Google has blown the bugle in the Cloud Wars by announcing
the launch of Google Drive on 24th April,2012.
"Just like the Loch Ness Monster, you may have heard
about Google Drive. It turns out, one of the two actually does exist."
This is how Google introduced the long-awaited Google Drive. Google Drive
includes 5GB of free space while paid plans start as low as US$ 2.49 (Rs 130)
per month for an additional 25GB. If you are already a paid subscriber of a Google
storage plan for Gmail or Picasa, you automatically get 25GB on Google Drive
instead of 5GB.
Like any other service on cloud, Google Drive can be used to
store, share and sync files across devices. However, this service marks a
significant change in Google's philosophy of making money. In the past,
revenues were generated by selling ads online - search ads and graphical
display ads.
Key Features:
- Cheaper paid Storage: The price you pay per GB works out to a mere US$ 0.10 per month i.e., just Rs 5 per GB per month.
- Plays well with other Google services: Can be used in conjunction with other Google services like Picasa & Google+ to transfer data.
- Offers enhanced search: Search through your Drive using keywords or apply filters to sort data on the basis of file types. Google not only searches file names but the entire contents of each document for the search phrase.
- Google Docs users get instantly ported: Google Docs is now a part of Drive. All files are instantly ported when you launch Drive for the first time.
- No learning curve for the service: The interface of Drive is the same minimalist UI that Google Docs had. There's no need to learn a new system.
- Supports multiple file formats: Drive lets you open over 30 file types in your browser window itself (including HD video and Photoshop files).
- Local Synchronization: Google has a program you can download and install on your PC or Mac that creates a synchronized copy of your files on your local hard drive. Files you add to Google Drive in the cloud (in your browser) appear in the drive folder on your local machine, and vice versa. Dragging a file into your drive folder copies it into the cloud.
- Optical Character Recognition: Google scans the contents of PDFs and images for text and uses optical character recognition to convert the text to metadata you can search on
Privacy Implications
However, a number of companies including 'The New York
Times' have voiced their concerns about privacy and intellectual property
implications of using Google Drive. By signing up to Google Drive, users give
the tech giant a global license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify or
create derivative works and to publish, publicly perform and distribute that
content. In short you give Google right to do whatever they want to do with
your data, one of those things being giving your information to law enforcement
agencies without a subpoena. Google's terms-of-service agreement includes this
language: "When you upload or otherwise submit content to our services,
you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host,
store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from
translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works
better with our services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly
display and distribute such content."
Competition
Not to be left behind, Microsoft has released a similar synchronization
program for its rival SkyDrive cloud storage service and it too syncs cloud
folders with local ones. But Microsoft's syncing software does not work on
ancient Windows XP machines.
Dropbox revealed a couple of new features. One is an
expanded automated photo/video upload service that includes most cameras, PCs,
tablets, connected SD cards and smartphones. After images are uploaded, users
can view them on the Web from Dropbox's new Photo Page. Dropbox's second
feature is that a simple link now can be sent to non-Dropbox
users to share a file or folder. With one click they can preview the file in a
browser, whether document, photo or video, without having to sign up for
Dropbox. They won't be able to edit or change it in any way while it is in that
queue, however.
Google Drive
|
MS SkyDrive
|
Dropbox
|
Apple iCloud
|
|
Free Storage
|
5 GB
|
7 GB
|
2 GB
|
5 GB
|
Maximum file size
|
10 GB
|
2 GB
|
300 MB via browser;
unlimited if uploaded from
desktop
|
25 MB for free accounts;
250 MB for paying
subscribers
|
Pricing Plans
|
25GB- $2.49 per month;
100GB- $4.99 per month; 1TB- $49.99 per month. Maximum plan is 16TB for
$799.99 per month
|
20GB- $10 per year;
50GB- $25 per year;
100GB- $50 per year
|
50GB- $9.99 per month / $99
per year;
100GB- $199 per year /
$19.99 per month;
1TB and up- starts at $795
for five users
|
10GB- $20 per year;
20GB- $40 per year;
50GB- $100 per year
|
Desktop apps
|
Windows and Mac (free)
|
Windows and Mac (free)
|
Windows, Linux and Mac
(free)
|
Windows and Mac (free)
|
Mobile apps
|
Android (free), with an iOS
version "coming soon"
|
iOS and Windows Phone
(free)
|
Android, iOS and BlackBerry
(free)
|
iOS
|
Which cloud service to use is the prerogative of the
end-user/business however, the decision should include a lot many factors
rather than just comparing specifications and prices. Its better to invest some time in a service and find
out which one suits your needs better and then go for an upgrade.
Also read :
To get a Hands On experience read:
-Rahul Mukherjee
MDI, 2011-13
