FREE MOBILE CLOUD COMPUTING CONCEPTS - TRAINING_MODULES_WITH_TONS_OF_VIDEOS
While Google Drive isn't much more than a Docs rebranding that syncs to a folder
on your computer, it has a few key features that make it worth checking out. First, Drive can open up to 30 kinds of files
right inside your browser.
Dropbox and a few others open files inside a "web gallery," but Drive opens Photoshop files — even
if you don't have Photoshop on your computer. To this extent, Drive creates a QuickLook-esque experience inside your web browser
that makes it much easier to thumb through files. Drive also includes an option to turn on OCR text scanning, which means
that when you upload images to Drive, Google will scan the images for text and make them searchable (similar to Evernote Premium).
In terms of everyday
use, Drive offers the same drag-and-drop syncing as Dropbox, and lets you pick which folders inside Drive you want to sync
from within the desktop app. Also like Dropbox, you cannot pick other folders on your computer to sync to Drive.
In this way, Drive's
real strengths lie on the web and with the features we previously mentioned. It'll also tie right in to Google+, Gmail, Android,
and other Google services that will let you drop-in or upload files (almost like you might with attachments inside Sparrow
for Mac, which can instantly upload attachments to CloudApp).
Additionally, Drive features a built-in document editor on par with Microsoft's
online Office suite that's part of SkyDrive. You can't yet use Drive with multiple Google accounts, which is a pain, but we'd
expect that feature in due time.
Drive launches on the web, for Mac, Windows, and Android devices today, with iOS support on the way "in the
coming weeks." The Android app (which replaces Google Docs) won't stream your content, however, unlike some competitors
like Dropbox and SugarSync. For a full hands-on of Google Drive.
Drive comes with 5GB of storage free, with generous upgrade options like $2.49/month for 25GB of extra storage and
$4.99/month for 100GB of storage. Pricing: 25GB for $2.49/month; 100GB for $4.99/month; 200GB for $9.99/month; more options
from Google. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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google storage for developers
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What’s
The Storage Capacity at Google?
There has been a ton of discussion around this and I can tell you that there is not much information about the storage capacity at Google but there are some interesting facts surfacing
right now. First off, Google doesn’t have a centralized server somewhere with all the information
on it.
It’s
broken up in “Server Farms”, 15 to be correct. All of these are placed around the world for faster and better
secured than if everything would be storage at the very same place. What the storage capacity is for each of these “Server
Farms” is kept under tight security by Google and I would be very surprised if they some
day revealed that information.
After all, that’s their whole business.
However, some people estimate them having
around 450,000 servers in custom made racks holding 40-80 servers per rack. How big the storage capacity
is for each server is, I guess, just anyone’s guess.
What is really cool is that everything Google has ever done,
by some people, are said to have been documented somewhere on the internet........ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Google's
entry into the cloud-storage market includes editing, collaboration, and sharing features that may make it attractive
for small and mid-sized businesses.
Recently launched, Google Drive competes with existing cloud-storage services like Dropbox, Amazon Cloud Drive, Apple iCloud, Box, Microsoft SkyDrive,
Trend Micro's SafeSync, and SugarSync — to name the leading providers in this rapidly growing segment.
The common feature for
all of these services is that they allow users — individual or corporate — to drop files into a special folder
on a computer or mobile device and have that same file, whether it is a document, a picture, a video, or just about anything
else, instantly accessible from nearly any Internet-enabled device — a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
Integration with
Other Google Services
Perhaps the most important differentiator for Google Drive is the service's tight integration with other Google products,
including Google Docs, replacing the document creation and collaboration service while absorbing all of its features and functions
when installed.
“Drive is built to work seamlessly with your overall Google experience,” wrote Google's senior vice president
for Chrome and apps, Sundar Pichai, on
Google's Official Blog.
In practice, this means
that a user could start a file in Microsoft Word on a Mac, save that file into the MyDrive folder Google Drive places on the
Mac, instantly storing the doc in the cloud too.
Online, several collaborators working in diverse locations could simultaneously view and
edit the file from a browser window. Drive will even store each and every version and change for a month or up to 100 different
saved versions. Finally, the doc file could be downloaded to several different devices ranging from Android tablets to Windows
7 PCs.
Google
has also made it easy to post pictures stored in Drive on Google+, adding the service to the post drop down menu.
“And soon,”
wrote Pichai, “you’ll be able to attach stuff from Drive directly to emails in Gmail.”
Gmail integration, when it becomes available,
could be the most compelling advantage since the service is popular with small businesses.
Finally, Drive includes a search feature
worthy of its Google heritage, making it easy to locate just about any file you can think store with the service.
Integration with Apps
Google Drive, like a
few of its competitors — Box, iCloud, and SkyDrive are examples — allows third-party developers to create applications
that expand or enhance the services capabilities.
HelloFax, which is a service that sends and
receives fax communications via a browser, and collaborative video editing service WeVideo are both touted as successful applications
that work with Drive.
In addition to many compelling features, Drive's open platform, at least in theory, makes it possible for even small
businesses to write custom applications to conquer organization-specific tasks. In the ecommerce world, an example might be
a single spreadsheet that aggregates sales data from an online store, eBay, Amazon Marketplace, and a Facebook store, making
the information available just about anywhere in real time.
Pricing
Google Drive is also competitively priced. Any user can have 5GB of cloud
storage for free. Upgrading to 25GB of Drive storage, which includes a boost in Gmail storage, is $2.49 per month or $29.88
per year. Getting 100GB of Drive storage and 100GB of Gmail storage costs $4.99 per month or $59.88 per year. Google also
offers even larger plans with 1TB running $49.99 per month or 16TB at $799.99 per month.
Prices
for several cloud-storage services. Price shown is per month, although some services require annual payments. When a service
offers both monthly and annual payment plans, the lowest price is used. ++++++++++++++++++++++++
