcoms-mega-becomes-biggest-nz-site-hits-dropbox-traffic/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/dotcoms-mega-becomes-biggest-nz-site-hits-dropbox-traffic/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:41:39 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=122664 Kim Dotcom's Mega.co.nz, has in just a few short days, become the biggest website in all of New Zealand. If that's not enough however, it's also had a big impact on the visitor numbers for rival file locker website, Drop Box. This was all posted on twitter by Kim Dotcom, who said: “After just 3 …

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Kim Dotcom's Mega.co.nz, has in just a few short days, become the biggest website in all of New Zealand. If that's not enough however, it's also had a big impact on the visitor numbers for rival file locker website, Drop Box.

This was all posted on twitter by Kim Dotcom, who said: “After just 3 days, #Mega is now the biggest .co.nz site in the world. Viva New Zealand!” This was accompanied by a picture which showed Alexa stats that clearly displayed Mega's dominance over rival sites google.co.nz and trademe.co.nz.

That wasn't the only stat that Dotcom had up his sleeve however, as he also keen to point out that rival file locker website Drop Box took a significant hit to its traffic on Mega's launch day, suggesting that users had jumped ship, at least temporarily to try out the Megaupload successor.

Dotcom also took the opportunity to point out that while it was fun doing a big launch event, he wouldn't do it again: “We are working 24/7 and expect normal operations within 48 hours. Lesson learned… No fancy launch event for Megabox.”

KitGuru Says: Have any of you guys made use of Mega yet? There's apparently some 60 uploads completing every second at the moment – obviously the server glitches are on the mend.

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Google Chrome and Drive arrive on iOS https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/iphone/blair-mcclelland/google-chrome-drive-arrives-on-ipad-and-iphone/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/iphone/blair-mcclelland/google-chrome-drive-arrives-on-ipad-and-iphone/#respond Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:32:34 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=97462 Following yesterday's news that Chrome had left behind the beta tag on Android it is now available on iOS. Alongside this, Google's cloud storage system now has its own application for iOS. If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS 4.3 or newer you will be able to install Google's browser while Drive …

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Following yesterday's news that Chrome had left behind the beta tag on Android it is now available on iOS. Alongside this, Google's cloud storage system now has its own application for iOS. If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS 4.3 or newer you will be able to install Google's browser while Drive is available on the same devices but requires iOS 5 or newer.

Chrome for iOS looks identical to the Android version and as you might expect you get full access to all of your desktop bookmarks and passwords. Users can have an unlimited number of tabs open which can be switched between quickly by swiping off the side of the screen. For those wanting a change from Safari and already use Google Chrome on their desktop you can find Chrome in the App Store.

Google Drive offers users with 5 GB of free cloud storage and now supports offline Google Docs editing. It can be found in the App Store now.

KitGuru says: Be sure to check out these very useful applications on your iDevice of choice.

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Google confirms today’s launch of Google Drive cloud storage service https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/online/stephen-dougherty/google-confirms-drive-cloud-service-will-launch-today/ Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:41:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=89011 Google's Drive cloud service has just been officially launched which gives up to 5GBs of free cloud storage and an array of helpful sharing and collaboration features. However, while Google's fresh blog posting makes it clear today is the official introduction, it is yet to allow for new sign-ups via the official Google Drive website. …

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Google's Drive cloud service has just been officially launched which gives up to 5GBs of free cloud storage and an array of helpful sharing and collaboration features. However, while Google's fresh blog posting makes it clear today is the official introduction, it is yet to allow for new sign-ups via the official Google Drive website. We presume the gate to its cloud service will be opened within the next 5-7 hours for all and sundry.

Today, we’re introducing Google Drive—a place where you can create, share, collaborate, and keep all of your stuff. Whether you’re working with a friend on a joint research project, planning a wedding with your fiancé or tracking a budget with roommates, you can do it in Drive. You can upload and access all of your files, including videos, photos, Google Docs, PDFs and beyond.”

The new service will be available for Windows, OS X and Android straight out the gate, with iOS software support “coming soon”. The 5GBs of free storage can be supplemented via monthly payments, with 25GB costing US $2.49 a month and 100GB at US $4.99 a month. There's also the option to shell out US $49.99 for a beefy terabyte of capacity.

Google Drive will be a lot more than just a basic form of cloud storage however, as detailed via Google's official blog posting :-

Create and collaborate. Google Docs is built right into Google Drive, so you can work with others in real time on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Once you choose to share content with others, you can add and reply to comments on anything (PDF, image, video file, etc.) and receive notifications when other people comment on shared items.

Store everything safely and access it anywhere (especially while on the go). All your stuff is just… there. You can access your stuff from anywhere—on the web, in your home, at the office, while running errands and from all of your devices. You can install Drive on your Mac or PC and can download the Drive app to your Android phone or tablet. We’re also working hard on a Drive app for your iOS devices. And regardless of platform, blind users can access Drive with a screen reader.

Search everything. Search

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Google Drive is now live with 5 GB of free storage https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/google-drive-is-now-live-with-5-gb-of-free-storage/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/google-drive-is-now-live-with-5-gb-of-free-storage/#respond Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:32:34 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=88892 We've been hearing a lot about Google Drive recently, Google's much anticipated cloud storage solution to compete with Dropbox and the new SkyDrive. The previous reports of 5 GB of free storage have been confirmed and should be available already (or soon) to anyone with a Google account. As you might expect Drive works very …

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We've been hearing a lot about Google Drive recently, Google's much anticipated cloud storage solution to compete with Dropbox and the new SkyDrive. The previous reports of 5 GB of free storage have been confirmed and should be available already (or soon) to anyone with a Google account.

As you might expect Drive works very similar to Dropbox on your PC or Mac, creating a folder on your computer where files are stored and sync with Google's servers. PC and Mac versions of the desktop client are already available and so is the Android application. Apple fans will have to wait a little while, but Drive applications are coming your way well as well. Unfortunately it looks as if Linux and Windows Phone 7 users will be the ones missing out.

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Paid storage expansions are present; 25 GB, 100 GB or 1 TB storage upgrades are available for $2.49, $4.99 and $49.99 per month respectively. When you upgrade to a paid Drive account, your Gmail account storage will expand to 25 GB.

Google Drive will also be the downfall of the Docs name; Docs files will now be integrated into your Drive folders. This does propose some interesting approaches when it comes to opening your Docs files from your PC though. Apparently opening a Docs file from your local files will open it up in the editor in Chrome, rather than a local word processor. Something I am willing to live with after the horrible folder scheme Docs had before today. Sharing, commenting and collaborating on any file is a neat feature that is built in.

You will also be able to open a vast array of file types right in the browser, supporting over 30 file types. This includes things like HD video and Photoshop; even if you don't have the program installed on your computer. Google, originally being a search engine giant, has built some impressive search tools into Drive that can scan images and other files for keywords using OCR. Image recognition is also ever-present but Google would like to point out that it is still in its early stages.

You can get started with Google Drive right here, and don't worry if your account isn't ready yet, mine isn't either.

KitGuru says: So far everything sounds good when it comes to Google Drive, but it is yet to be seen if it can outclass Dropbox and the new Skydrive.

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Google prepares for Drive launch as early as today https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/google-readies-for-drive-launch-as-early-as-today/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/google-readies-for-drive-launch-as-early-as-today/#respond Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:32:01 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=88859 The Google Drive rumours and reports are coming in thick and fast now, indicating the launch of the Dropbox and now SkyDrive competitor is imminent. Reports are claiming that it could launch as soon as today, Tuesday. Paid storage options will be available that reportedly go all the way up to 100 GB, although there are no …

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The Google Drive rumours and reports are coming in thick and fast now, indicating the launch of the Dropbox and now SkyDrive competitor is imminent. Reports are claiming that it could launch as soon as today, Tuesday.

Google's cloud storage service, Drive, will reportedly launch sometime today

Paid storage options will be available that reportedly go all the way up to 100 GB, although there are no hints on pricing at this stage. If you're not willing to cough up extra, five gigabytes will be yours free of charge, confirming earlier rumours.

In the run up to the launch Google has bumped the storage available to Google Docs from 1 GB to 5 GB. Apparently the roll out of the extra Docs (and presumably Drive) storage is staggered, and I can confirm my account has been updated to reflect this.

In addition to all of this, some of Google's support pages have been updated to include information on how one will transfer their Docs to a new account. You can see the support page in question here.

KitGuru says: Google Drive has roughly 19 hours left in order to launch today (Pacific time), who else will be transferring over their Dropbox files as soon as it is possible?

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SkyDrive updated with desktop clients, masses of free storage https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/skydrive-updated-with-desktop-clients-masses-of-free-storage/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/skydrive-updated-with-desktop-clients-masses-of-free-storage/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:32:10 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=88799 Microsoft has stolen second base today, launching version 2.0 of SkyDrive that includes brand new local desktop clients for Windows and Mac OS X. The upgraded cloud storage service will come with 7 GB completely free of charge, a number that is apparently good enough for 99.94% of users. While this is down from the previous 25 …

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Microsoft has stolen second base today, launching version 2.0 of SkyDrive that includes brand new local desktop clients for Windows and Mac OS X. The upgraded cloud storage service will come with 7 GB completely free of charge, a number that is apparently good enough for 99.94% of users.

While this is down from the previous 25 GB of storage, those that have used SkyDrive before April 22nd will be able to upgrade to 25 GB of storage, for life, free of charge just by following the banners when you head over to SkyDrive and activate those extra 18 GB of wonder. Those that already had 4 GB or more of files uploaded will have had their accounts upgraded to 25 GB automatically.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bfmk6r4DVM']

Paid storage options are also available now, you can increase storage space by 20, 50 or 100 GB for just $10, $25 and $50 per year respectively. You can upload files up to 2 GB in size through the desktop applications, although the mobile versions are currently limited to 300 MB.

The mobile applications on Windows Phone 7 and iOS have been updated to allow for greater functionality, there is also now an iPad application available. No sign of Android here, but with Google Drive reportedly launching in the coming days, many Android faithful will likely use that instead.

Other than that Microsoft's updated SkyDrive works much the same as Dropbox. More details can be found on Microsoft's blog, while a list of download links for the applications can be found here.

KitGuru says: I knew my months with a Windows Phone 7 device would come in useful someday. But with Google Drive launching soon, which cloud storage service will you choose?

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Google Drive to launch next week, 5GB of storage included https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blair-mcclelland/google-drive-to-launch-next-week-5gb-of-storage-included/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blair-mcclelland/google-drive-to-launch-next-week-5gb-of-storage-included/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:32:54 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=87705 As much as we would love to think Google's Drive cloud storage service will be a Dropbox killer, we still have to wait until it launches to know for sure. Our questions should be answered very soon though, there are reports that Google Drive will launch next week, possibly as early as Tuesday. What Google …

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As much as we would love to think Google's Drive cloud storage service will be a Dropbox killer, we still have to wait until it launches to know for sure. Our questions should be answered very soon though, there are reports that Google Drive will launch next week, possibly as early as Tuesday.

Google's cloud storage service is due to launch next week

What Google Drive will have over Dropbox is more than double the base storage; where Drive will offer 5 GB of cloud storage free of charge, Dropbox offers 2 GB. There will also likely be extra incentives to increase storage spaces, as well as the option to cough up some cash for extra room.

Google Drive will work within desktop folders on PC and Macs, similar to how Dropbox operates. There will also be applications for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.

The cloud storage platform will allow syncing of folders and files between devices like many current competitors but it will also be closely integrated with Google services such as Docs and Picasa.

While not much else is currently known, we do know what its URL will be: http://drive.google.com.

KitGuru says: I know I'll be switching over to Drive next week as an avid consumer of everything Google.

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Google Drive users set to get 5GB of free storage https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/google-drive-users-set-to-get-5gb-of-free-storage/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/google-drive-users-set-to-get-5gb-of-free-storage/#respond Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:32:22 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=85212 Google Drive has been in the press a lot in the past few days thanks to a new set of rumours and leaks. A couple of days ago there was a rumour that Google's cloud storage solution would have 2 GB of storage, with incentives offering more storage, just like what Dropbox currently does. Talk …

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Google Drive has been in the press a lot in the past few days thanks to a new set of rumours and leaks. A couple of days ago there was a rumour that Google's cloud storage solution would have 2 GB of storage, with incentives offering more storage, just like what Dropbox currently does. Talk Android has just received word from a anonymous but reliable source that users will be allowed a generous 5 GB of free storage, as seen in the picture below.

Talk Android's screenshot clearly shows 5 GB of free storage, plus room to grow

We first heard about Google's Dropbox competitor back in early February and thanks to it coming straight from Google it will be integrated with Docs and Picasa, as well as having the ability to store and share files across devices, including smartphones and tablets.

Talk Android reports that Google Drive is set to release during the week of April 16th; within three weeks from today.

Kitguru says: Gmail tells me that there is currently “7695.505702 megabytes (and counting) of free storage.” Perhaps our Google Drive capacity will grow slowly over time.

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Dropbox refreshes website, adds keyboard shortcuts, photo viewer https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/dropbox-refreshes-website-adds-keyboard-shortcuts-photo-viewer/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/dropbox-refreshes-website-adds-keyboard-shortcuts-photo-viewer/#respond Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:00:39 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=82493 Dropbox has just gone public with a cleaner and perhaps much needed website refresh. The refresh has a “simpler, more powerful, and more beautiful web experience,” according to Dropbox themselves. What is new is an updated action bar and a new right click menu that allows you to quickly download, move or delete a file. …

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Dropbox has just gone public with a cleaner and perhaps much needed website refresh. The refresh has a “simpler, more powerful, and more beautiful web experience,” according to Dropbox themselves. What is new is an updated action bar and a new right click menu that allows you to quickly download, move or delete a file.

Dropbox's new website interface, complete with a cleaner look

Images now get thumbnails to quickly determine photo101.jpg from pictureabc.png and there is a simple photo viewer built right into the website. Drag-and-drop functionality and keyboard shortcuts are now present, a list of which can be accessed by hitting the ‘?” key. A new indexed search box that instantly searches your files for you is also waiting for you.

However some users in the blog post comments section are left wanting, the ability to sort files and folders by size is currently missing but overall most users are praising the new look for having an updated and more modern feel to it.

The cloud storage giant teases us at the end, telling us that “this is only the first step — you can expect a lot more cool stuff in the next few months.”

Kitguru says: While this update didn't bring more free storage it did add some useful features to Dropbox's website.

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SkyDrive to receive paid storage and PC apps https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/microsoft-plans-paid-storage-and-pc-apps-for-skydrive/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/blair-mcclelland/microsoft-plans-paid-storage-and-pc-apps-for-skydrive/#respond Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:45:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=79492 Microsoft has been keen to upgrade Skydrive to the point where it can compete with the likes of Google and Dropbox and it looks as if they're about to take that extra step. Information discovered recently shows that Microsoft plans to introduce paid upgrade options. This storage will be added on top of the current …

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Microsoft has been keen to upgrade Skydrive to the point where it can compete with the likes of Google and Dropbox and it looks as if they're about to take that extra step. Information discovered recently shows that Microsoft plans to introduce paid upgrade options. This storage will be added on top of the current 25 GB available free of charge.

The plans are believed to be as follows:

  • An extra 20 GB for $10 a year
  • An extra 50 GB for $25 a year
  • An extra 100GB for $50 a year

These plans will allow users to have up to 125 GB of cloud storage for the comparatively low price of $50 a year; Dropbox is currently asking $199 a year for 100 GB of storage.

Microsoft also appears to be planning to launch Windows and OS X applications (shown above.) This is bound to entice those like me that currently only use Dropbox because it has a desktop sync client. This move is also likely to be the end of Microsoft Live Mesh. Infact, you can no longer access Live Mesh on Microsoft's customer feedback website. Few details are known at this stage but the applications will be free and they should bring desktop sync capabilities similar to Dropbox's desktop application.

Kitguru says: We have been waiting a while for a true Dropbox competitor and it looks like we'll be introduced to a strong competitor from Skydrive in the coming weeks.

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Google’s answer to cloud storage launching soon https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blair-mcclelland/googles-answer-to-cloud-storage-launching-soon/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blair-mcclelland/googles-answer-to-cloud-storage-launching-soon/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:06:57 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=77878 Google has a massive ecosystem, they cover everything from mobile operating systems to blogs. Perhaps the one and only thing I can think of that they have been missing so far is a cloud storage system and if recent reports are to be believed this will soon be changing. According to the Wall Street Journal …

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Google has a massive ecosystem, they cover everything from mobile operating systems to blogs. Perhaps the one and only thing I can think of that they have been missing so far is a cloud storage system and if recent reports are to be believed this will soon be changing. According to the Wall Street Journal Google Drive will be launching soon but no specific window has been made public at this time.

Drive will allow people to easily store and share photos, documents and other files. For example you will be able to upload videos of whole albums to the cloud and quickly share them with a public download link. This isn't exactly new though, it is something I remember Dropbox having for some time now. Google Drive will also presumably integrate into other Google services such as Docs and Picasa.

The service will be free to a point, although it is unknown how large this limit will be. With Dropbox you currently get 2 GB for free, which you can extend by completing miscellaneous tasks. If you or your business end up wanting more storage than what is freely available you can purchase more. This pricing will apparently be cheaper than what Dropbox currently offers which is $99 and $199 for 50 and 100 GB respectively.

Kitguru says: With no launch date set just yet I am hoping for a public launch within the next month accompanied by a robust PC sync application.

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OCZ enhance performance & capacity for Cloud optimised SSD storage https://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/raymond-daily/ocz-enhance-performance-and-capacity-for-cloud-optimised-ssd-storage/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/raymond-daily/ocz-enhance-performance-and-capacity-for-cloud-optimised-ssd-storage/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:23:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=73260 OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:OCZ), a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs), today announces the debut of new and exciting SSD solutions. Using the world's most popular technology tradeshow as a platform, OCZ's latest SSDs demonstrate a commitment to advancing flash storage technology into greater realms of performance and versatility, further driving adoption in …

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OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:OCZ), a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs), today announces the debut of new and exciting SSD solutions. Using the world's most popular technology tradeshow as a platform, OCZ's latest SSDs demonstrate a commitment to advancing flash storage technology into greater realms of performance and versatility, further driving adoption in client and enterprise applications.

“CES represents a great opportunity for us to showcase our latest storage technology, and highlight next generation cloud-optimized solid state solutions that address today's enterprise needs,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology. “Once again we have been able to leverage our increased R&D strength and our understanding of client needs to change the face of solid state storage and deliver innovative new solutions far ahead of our competitors, demonstrating technology leadership across all product categories.”

OCZ will introduce next generation solutions designed to deliver higher performance, reliability, and storage capacity to meet the demands of the enterprise market with industry-leading products. OCZ products to be unveiled at CES include:

Z-Drive R5 – Utilizing the OCZ and Marvell co-developed Kilimanjaro platform, the fifth generation Z-Drive R5 is designed to accelerate “big data” like never before. As the world's first PCIe x16 Gen 3 SSD, which supports up to 16GB/s of total bandwidth, the R5 will be 2012's most advanced SSD, featuring performance that reaches up to an incredible 2.52 million IOPS and 7.2GB/s sequential transfers per card, with unlimited scalability and performance aggregation capability. With optional power fail protection the R5 will be available in a range of form factors including full height, half height, and 2.5-inch PCIe. The R5's industry-leading performance and storage capacities make pure flash storage in mission-critical applications possible.

Indilinx Everest 2 – The SATA 3.0-based third generation Indilinx controller is designed specifically for I/O-intensive workloads in a wide range of applications, supporting sequential speeds of up to 550MB/s, and up to 105,000 random read and 90,000 Random Write IOPS with the newest 2xnm flash technology. The Everest 2 platform supports up to 2TB capacity in a compact 2.5-inch form factor.

Z-Drive R4 CloudServ RM1616 – Making 16TB of storage on a single PCIe card a reality, the new Z-Drive R4 CloudServ RM1616 is the newest addition to the award-winning R4 Series. With performance of up to 6.5GB/s and over 1.4 million IOPS, the Z-Drive R4 CloudServ's level of concentrated performance and capacity enables system architects to design more productive infrastructures while lowering operating costs associated with hard drive technology.

Chiron 4TB SSD – The world's fastest and highest capacity SATA SSD for the enterprise, the Chiron Series provides a staggering 4TB in a compact 3.5-inch form factor. With performance exceeding SATA 3.0 bus capabilities, Chiron delivers speeds above 560MB/s and 100,000 IOPS. Eliminating the need for high capacity HDDs as anything other than backup devices, the Chiron Series enables mass SSD storage and is capable of deploying up to 96TB of storage in a 4U rackmount server chassis.

OCZ's enterprise showcase demonstrations will include, among others, an IBM System x3650 M3 highlighting the performance potential of the new Z-Drive R5 PCIe Gen 3 in a Linux server environment, as well as a HP ProLiant DL370 G6 server equipped with two Z-Drive R4 RM1616s delivering 1,400,000 IOPS per card with Windows Server 2008. In addition, drives based on the next-generation Indilinx Everest 2 platform will be demonstrated, as well as a prototype of “Lightfoot,” an external Intel Thunderbolt™ SSD unveiling a new generation of high-performance portable storage.

Source: Press Release

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