Sunday
Apr032011
Amazon Cloud Drive
Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8:04AM
If your ever on the go and need access to your files...ok even if your not, you should know about cloud storage and Amazons new Cloud Drive.
First, What is cloud storage?
Cloud storage means your files are up on a server somewhere on the internet and not on your local computer. The benefit of this is as long as you have internet access you can access your files from anywhere and they dont take up space on your computer or smartphone. Also your files are probably safer as they are backed up regularly, something you probably dont do. Downside? Only that people still worry about security and privacy to which I say dont put anything there that it would be disastrous if it got out. Or Encrypt them first (How to do that is a totally different topic.
There have been many cloud storage services, probably the most popular of which is DropBox. I often recommend this service to people who need to send someone large files (typically larger than 20megs as thats the max you can usually email). You can upload the file or files, send someone a link and they can download it. Or if you prefer, keep it password protected then just tell the other person the password, then you know they are the only ones with access to the files.
You may not have realized it but GMail is cloud storage. So are all other internet based email systems called Webmail. All your data is stored on their computers, not yours. Get a new computer, not at your computer, just log in and there is your email. So there is a good change you use it now. If you use Google Docs then you clearly are using cloud storage to store your files.
So what makes Amazon's cloud storage different?
Well for starters, just being from Amazon because they are a well liked, well trusted reliable company. Next, have an amazon account? Sure you do! Then you already have Amazon Cloud Drive. Just go to https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive.
They give you a generous 5 Gigs of space for Free. You can upgrade all the way up to 1000 Gigs at $1/gig per year (In certain increments). But here is the kicker...Do you buy music from Amazon? Any music you buy from Amazon goes right in there and does not take up any of your space. Why is this good? Well, download their free Android App and you can play any music thats in your Amazon cloud storage direct to your Android phone over the internet without taking up any space on your phone. From your computer you can upload any music you already have to the cloud storage and also play it on your phone. You can also stream it to your computer and the iPhone app should be coming soon. On Android it seems to work pretty well.
Here is another little perk, buy any full MP3 Album from Amazon and instead of paying $20/yr for 20 Gigs of space, you get it for Free! Remember...that album goes right in there and does not use any of that space. So its $20/yr for 20 Gigs or buy a album for probably half that and get the same 20 gigs. So it makes sense just to buy an album that you like. They are really trying to push purchasing music from them over using iTunes. And they should...Their prices are cheaper, you get the music in standard MP3's so you can do anything you want with them and now you get free cloud storage. Apple has been talking about doing a cloud storage service like this, but out of nowhere Amazon beat them to the punch.
Another way to use cloud storage is backup. While right now Amazon does not have any automated way of sending up files, you can put important files up on their Cloud Drive so if you loose a file or your computer crashes, your files are safe. I'm sure the features and ways to use it will only get better. Right now the biggest draw back to Amazons Cloud Drive, is unlike DropBox its not setup to share files with others. Hopefully that will change soon.
Something you would like us to explain or write about? Send us your ideas at blogideas@ineedbob.com
First, What is cloud storage?
Cloud storage means your files are up on a server somewhere on the internet and not on your local computer. The benefit of this is as long as you have internet access you can access your files from anywhere and they dont take up space on your computer or smartphone. Also your files are probably safer as they are backed up regularly, something you probably dont do. Downside? Only that people still worry about security and privacy to which I say dont put anything there that it would be disastrous if it got out. Or Encrypt them first (How to do that is a totally different topic.
There have been many cloud storage services, probably the most popular of which is DropBox. I often recommend this service to people who need to send someone large files (typically larger than 20megs as thats the max you can usually email). You can upload the file or files, send someone a link and they can download it. Or if you prefer, keep it password protected then just tell the other person the password, then you know they are the only ones with access to the files.
You may not have realized it but GMail is cloud storage. So are all other internet based email systems called Webmail. All your data is stored on their computers, not yours. Get a new computer, not at your computer, just log in and there is your email. So there is a good change you use it now. If you use Google Docs then you clearly are using cloud storage to store your files.
So what makes Amazon's cloud storage different?
Well for starters, just being from Amazon because they are a well liked, well trusted reliable company. Next, have an amazon account? Sure you do! Then you already have Amazon Cloud Drive. Just go to https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive.
They give you a generous 5 Gigs of space for Free. You can upgrade all the way up to 1000 Gigs at $1/gig per year (In certain increments). But here is the kicker...Do you buy music from Amazon? Any music you buy from Amazon goes right in there and does not take up any of your space. Why is this good? Well, download their free Android App and you can play any music thats in your Amazon cloud storage direct to your Android phone over the internet without taking up any space on your phone. From your computer you can upload any music you already have to the cloud storage and also play it on your phone. You can also stream it to your computer and the iPhone app should be coming soon. On Android it seems to work pretty well.Here is another little perk, buy any full MP3 Album from Amazon and instead of paying $20/yr for 20 Gigs of space, you get it for Free! Remember...that album goes right in there and does not use any of that space. So its $20/yr for 20 Gigs or buy a album for probably half that and get the same 20 gigs. So it makes sense just to buy an album that you like. They are really trying to push purchasing music from them over using iTunes. And they should...Their prices are cheaper, you get the music in standard MP3's so you can do anything you want with them and now you get free cloud storage. Apple has been talking about doing a cloud storage service like this, but out of nowhere Amazon beat them to the punch.
Another way to use cloud storage is backup. While right now Amazon does not have any automated way of sending up files, you can put important files up on their Cloud Drive so if you loose a file or your computer crashes, your files are safe. I'm sure the features and ways to use it will only get better. Right now the biggest draw back to Amazons Cloud Drive, is unlike DropBox its not setup to share files with others. Hopefully that will change soon.
Something you would like us to explain or write about? Send us your ideas at blogideas@ineedbob.com
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