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Posts with tag online storage

Filed under: Internet, Utilities, Windows, Google, Freeware

GMail Drive Config: Someday it will mount multiple Gmail Drives


I've used the GMail Drive shell extension for a long time - it's a great way to utilize the copious amounts of free storage Google provides that I'd never fill with emails.

When I read about Convivia's GMail Drive Config - a free tool that allows you to (theoretically) mount multiple GMail Drives - I was very intrigued. After installing it, however, I'm reminded that trying to get too much of a good thing sometimes turns out badly.

Set up is easy enough: download the 60kb standalone executable and enter your accounts. I'm assuming the correct syntax is username@gmail.com, but there's no information included with the download or on Convivea's web site.

My first account worked fine, but the right-click context menu on the second drive lacked the all-important option to log in to the associated account. If you can't log in, you can't access your space. On my Vista rig, the second drive failed to show up at all.

This might have just been a peculiarity with my systems, so try it yourself: if it works, this is a great way to add tons of free, online storage to your Windows desktop. I'll be keeping my eye on this one: once the bugs are ironed out, it should be a killer app.

[ via Lifehacker ]

Filed under: Internet, Web services

Get 6gb of free, online storage with Orbitfiles


Looking for another online file hosting option? Orbitfiles offers 6gb of free storage. For a measly $5 a month, you can upgrade to the "Zeus package" with unlimited storage.

The maximum upload size is 50mb, which is more than enough for what I'm doing with an online file store - namely stashing encrypted backups of my files and my wife's fonts folder (for obvious reasons). Their Hercules Uploader does a good job of taking care of my archiving tasks with minimal effort from me.

You can tag and describe your files, and share only what you want. Orbitfiles will also zip multiple files online and quickly generate embed and BB codes for your site.

Orbitfiles even offers you the opportunity to make some cash by selling your files and referring friends. New signups will earn you shiny new dime, and the commission fee for sales is a very reasonable 2%.

Filed under: Internet, Security, Utilities, Web services

PutPlace: file storage with a personal angle

StorageThere are hundreds of online file storage alternatives available now, ranging from the very sketchy to the expensively professional. With such a crowded field, Irish startup PutPlace is playing a slightly different angle to win your business: they're making it personal. The service is designed to be a secure, "future-proof" place to put your important family and business documents.

PutPlace is currently in beta, so you can test it for free. When it launches, they'll offer annual subscriptions, presumably with rates varying based on the amount of storage used. This really isn't big news for advanced users who are already on the offsite backup bandwagon, but there are still plenty of people who haven't gotten there yet. If backup were easier, fewer novice users would have to go through the traumatic experience of losing everything to a hard drive failure. PutPlace might be able to help them by putting on a friendly, trustworthy face.

Filed under: Business, Utilities, News, Web services, Commercial

HP launches Upline, offers unlimited storage for a fee



If it feels like the online storage and file sharing market is getting a little crowded, that's because it is. Just in the past few weeks, we've seen services such as Dropbox, AOL's Xdrive Desktop, Windows SkyDrive, and more, come into the market.

Now HP is dropping its hat into the ring, with HP Upline. HP Upline offers unlimited storage for as low as $59 per year. Features of Upline include:
  • Automatic Backup
  • 1-click restore
  • Access from anywhere
  • Ability to share files with friends
HP Upline also offers upgraded packages for family and professional use. If you want to try HP Upline, you can sign up for a limited account with one measly GB of storage. The limited account expires in one year; after that, you'll need to upgrade to the paid service to access your files, or kiss them goodbye.

One other note: The Upline software requires Windows. Mac users, you're out of luck. Well, out of Upline, anyway.

It's nice to see that two formerly disparate services, online backup and file sharing, are slowly merging into one complete service, with the choice of several offerings from big players.

[via TechCrunch]

Gallery: HP Upline

Upline InterfaceUpline SettingsUpline Sharing WindowUpline Remote Access

Filed under: Business, Fun, Internet, Web services, Social Software, web 2.0

Box.net throws files in your Face(book) application

Box.net throws files in your Face(book) applicationBox.net, the online storage company, has a Facebook application. After all, you aren't a real Web 2.0 company if you don't have a Facebook application it seems.

Box.net's Facebook application allows users to manage all files stored in your account from directly within Facebook. It doesn't matter if they are private or shared, it's like logging into your regular Box.net account. Some updates have been made recently to the application that make it a worthwhile application add in Facebook.

First there is the File Attachment update. Users are now able to attach files to messages that are sent to friends. Next, when logging into Facebook, there is a new interface for Box.net that is accessible from the "Files" tab. Pick a file that you want to feature on your profile page, and share away. The final update is with a fully featured file browser that is listed in the application page, replicating a thumb drive device so that accessing documents is easier than before.

Don't get us wrong, we still love Box.net. We just wonder if this Facebook application phase will ever end, and the world of Portal 2.0 will blow over.

Filed under: Internet, Web services, Social Software

Convert files and store them online with Zamzar and MyDataBus

MyDataBus convert with ZamzarZamzar is an online service for converting images, videos, and documents from one format to another. MyDataBus is a service that lets you store up to 5GB of files online for sharing via MySpace, Facebook, or other social networking sites.

The two sites have announced a new partnership that lets you easily perform file conversions of media uploaded to MyDataBus. The collaboration makes a lot of sense. If you've uploaded a bunch of PNG, GIF, and BMP files that you'd rather store as JPEGs, you can click the options tab and use Zamzar to convert the files without uploading them to Zamzar first.

The integration's not quite complete. When you're converted file is ready for download, Zamzar shoots you an email with a link to a page where you can download the file. There's no way to automatically save the file to MyDataBus. But there is a note on the page suggesting that you could store your files online if you sign up for a MyDataBus account.

It would be nice if you could upload your files to one site, convert them, and save them to the same site all without having to open a new web page. But we doubt we'll see that any time soon unless MyDataBus buys Zamzar or vice versa.

[via Mashable]

Filed under: Internet, Web services, Microsoft

Get 500MB of free online storage with Windows Live Folders beta

Windows Live Folders
Microsoft is preparing to launch a public beta of Windows Live Folders, a service that will let you upload and share files from your web browser (Internet Explorer or Firefox). You'll get 500MB of free space with a Windows Live ID, and you can upload files up to 50MB in size.

Sure, there are plenty of other free file hosting services that give you more storage space, including AOL's 5GB XDrive service. But this is just a beta, and there's a good chance Microsoft will increase the storage space down the road.

The thing that sets Windows Live Folders apart is its integration with other Windows Live services, for example letting you share your files with just users on your contact list.

While the site isn't currently live, it should be up soon.

Filed under: Security, Macintosh, Commercial

Backup your Mac online with Mozy

Mozy Mac betaMozy has been offering an excellent automated online backup service for Windows users for a while now, but the company has now launched a Mac OS X client.

There's a dearth of companies offering backup solutions for Mac users. While some may say that's because Macs don't crash as frequently as Windows machines, that doesn't help if you happen to have your Macbook stolen.

Mozy lets you store up to 2GB of data online for free, and charges $5/month for unlimited storage. You can either backup your entire hard drive on a regular basis, or you can do a partial backup covering specific files like your iTunes or iPhoto collections.

You'll need Mac OS X 10.4 to play with the new beta.

[via TechCrunch]

Filed under: Internet, Security, Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Web services

Steekr online storage space

steekr online storageOnline storage spaces are great for backing up music photos, and videos just in-case something horrible happened to your hard drive. We might not recommended storing highly secure stuff online, but online storage space can be a good backup alternative for most items.

There are a lot of offerings online that give secured online storage seekers a place to turn to, like Box.net, Xdrive, Divshare, and Dropboks. Steekr, a newcomer to the marketplace has just arrived in beta. The online service provides automatic backup software for Windows and Macs, with a 1GB limit for the initial beta testing period. Files that are stored online can be shared with friends, as well as played and accessed directly through a browser window. If you want to try this space out with a free 1GB trial, enter your email on the homepage for an invite. Look out for mobile data access in Steekr's future.

Steekr's rates range from 5GB for $11US up to 100GB for $37US.

[via webware]

Filed under: Internet, Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Web services

Omnidrive, a complete storage aggregator

omnidrive online storageOmnidrive is an online storage service offering 1GB of free space that can be accessed from a Windows app or web interface (Linux and mobile clients are in the works). The system allows users to store photos and files from their desktop similiar to a regular OS, and choose to share their files or keep them private. If you find yourself always transferring files back and forth from device to device or sending a lot of files and photos to people, Omnidrive files can easily be shared and accessed by the individuals you choose. When sharing files with a person, the shared file will instantly be dropped into their Omnidrive account, and a notification email sent to them. Omnidrive also has the ability to publish files to the web with a unique URL that anyone can access. There is also a music player that song files can be played through without downloading them first. The Omnidrive dashboard can be accessed either from a web client in any browser, a Windows client, or Mac client application. Omnidrive is a really simple online storage area. Its clean design makes navigation and working with files easy.

Check out some screenshots of Omnidrive in action after the jump.

Read more →

Filed under: Business, Internet, Utilities, Web services, Google

Google's Platypus storage client leaked

google platypus online storageAlways innovating, and recently told to focus on products that are already in development, the Googleplex has recently leaked a copy of the so-called Platypus client for Gdrive, its service for viewing and storing files on the web. Philipp Lenssen scored a copy, and reports that the product looks like it's intended for Google employees to share and store files. This tool encourages Google employees to use Platypus to store office documents, photos, and notes, virtually everything, except for sensitive data, most likely since the application is still in a testing phase, and not secure enough. Philipp could not get past the login screen, but was able to check out the Help, and the configuration files that were attached to the installer which he has published on his website. Only time will tell if this service will be released for public consumption by Google, and is additional evidence that Google is always innovating.

Do you think that Google purposely sets out to release small details about new and upcoming products, and updates when testing? Or do you think that they are just careless with their testing environment?

Filed under: Internet, Text, Utilities, Blogging, Office, Productivity, Web services, Social Software

Keep track with HiveLive

hivelive online trackingHiveLive is an online application designed to keep track of busy lifestyles.

HiveLive is currently in beta form, and offered by invitation only. Which is a real drag, since this could be a useful online application for a ton of people. I have had the chance to play around with HiveLive for a bit, and think it's a pretty useful application. Not a lot is said about this application on the front page other then it's great for families, friends, clubs, small businesses, bands, etc., and that it's an easy way to keep track and share important information.

Through HiveLive you can store notes, bookmarks, account numbers or anything that you want to remember. Storing it on HiveLive gives you have access to it anywhere you have an internet connection. When you send an invitation to other people, you can create Hives of information that you can share between users. These hives can be public or private, only accessible to those that you wish to enter and share information with. It takes a little bit of figuring out how the system works, but it seems pretty useful with its clean and well organized interface.

If you are interested in trying out this tool, Solutionwatch has some invites to give away.

Check out some screenshots of HiveLive are after the bump..

UPDATE: Carlos from HiveLive has been so kind as to make 100 free user accounts available for readers of DownloadSquad. Visit http://hivelive.com/join/downloadsquad to sign up now! Thanks Carlos!

Read more →

Filed under: Internet, Web services, Commercial

TechCrunch analyzes 13 online storage providers

techcrunch online storage reviewWe've looked at Box.net before, and it was good. Very good, in fact. I used Xdrive back in the dot com days. But I've never had the attention span to put together a crazy cool chart. Luckily those crazy kids at TechCrunch are taking their meds as prescribed and wrote up a great review of 13 online storage companies. These are the top of the heap in Web 2.0 storage offerings. What amazes me are the unique features found in many of these services. How about never having to download a local copy of a file to read and write it? OmniDrive is it. AllMyData is a true p2p solution. What, they didn't include .Mac? Good. Anyway, I won't spoil the ending for you, but the quick read has a great overview, and that snazzy chart I mentioned.

Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

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