Google GDrive

[Enrage The Sky]

I am suprised not to have found this as a thread, I just found out about it today, but I thought I was out of the loop.

An interesting article by Greg Linden points to some slide comments from Google's Analyst Day Power Point presentation last week. The presentation was removed from Google's website but the text is still available in Greg's post. These notes clearly state efforts have been put towards "infinite storage" in terms of GDrive. In September I ran across compelling evidence that suggests a product by this name was either in the works, or at least being considered — at that time it was nothing more than speculation. Now, according to these notes it isn't far from reality.

"With infinite storage, we can house all user files, including: emails, web history, pictures, bookmarks, etc and make it accessible from anywhere (any device, any platform, etc). We already have efforts in this direction in terms of GDrive, GDS, Lighthouse, but all of them face bandwidth and storage constraints today." — excerpt from Analyst Day presentation notes.

The GDrive service will provide anyone (who trusts Google with their data) a universally accessible network share that spans across computers, operating systems and even devices. Users will no longer require third party applications to emulate this behaviour by abusing Gmail storage.

In a Windows environment, most users know how to use the typical C: in "My Computer". Network drives work exactly the same but are given a different letter and the files within are not stored on the computer. If my suspicions are correct and GDrive is simply a network share, most applications could take advantage of this service without modification.

The question of course is how Google will monetize a service like this. I cannot see how file storage using a network share could be used to serve up advertisements — so maybe they won't. In some screenshots of Gmail for domains, it appears there are different "account plans" that I assume provide additional email addresses. Could a similar system work for online storage? For example, 1GB free and pay $5 for each additional.

Another way to generate income from this service would be to provide users a DVD backup of their data for a small monthly fee. Depending on how often a GDrive is used by someone, it could make sense to receive a backup on a regular schedule — while they are at it, why not include some "cool" extras on those DVD's?

Online storage with GDrive could be an important part of Google's future plans — universal access to your data will soon become reality.

This seems a bit scary to me, since Google just had that problem like a week ago, with all the website being spam.

One thing that scares me is that "You won't have to worry if your computer crashes" BUT!... What if google crashes??
Aswel, as any hacker who wants to prove themselves wil also be joining in on the frenzy. Maybe I could trust it after a while, but if it is as popluar as I am led to beleave, A LOT of people will be visiting whatever site you need to go to to access it. With the high flow of people the security could not be that great.

I found another biut of information.

Google is preparing to roll out its long rumored–and still mostly rumored–Gdrive online storage service.

The latest chatter about Gdrive comes from The Wall Street Journal, which reports:

Google is preparing a service that would let users store on its computers essentially all of the files they might keep on their personal-computer hard drives — such as word-processing documents, digital music, video clips and images, say people familiar with the matter. The service could let users access their files via the Internet from different computers and mobile devices when they sign on with a password, and share them online with friends. It could be released as early as a few months from now, one of the people said.
The Mountain View, Calif., company plans to provide some free storage, with additional storage allotments available for a fee, say the people familiar with the matter. Planned pricing isn’t known.

If this sounds familiar it is. Rumors of Gdrive have been around for months. Gdrive went from a dead project in August to being a part of Google Apps in September to losing a key developer to Facebook. Google is serious though since it secured a bunch of name servers.

The Journal plays up the Microsoft competition a bit, but the software giant has had a similar service for months. Google seems to be a bit late to the party–Windows Live Skydrive, Box.net, Xdrive and Omnidrive are already up and running–and there isn’t a lot of new information today. This story looks like a big catch-up attempt for the Journal and a way for Google to look like it’s doing something on the online storage front. The Journal even notes the Gdrive-Google Apps connection.

Google does have one twist that’s interesting. Gdrive will act as any other hard drive attached to your computer. Think Google Desktop search meets storage. Google will just back stuff up in the background. No need to upload apparently.

Depending on who you are this feature could be frightening or helpful. Consider:
-I have to trust Google’s cloud storage to automatically scan my drive;
-I could see ads on my desktop or attached to anything else I upload;
-What about my privacy?
-But the automatic backup is helpful.

I think I’ll just stick with one of those handy (and massive) one touch backup external drives.

My hunch is Gdrive will follow the usual path. The service will launch with a lot of press (after all it is Google), get rave reviews and then the backlash will ensue within 24 hours or so.

 

[Shu]

No Sir.. I didn't like it.

Well I'm a huge fan of newer cutting edge technology, but lately Google has been siphoning money from us willing participates and has turned cool sites like youtube into a video library of advertisements.

I don't believe in such Gdrive until I see it and test it myself. Sorry .. but infinite space? It seems like a gimmick to me. If people did in fact have access to it, what's the say hackers won't use it for personal gains.. like porn/warez/other malicious materials. Also if you have personal info stored into this database, and a hacker gets into it.. he could steal your Social, your CC info, and much much more.

It would be scary.. but at the same time infinite storage does sound cool. To me.. though it seems google is the new microsoft. They want it all and they will try to monopolize without the slighest hesitation.