Data storage rating. Online office and other cloud services

Good day, dear readers of my blog. Do you want to store your information in a truly secure place?

She will never get lost or disappear. Without your knowledge, it cannot be removed, thrown away or burned. According to no data, there will be technical failures and equipment breakdowns. You can forget about flash drives and heavy laptops. Information will be available from anywhere on the planet where there is Internet.

If you want, you can open the file to anyone at any time. With just two clicks, your friends, family, relatives and you will have access to your most important documents, photos and other files, even from your phone.

Today I will tell you how to achieve this. You will find out which cloud is better to choose and why. This will be a short overview of the main data storage services.

But first, a little about what clouds are in the modern sense.

What is a cloud and why is it needed?

You know, ? Thanks to the servers provided by the hosting, documents from the computer end up on the Internet. Clouds work on the same principle, but unlike traditional website hosting, data in the cloud cannot be accessed by search robots. Only you have access. If you want, you can open them to anyone.

Roughly speaking, the cloud is the Internet, where you throw all the important documents, photos and games you want. I repeat, this is important, only you have access to this magnificence. You create and open your personal account.

By entering your data you get access to all documents on the server from anywhere in the world. You can also assign links certain files. And transfer them to your friends so that they can view the documents or download them.

It should be noted that you should not be afraid of search engines. No one other than the URL owners will be able to access confidential information. Don't worry.

Cloud services are indispensable if needed. However, this is not about that now. Which cloud can be called the best?

Overview of cloud services

In almost all storage facilities you can use some amount of memory for free. For example, add 10 or 15 gigabytes of information. If you want more, you will have to pay.

Almost every service has a mobile application. That is, you can download the program to your computer and phone. They will sync automatically. What you put into a folder on your computer will immediately appear on your iPhone or smartphone with the Android operating system.

Of course, in addition to programs, there are also online services. That is, you go to the site, enter your username and password and gain access. How to choose the best if they are all approximately the same? Let's see what services there are in general and whether they have any differences.

Yandex Disk

I use Yandex Discom. For free storage I was provided with only 10 GB, which is not much, but not small either. By the way, if you wish, you can not look for the largest volume, but simply use two or three virtual disks from different companies.

After installing the application, you will see these “disks” in the “My Computer” section. Documents can be uploaded directly here. They will immediately appear on your phone and be displayed on the website in your personal account.

Well, you can download this thing on official resource Yandex.

Despite the small volume, I like this service much more than others due to fast sync and a clear interface.

If you want to increase the amount of memory, then every 10 GB will cost 30 rubles per month or 300 if paid annually. If you want to increase to 100 GB and pay 150 rubles a month or 1500 a year. Well, one terabyte will cost 900 rubles for 30 days or 9000 for 365.

Yandex also has all sorts of interesting bonuses: bring a friend - get 512 GB. It is very useful if you cooperate with your comrades.

Google Drive

As in Yandex, no additional registration is required for Google Drive. All you need to do is just go to the official website in the disk section ( https://drive.google.com ) and enter your details Gmail. Previously, I used this particular storage, but then something went wrong and I preferred Yandex. I can’t explain it logically, I just liked it more.

As you already understand, here you will be given 15 GB of storage. To learn more about the disk, and most importantly the interface, I advise you to watch a video about the service.

You can download the disc to your PC directly from your personal account.

Naturally, there is an application that can be used on your phone. Payment here is monthly. 2 dollars (130 rubles) costs 100 GB and 10 terabytes will cost 10 $ - 637 rubles.

By the way, Google also has a special photo storage service . For pictures there is also a corresponding application that can be installed on your phone.

What's the trick? In addition to the editor and automatic organization of photos, there is one very powerful thing. Images are compressed in size while maintaining quality. The number of megabytes drops, but the picture remains exactly the same. These are the miracles. And all this without your participation.

Mail.Ru

Despite the fact that, as you may have noticed, I also have OneDrive, I would not like to talk about this application. It is not very convenient and was created by Microsoft. I want to talk about the cloud from another popular domestic postal company: Mail.Ru ( www.cloud.mail.ru ).

Here you are given 25 GB. By the way, just a month ago you could get 100 GB at once, so I advise you to hurry up before the conditions become even more stringent.

What is the advantage of this cloud storage? Initially it was created as a phone application, and the online service appeared a little later. I like that all photos taken on a phone or tablet immediately appear in the cloud. Again, automatically and without your participation.

The application is available for both computers and iPhones, as well as Android smartphones. Online service looks nice, but remember that you can always install a program to not see it at all. You will see exactly the disk in the “My Computer” section. In this case, it will not differ much from other services.

Which disk should I choose? I would probably advise you to choose the option from which you use mail more often than others. I wouldn't want to lose my login and password. In this case, goodbye data.

Although, for there is special service. You can read about it in one of my previous articles.

Of course, you can rely on services much more than on any technology. However, I strongly advise you to keep especially important folders on external hard disks . They are much more reliable and spacious than regular flash drives.

For only 4 thousand rubles you actually get a 500 GB flash drive. You can store hundreds of movies, thousands musical compositions, all the photographs that have ever been taken, images of game discs, software. I'm afraid to imagine how many books will fit here!

God protects those who are careful. So, duplicate important information and let it always be kept at hand. Then you will not be afraid of any unforeseen circumstances.

Well, that's all, see you again and good luck in your endeavors. If you liked this article, subscribe to the newsletter and learn more about life and work on the Internet.

This note is intended for users strangers with cloud data storage - for those who do not know how to start using them.

Today we will talk about what a “cloud” is for storing files. Let's talk about choice. Let's try to create.

What is cloud file storage?

“Cloud” is space allocated to the user on the hard drive of a server located on the Internet. This space can be used like a regular folder, as if it were located on your computer.

Indeed, when you connect the cloud to your computer, it creates special folder. The peculiarity of this folder is this: everything that goes into it is immediately transferred to the cloud. In a word - content local folder, synchronizes with exactly the same folder on the server.

What benefits does using the cloud provide to the average user?

For simple user Cloud data storage provides many interesting advantages:

On at the moment, there are a huge number of storage facilities of various sizes. There are domestic and foreign. Among the foreign ones we can highlight Dropbox and Google Drive. From domestic ones - [email protected], Yandex.Disk.

It would be wrong not to mention Chinese technologies that allow the user to store more than a terabyte of data. Perhaps such proposals are suitable for some, but something inside tells me that it is not logical to store 1 TB of photos or documents on a server in China.

So let's begin. If you have mail on Yandex, Mail.Ru, GMail - congratulations! You do not need to register anywhere else. Users of these services have access to cloud storage immediately.

For those who have Google account— Drive.Google.Ru

For Yandex account owners - Yandex.Disk

At the time of writing, 100 GB are available to us in our [email protected] storage since a promotion was held several years ago. Now when you register for the service they will give you not much, not little - 25 GB cloud space.

On Yandex.Disk we have 10 GB of usable space, Google kindly provided us with 15 GB for three services - Photos, Mail, and Disk itself.

It would be a sin not to mention another foreign storage that is popular in Russia - Dropbox.com

Initially, this storage allows you to use only 2 GB of cloud space. But this volume can be increased several times almost in a matter of seconds after registration. There are several things to do simple tasks, but more on that later.

Cloud storage client program

Every self-respecting service cloud storage data, there is an application that allows you to automate all processes of storage, synchronization, and data management. All of the above services have applications for PC, MAC, iOS, Android, and Linux.

When you install such an application on any device, it creates special catalog— a folder with the name of the cloud. Exactly what will go into this folder and will be synchronized with the cloud.

Applications allow you to import files from flash drives connected to a PC, and the mobile application can send photos taken with a smartphone to the cloud.

By installing the application on all your devices, you will get rid of many problems that arise when storing and moving data. For example, as mentioned above, photos from your smartphone will almost instantly go to the cloud and then to your computers - home, and, if desired, work. The same thing happens with documents - by saving unfinished work in the cloud, you can finish it at home. The benefits of cloud technologies are immediately visible.

You can download applications for Android and iOS in the corresponding stores, and for PC and MAC you just need to go to the repository website and download the client.

Connecting to Dropbox from scratch

Create a cloud for storing files

Let's try to register in the cloud data storage - Dropbox. To get started, follow this link. Fill in the fields: Name, Surname, Mail And Password, put tick agreement with the terms of service. Click the button <Зарегистрироваться> .

Immediately after this, you will be redirected to a page where you will be asked to download the Dropbox client. This has never happened before, apparently they decided to take the “bull by the horns” right away.

The web installer for the client program you want to run will download. This is exactly what the following screen offers:

The client will begin downloading and its subsequent installation on your computer.

The completion of the installation will be indicated by a blue rectangular window asking you to start and open Dropbox.

Ahead of you are 4 or 5 screens with a story about the storage capabilities. You can read it, or you can skip it - you will find all this very well later yourself.

And now the long-awaited moment has arrived. appeared on your computer new folder — Dropbox.

Quickly log into your account

Let's go to your account on the Dropbox website. In order to do this quickly (without entering your username and password), open your newly created Dropbox folder, click on any empty space right-click and select the item with the blue box icon "View on Dropbox.com"
The browser should open and after a couple of seconds, you will be taken to your storage account. What's interesting here?

Information

If we click on our name we will see detailed information about our capabilities.

Here we see that we are given only 2 GB for our needs disk space. “Not enough,” you will say, and you will be absolutely right. 2GB is negligible for our time. Why do people use Dropbox?

• Reliable
• Cross-platform (MacOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, Android)
• Free
• Good download speed
• Flexible file management options
• View most documents in the web interface
• Editing documents in the web interface
• It is possible to “earn” additional space, but more on that below
• Many sites allow their service to interact with your storage

Email confirmation

In order for us to fully use the data storage, we need to confirm the address email. If you have not received a letter by email, request it again right here at home page storage:

Let's check the mail - the letter is there:

Open the envelope and click on the blue confirmation button:

We will be redirected again to a page where we will be thanked for our confirmation:

Now, we can work with the cloud calmly.

Let's create a folder and “share”

Let's try to create a folder with any name. We will name the girl with whom we plan to exchange data using the cloud.

A small window will pop up in which:

1. Enter a friend's e-mail
2. Assigning powers to a friend
3. Let's share!

At that same second, Dropbox on your friend’s computer will receive a message that you have shared the folder with him, and if he agrees, your folder will be added to his account and become shared.

“Earning” additional space

Dropbox lets you expand your storage space with all sorts of promotions. For example, for each friend you invite (who installs Dropbox), you will receive an additional 500 MB of disk space.

And in general, it won’t hurt to complete all the tasks proposed by the system and you will be rewarded.

Honestly speaking, 16 GB is probably not the limit free account. Old account one of the site's regular visitors:

Learn more about cloud storage options

Create a direct link to a file/folder

It has already been written above that Dropbox, and any other cloud, allows you to flexibly manage and especially share files. One of the examples was already above. What if you don't want to create with someone? shared resource in the cloud? Then you can simply send the link by mail, VK, Odnoklassniki, etc. Open Dropbox on your computer, right-click on the file you want to get a link to, and click on the appropriate item.

Home and work computers

Set up Dropbox with your account for 2, 3, or more computers, and they will all be synchronized! Home, work, visiting mom, grandma - it doesn’t matter. You can always finish your work by opening the required file.

View and edit any type of document

Almost any storage allows you to view any document - video, animation, photo, office documents almost any format. The latter can also be edited directly in the cloud (for example, if on your home computer No office applications, or for example you want to quickly edit from a tablet). Documents are opened by simply clicking on the file on the cloud site. Additional option allows you to switch to editing mode.

Taking screenshots

Taking a screenshot with Dropbox is easy. Yandex.Disk has a function for instantly editing them, which Dropbox cannot boast of. And yet, in order to save the screenshot to the folder C:\Users\Username\Dropbox\Screenshots you just need to press a button on the keyboard.

You can immediately “share” the screenshot using the method described above and send it to a friend. All screenshots for this note were taken using Dropbox and processed in regular Paint.

Transferring pictures from a smartphone to storage

If you have the Dropbox app installed on your smartphone, you can configure it in such a way that your pictures and videos are instantly sent to the cloud, and therefore to your home computer.

Interaction with web services

Many web services that work with files (for example, online converters sound files), to speed up downloading and uploading audio, photo, video files, use cloud storage very heavily. You provide a link to a file in the cloud, and in a matter of seconds it “migrates” to the editor. After editing, you provide access to the cloud, and the file is uploaded to the cloud in a couple of seconds. You can leave the service, and the client will download the file from the storage to the computer.

A good example is the service for cutting and merging audio files www.mp3cut.ru, which is on the first line for the request “cut a song online.”

As you can see, it supports downloading from two popular storages, plus VK (why not cloud storage?).

Conclusion

We really hope we were able to help you. For cloud technologies a future that has already arrived. Remember the same ChromeOS - without the Internet it is not much of a useful operating system, but connect to the network and it will flourish. Everything is built on cloud technologies.

Why this particular storage facility was chosen today has been written above. The purpose of this article is to briefly describe the capabilities of file storage. They are built according to the same principle. Differences in volumes, speeds, appearance, etc. Try it, register, install, work. Your data will always be safe and secure, no matter what happens.

If you are interested in more detailed description Dropbox, or if you want to see something similar for other cloud storage services - write in the comments

IN lately not only computer technologies are rapidly developing, but also mobile technologies. In this regard, a very pressing question arose safe storage relatively large amounts of information. And it is for this purpose that many IT corporations offer users of any type of device the use of so-called cloud services. How to use the cloud and services included in basic set any developer will now be considered.

What is cloud storage?

First, let’s define what kind of service this is. Roughly speaking, this is file storage in the form of allocated disk space for a company providing such services.

In other words, in a sense, it can be called a kind of virtual flash drive on which a certain amount of data is placed. However, if you need to constantly carry a USB device with you to access downloaded information, then such a service (for example, the Mail.Ru cloud or the corresponding Google service) can be accessed from both a computer and a mobile device. That is, the files are synchronized in the cloud itself, and you can view or download them simply by entering your registration data (although in some cases this is not required).

Quite a lot has already been written about how to use the cloud. Now let’s pay attention to some main points, and also consider the simplest principles of its use, explaining the situation in detail.

Most popular services

It goes without saying that initially, to use such storages, you need to decide on a service provider, that is, choose the most suitable service for yourself

Today you can find quite a lot of such services. The most popular are the following:

• Dropbox.
• SkyDrive.
• Cloud Mail.Ru.
• "Yandex.Disk".
• Google Drive (Google Disk).
• Apple iCloud and iCloud Drive.
• OneDrive, etc.

Before we figure out how to use each type of cloud, it should be noted that these services are somewhat uneven when compared to each other. The fact is that some repositories can be accessed exclusively from a computer terminal, while others require synchronization of both computers and mobile devices. Sometimes you may need a specialized application that plays the role of a kind of conductor, sometimes just an Internet browser is enough.

The same applies to freely allocated disk space for storing your files, as well as payment for additional space on a remote server. In any case, most services are very similar to each other.

What should you pay attention to before starting work?

Now let's look at some important points, without which the use of cloud services is out of the question.

The very first and most important thing is pre-registration, and in some cases it is absolutely unimportant whether it will be done via the Internet using a regular browser or a special computer or mobile application. The whole process takes a few minutes.

Benefit from stationary systems Mobile devices with operating systems installed on them differ. The fact is that when you turn it on for the first time, to access some advanced functions or stores like AppStore or Google Play (Play Market) The system initially prompts you to create an account (registered email address and password). Moreover, your smartphone or tablet already has pre-installed application for working with cloud services. For convenience, you can install their desktop counterparts on your computer or laptop (although access can also be obtained through a browser).

Allocable disk space

Another important point- the amount of disk space that the user initially receives in free version. As a rule, the volume on different services ranges from 5 to 50 GB. If this is not enough, you will have to increase the storage capacity and pay a certain amount for it, which includes the cost of purchasing more volume and maintenance for a certain period of use, which, by the way, can also vary.

General principles

As for how to use the cloud in the broadest sense, everything is quite simple. After registration, the user only needs to add folders and files, contacts and much more to the storage.

At the same time, in the settings section, he can add friends who, like him, will upload files to the server or edit them (the simplest example is Dropbox). Often new users can use own passwords to login.

But here's what's interesting. When installing special program On a computer, access to files in the cloud is much faster than when launching the same Internet browser. The same can be said about synchronization. It is enough to place the files in the application folder, and synchronization will be performed instantly for all users who have access rights to the service. Let's look at the most popular storage facilities.

Cloud Mail.Ru

So, as mentioned above, you will first need to create an email account, after entering which the cloud service will be displayed in the panel at the top in the projects tab. This is the Mile cloud. How to use it? It couldn't be simpler.

Initially, 25 GB of disk space is offered. carried out using the corresponding button, which can be used to add several objects at once. The limitation concerns only the size of the uploaded file - it should not exceed 2 GB. Before starting the download, you can use additional features, for example, create and then just as easily files can be moved and deleted. Please note: it does not have a “Trash”, as in the same Yandex service, so restore deleted information it won't work.

The function of creating, viewing or editing files can be very useful. Let's say we have Word document(or it is created directly in the repository). Changing it directly in the cloud can be as easy as if the user were launching the editor on a computer. Upon completion of work, we save the changes, after which synchronization occurs again.

Yandex cloud: how to use?

With the Yandex service, in principle, things are almost identical. The functional set, in general, does not differ much.

But the developers of this service thought that the user could delete files completely by accident. This is where the so-called “Trash” comes to the rescue, into which information is placed when deleted. It works like a standard computer service. True, data recovery tools are not applicable to it if they have already been deleted from the Recycle Bin. Nevertheless, the function is very useful.

Google Drive storage

Now let's move on to another powerful service called Google Cloud. How to use Google Drive? Fundamental differences compared to other services, no. But here access can be obtained both from a mobile device (built-in service) and using a utility installed on a computer (not to mention logging in via an Internet browser). With a phone or tablet everything is simple, let’s look at the computer program.

We assume that the account has already been created. After activation, the user receives 5 GB of storage. An increase to 25 GB will cost approximately 2.5 USD. We install the application on the computer, after which the service folder appears on the Desktop (it is also displayed in Explorer).

As is already clear, just place the files in this directory and synchronization will occur. During operation, the program “hangs” in the system tray as an icon. Right click calls additional menu, where you can view the available space for downloading files, make personalized settings, expand storage space, shut down, etc.

One point is especially worth noting here. As it turns out, copy the files to the program folder on your computer, and then download them from the cloud to mobile device It turns out to be much faster than connecting the gadget to a computer and then copying using Windows.

iCloud and iCloud Drive services

Finally, let's see how to use Apple cloud. There are two services (iCloud and iCloud Drive) that are pre-installed on the iPhone or iPad according to the version operating system installed on the device. Essentially, iCloud Drive is updated version iCloud, and for it correct operation I should take into account that mobile gadget must correspond to the stated technical requirements: iOS 8 on the device itself. Computer - Windows 7 or higher with iCloud extension for Windows or a computer terminal running Mac OS X 10.10 or OS X Yosemite.

Initially, after logging into the service, folders created by default will be displayed there. Their number may vary depending on the settings of the computer and the client on mobile device. How to use the cloud on iPhone? In principle, there is nothing supernatural about this. It is enough to launch the application on the gadget (switch the launch slider to the on state) and log in using account. It's another matter when the input is supposed to be from a computer. Here you will need to use the settings menu of the program itself and select enable there.

Another minus - enough low speed synchronization (this is recognized by everyone). And one more, most unpleasant moment. If you switch from iCloud to iCloud Drive without updating all devices to the required configuration, the data in the old cloud will simply not be accessible, so be vigilant.

Conclusion

That’s briefly all that concerns the question of how to use the Cloud application or services of the same name. Of course, not all the possibilities of such services are considered here, but, so to speak, only general principles(basics) of work. However, even with such minimal knowledge any newly registered user will be able to carry out basic operations within 5-10 minutes.

On the Internet there are often comparisons of various cloud storages, but they are not entirely objective, since most people are based on the storage capacity and the availability of clients for iOS and Android, and no one thinks about the data transfer speed. We decided on personal experience consider the 5 most popular “clouds” and test them for the speed of uploading and downloading files.

Subjected to testing OneDrive, Google Drive, Yandex Disk,iCloud Drive, And Dropbox. Uploading to the server and downloading files was carried out exclusively through the web versions of the clients. All actions were carried out through Chrome browser on a Mac with an Internet connection of 100 Mbps. Testing the speed of cloud storage consisted of two stages - uploading a 1.28 GB file to the cloud storage server, and then downloading the uploaded file back to the computer.

As time measurements showed, the slowest cloud storage out of the five was OneDrive. It took 43 minutes 13 seconds to upload a 1.27 GB video to this “cloud”, and 37 minutes 18 seconds to download it back. The fourth place was won by the legendary Dropbox, which is actually the “father” of all cloud storage. It took him 19 minutes 33 seconds to upload the file to the server, and 16 minutes 19 seconds to download it.

Third and second places were shared between each other Google Drive And iCloud Drive. Measurements showed that the time it takes to upload a file weighing 1.27 GB to the cloud Google storage was 3 minutes 2 seconds, while Apple iCloud Drive coped with this task in 4 minutes 39 seconds. In terms of download time for a similar file, Apple's cloud won with a result of 2 minutes 7 seconds (this is a record among all 5 cloud storages), while Google Drive took 2 minutes 49 seconds for a similar procedure.

Russian is in first place "Yandex Disk" which showed best result in terms of upload time to the server, and second after iCloud Drive in terms of time to download a file to your computer. Uploading the 1.27 GB file to the server took a record 2 minutes 34 seconds, while downloading took 2 minutes 21 seconds.

For clarity, we have created a small table to make it easier to navigate the data. It turns out that the Yandex Disk cloud storage turned out to be the fastest in terms of upload time to the server, while iCloud Drive gave the shortest file download time.

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