On-line Storage and Backup Services
Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, Evernote
There are many different services available that allow us to
store, backup, and even share our files. Tonight we will
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WHY might you need one or more of these services?•
If you have ever suffered a hard drive crash, you know the anxiety of losing your documents, photos, and more.•
An external hard drive for backups works fine, but you can’t easily share stuff from it and if disaster strikes, you may still lose your valuable data.•
On-line storage and backup can assure safety for your most important data and make sharing those photos anddocuments simple and fast.
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So WHAT can you do if you feel the need.•
WHAT choices are out there for on-line storage, backup and sharing?•
Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox and Evernote are just some ofthe choices you have. So let’s explore the services each provide, how to get them and use them, and how much they cost if anything.
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Google Drive [video]•
A file storage and synchonization service created byGoogle. It allows users to store files in the cloud, share files, and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with collaborators. It was launched in 2012 and has over 240 million active users.
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WHAT it does and HOW to use it.•
15 GB free storage, 100 GB at $1.99/month, 1 TB at $9.99/month•
iCloud [video]•
A cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple launched in 2011 with well over 320 million users.•
It is the descendant of previous sharing and storage services by Apple - iTools (2000), .Mac (2002) and Mobile Me (2008).•
It allows you to store music, photos, apps, documents, bookmarks, reminders, backups, notes, iBooks, andcontacts.
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HOW do you set it up and use it.•
Dropbox [video]•
A service that lets you save documents, photos, videos, and other files all in one place, and automatically backs up your stuff.•
It allows users to create a special folder on theircomputers, which it then synchronizes so that it appears to be the same folder with the same contents regardless of
which computer or device is used to view it. Files placed in this folder are also accessible via the Dropbox website and mobile apps. It was founded in 2007, has over 251 million visits per month and 400 million users.
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2GB of space is free 1TB is $9.99/month.•
HOW to set it up and use it.•
Dropbox (some notes from users)•
Moving a file to the Dropbox folder simultaneously deletes it from its original location. So if you like your current way of keeping things organized, you’ll either have to adjust to Dropbox’s way or else duplicate each file (hold down the Option key) as you drag it into the Dropbox folder.•
It’s also very handy for creating links to files or folders and sending the links in emails or text messages. The receiver can use the link to open that particular file or folder but cannot gain access to everything I have stored. I’ve been using it to share large video files with relatives when the files are too big to attach to an email.•
Dropbox (some notes from users)•
As far as I know Dropbox does not do automatic backups like Time Machine, so a user would have to do it manually and be well organized. Eventually you would have tooverwrite something.
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It works best for those of us who have multiple devicesand want to sync files between them. I make extensive use of a companion app called “Symlinker” which allows me to have automatic updates to my dropbox folder without
dragging a file to that folder. It does not do versions of
files. The latest file of the same name replaces the previous file. I recommend “Take Control of Dropbox” ebook for a good explanation of that program
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Evernote [video]•
A suite of software and services designed for notetaking and archiving. Users create a “note” which can be a piece of text, a full webpage or excerpt, a photo, a voice memo, or a handwritten note. Notes can also have fileattachments and can be sorted into folders, tagged, edited, given comments, searched or exported as part of a
notebook.
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60MB monthly uploads free, 1GB - $24.99/year, unlimited - $49.99/year.•
How to set it up and use it.•
Evernote (notes from users)•
I use Evernote and share at least one folder with my wife. I like the feature that allows me to directly mail an article or email to the Evernote folder. I also like to drag and drop files to it and it accepts almost anything. I have not done any voice recording transfers.•
My wife and I started using Evernote to take the place of the grocery list on the fridge. With Evernote, when I think of something I want from the store, I add it to the shopping list on my phone.•
Evernote (notes from users)•
From that first grocery list, our use of Evernote has grown exponentially. We group our notes within notebooks.Within a Food Related notebook we collect recipes, review restaurants, and keep our grocery lists. In other notebooks we keep an inventory of our safe deposit box contents,
shopping lists for Target/Lowes/wherever, packing lists for travel so we don’t have to remember so much, jot down ideas, save photos and descriptions of plants we want to add to our landscaping, and so on and so on. Evernote is another good way to maintain good communications
among two or more devices. It’s not so good for sharing links like Dropbox.
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So we’ve seen several on-line storage and backup services.•
Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, and Evernote•
Each of the company’s websites, give fairly extensiveinformation into their set-up, use, and cost. Check them out by clicking on the links above.
