To the Cloud!

I am very keen to not lose my stuff. And I am terrible for losing my stuff. I gave up on memory sticks a long time ago, after laundering a few and losing the rest. I never remember to save the right files from home to need at work and vice versa. Plus, I seem to have the same effect on Hard Drive stability that a Dementor has on feeling good about the world.

Let me at your data....

And my HDD seems to fill up depressingly quickly.

So, cloud based storage seems to be a great solution. I figure, if I can access my files anywhere, I don't need to worry about losing them. Also, my Hard Drive plague-touch will no longer be an issue; not even my power extends to destroying remote servers. Plus, cloud computing is the future and therefore more cool than archaic deskbound solutions, such as owning a massive hard drive.

With this is mind, I decided to look into a cloud solution that would work for my wife and I in our daily lives. Our requirements are probably not unique, and they are these:

• We need frequent access to documents and files such as the Office standards
• We have a lot of photos that we want stowed away
• We have a lot of music  that would be nice online
• We have a bunch of stuff that doesn't really need to be cloud based as it's only relevant at home
• We want separate accounts but easy sharing options
• We want this to be cheap. Like REALLY cheap; at least, until we see it's working really well.
• We want this to be OS agnostic, and preferably have mobile support for day to day stuff

I looked over the files I am storing on my computer, ably abetted by SpaceSniffer to tell me what was using up space where (I love that tool- go try it).  I found a probably average pile of documents, mp3 files, photos, avi files taking up a lot of room. I also found I had things that were more specific to me, e.g. Photoshop files, .blend 3D files, movie project files. And a whole bunch of video training that I've bought over the years for 2D and 3D work. Most people will have an equivalent- just replace "Photoshop" with "the memory hungry creative tool of your choosing". 

It seemed pretty clear that I could firstly split this stuff into "need online" and "only at home". I will rarely, if ever, need a movie project file out of the house because all my movie editing software is on my desktop. My many Gigs of training videos are only useful when sitting with my two screens and working through a lesson, so they can stay offline. This stuff I can back up onto a USB connected drive and internally.

So, I now had a listing of the files I wanted to get online. Some of this stuff, like the Photoshop and 3D work, I won't need daily, or possibly even weekly; I just need them as and when. Music, videos, docs and photos- these I want more often. 

After a couple of hours of reading up on different services- and there are many- I came up with the following architecture to maximise my online space, without it costing much.

• Every day work and shared files- Dropbox. Or...SugarSync...maybe...
• Music, movies and large files- Amazon Cloud Drive
• Photos- thinking probably Picasa, now that Google + links to it and G+ uploading doesn't count as a limit...

Done. 

Why these? 

Dropbox wins out for daily use because it is sooo very easy to use and (recent log in woes aside) nice and reliable. I am very cautious about losing data so I am sticking with tried and true companies rather than start-ups. Dropbox handles the sharing side of our data super easily, has interfaces for Android (phone), Windows (home), Web (work ) and iOS (I can dream). Those mobile interfaces act as a file explorer and viewer, so no worries about filling up precious micro SD space. At GB basic account, it's a bit tight on the space it gives you, but how much room do I really need for documents? Plus, with enough people referrals I can get 8 GB for free. I certainly wouldn't advocate creating spoof email accounts to do this- I don't even think it'd work, but we all have friends who can benefit from a free online storage space, right? The main reason for using Dropbox right now for me is simply that I am using it already. But all this may change due to...SugarSync

SugarSync came late to this party. Literally, as I was typing up this blog entry, I decided to take a second look, having decided previously that I wasn't happy with how it synced devices (no viewer- it syncs to them, so you'll fill them there tiny SD cards up fast). However, its web interface gets round this, it syncs a lot more folder options than Dropbox and seems to have a very flexible sharing function. Its 5GB free account is a step up from Dropbox. I haven't tested this service in the "wild" yet but it looks promising and feature rich.

Best of all, I got a free 10GB account...currently SugarSync is running a TrialPay scheme, and one of the UK based qualifying services was a Tesco DVD offer that doesn't actually require you to spend any money or order any DVDs, just register with them. You can them cancel straight away- or enjoy 14 days of LOVEFILM DVDs for free. 

So, that's a $24.99 annual fee paid by Tesco for no outlay or commitment on my part. Every little helps!

Amazon Cloud Drive is a goer for large files and music the very simple reason that it offers 20GB of storage for 20$ a year- but unlimited music storage! It doesn't even have to be purchased at Amazon. I bet it can't cope with iTunes DRM and the music cloud player doesn't work in the UK yet, but it's still a sweet deal for keeping music safe and available.. The downside is that there's a pretty barebones feature set. No streaming outisde the US, no sharing...It really is best just for storage. I do wonder what will happen once it is UK-localised...time will tell.

Now, three services may prove excessive- and indeed, if my workplace goes the Box route, that'd be four. I think this is likely to slim down. I have no doubt that as I go forward, there's redundancy I can streamline out- most likely between Dropbox and SugarSync. They'll just have to duke it out for my continued patronage (although, as SugarSync can sync the Dropbox folder, the additional backup doesn't hurt). I can see choosing two services, one instant access and one for longer term archiving, being the way forward. I have been a Dropbox devotee for many years now, but SugarSync may steal me away. I may even recommend it  for work if it proves effective, though I see little benefit over Box, as we cannot have the Sugar Sync desktop client at work. 

One thing is clear though -I have potentially 38GB of storage online plus all my music and photos, for less than $2 a month. If this works out, that'll be pretty damn sweet. I'll report back in a week or so as I run the setup. 

Update 30/07/11


I've been running sugar sync for a few days now and can recommend it highly. My initial concern about the app auto-syncing rather than being a viewer for mobile and iOS devices tuns out not to be the case. It was just out of date info on their website. Sugar Sync has a fully functional viewer and the option to download and stream content- it works as a music streamer, like a personal Pandora, if you so wish. The interface, desktop client and Android client are all really clean and simple. Best of all, its ability to let you select folders to sync makes collecting and storing data a breeze, and there are a host of powerful sharing features, including sharing password protected folders with non Sugar Sync users.

Thanks to my additional storage space, I've taken the opportunity to nest my Dropbox folder within my Sugar Sync folders, so that anyone currently sharing with me can continue to do so, but I can interact entirely through SugarSync. Its tool set has impressed me so much that I would recommend it for work- but it appears to have no online only option- you must have a starting folder set. Due to how the security at work functions, the desktop client for SS can't be installed and the ftp is tricky, so Box is still a better bet there due to a simple web hosted toolset. For any other purpose though, I can see myself migrating all my needs to SugarSync for files, Amazon for music and Picasa for photos.

On this note- uploading to Picasa via Google + is easy  and the way galleries are displayed are very pretty. I am very taken with this solution and now plan to explore photo print solutions that integrate with this hosting service. 

So Very Pretty...

As Apple continues its rise to become the dominant global economic power, I’ve been thinking about the hows, whys and wherefores of this- and how it relates to consumer choice and their nearest competitor- Android (sorry Microsoft, RIM, Nokia, Palm, etc. You suck).

In conversation with several friends, the questions is just what IS it that Apple have? We know that they appeal to a non-tech savvy mass. We also know that they control their product tightly at market. And that most companies say "We know what we are. Make it so." to their dev teams and Steve Jobs says "I know what we stand for. Surprise me."  But why is this successful for them and not others? 

Because Apple is the ultimate Benevolent Dictatorship. The perfect Controlled Utopia. In fact- they are these guys.

The Alliance in the universe of Firefly and Serenity offers stability, progress, empowerment and prosperity, wrapped up in a sleek and beautiful shell. Those who choose to be members of the Alliance can expect their lives to enhanced and enriched. 

Look at it. the iCity.

Of course, there is a cost- loyalty is expected, and the Utopia provides whatever you want, as long as all you want is what it is willing to give. But that's okay- the Alliance has an education system to make sure citizens know that the Alliance is the only viable path to the future. Most citizens have only heard rumours of what lies outside the Alliance's borders. 

Education, the Alliance way.
Best not to think about how seamlessly she would fit into the iPad ads.

Of course, the Alliance has to protect itself- and this may mean some questionable actions on the part of its operatives. And an impressive security force. But, as writer-director Joss Whedon asserts on his commentary, the Alliance "is not the evil empire". It is just really serious about making people's lives- better. It's not perfect, but it's trying to be. 

Shiny and powerful. 

And then there's the other side. The Independents. And this is who Android is, out there on the raggedy edge. With the Alliance at the core, defining the environment, the Independents are numerous but disorganised. 

We are cool. And broke. And about to crash.
 But, y'know- in a  cool way. 

There are stronger and weaker elements, and as a unified whole, they could topple the incumbent giant. But that level of coordination eludes them. Here and there, they still fight the Alliance, maybe one day gaining more ground, but the War is lost. People chose Unification and prosperity over Independence and freedom. 

The attraction of the Independents is freedom. Out on the edge, it's not about the rules imposed but the rules you choose for yourself. Here, you shape your own destiny. It's a place for the individual.

 Fast, uniquely featured and unstable as all hell.
 A great example of what running unsigned apps can do to an OS. 

 But here, far from the protection of the Alliance, there are dangers. Criminality is common place, deals are welched on and the Reavers lurk, ready to take everything that makes you who you are. Out here, you are responsible for protecting yourself. But still- being Independent is just cool

Reavers. In ur fone, stealin ur shit.

I look at this, knowing- just KNOWING- that I should fight for the Independents. I have an Android phone. I love the notion of freedom that Android brings. My only Apple purchase to date was a G2 iPod. And yet...I'm not a "power user". I read tech specs, but really it's end-user experience I actually need. I don't want to jailbreak and root and fly the deepest parts of the Black. I want everything to just work. And be beautiful. And be safe.

And that's why I know my next phone will be an iPhone, and I'll buy an iPad and  then I'll turn the key myself on my luxury prison cell and lock myself in with a sigh of relief that now I'm committed, it'll all just be...magical. After worrying about MitMo and DroidDream and watching my friend's Dell Streak die in a lonely corner, bereft of love and support, I'll choose the Alliance's dictatorial utopia over the chaotic freedom of the Independents. And that's why Apple are winning- because most people don't realise there's a choice. And the ones who do...people want the ease and beauty Apple promise to deliver, and if history has taught use anything, it is that people don't want ultimate freedom. As a whole, we just want enough freedom to get by on, and as much beauty and convenience as we can grab.