Cloud storage is a convenient way to store your files. For example, Google allows you to keep up to 15 gigabytes on its own. This is extremely convenient: information is available from anywhere in the world and from any device that has access to the Internet.
Let's look at how to use this service - sign in to your account, register for free (if you don't have a Google Drive account), install an application for your computer, upload and download data.
How to sign in to your Google Drive account
To log into your Google Drive account, you can use the address http://www.drive.google.com/ . On the first visit, the "front" version is shown. Use "Go to Google Drive" to sign in.
You can also use your phone to sign in to your account. Then click "Next" and enter your account password.
It is important to specify it exactly, respecting the case of characters. After that, click "Next". Sometimes, before opening the service, the browser shows a loading inscription.
If you wait a bit, the interface will be displayed.
You can get to work.
How to register
If you don't have an account, you can register it directly from the login page. To do this, click on the inscription "Create an account" (it is located on the left and is not so conspicuous).
The registration page will be displayed. You must specify the first and last name, as well as enter the password and confirm it (all in the appropriate fields).
The service will offer a login. You can also specify your choice.
In the next step, you must agree to the terms of use by clicking "Accept".
After that, what is conventionally called my page will open.
You can get acquainted with the introductory information by scrolling through it with the arrow to the right. Or you can immediately close it with a cross on a gray background.
How to install the application for a computer
It is even more convenient to use the cloud paired with the Google Drive app for Windows. You can download it directly from the main page - the link is in the lower left corner.
You can access the application download page at any time by clicking on the link https://www.google.com/drive/download/ .
After accepting the terms, Google Disk may be saved to the default folder, or the system will prompt you to select a location.
You should wait for the download and click on it to start the installation. Or you can click on the arrow and select "Open".
The system may ask you to confirm the launch. To install the Google Disk program, you must agree.
After installation is complete, you can close the installer.
The application is installed and can be launched from the Start menu.
The application language will be automatically selected according to the language of the operating system. If Google drive does not work, you should repeat the download and installation.
How to upload data to the cloud
To send data to the cloud, you can use drag and drop: left-click, for example, on a video, then, without releasing the button, drag to point to the browser window and release.
An alternative way to upload a file to Google Drive is to use the "Create" button and the upload submenu in it.
A standard selection dialog will open.
You need to select the one you want and click "Open". If the computer is online, an indicator will appear in the lower right corner.
The download time depends on the speed of your internet connection.
How to download data
To download the downloaded file to your computer, you can right-click on it.
Another way to download a photo or other file on Google Disk is to select it with a left click, and then call up the menu by clicking on the three vertical dots in the horizontal menu of the site.
In both cases, you need to select "Download". The standard window for saving the document will open.
After saving from the Google cloud, you can fully use it.
Technological progress does not stand still. One technology that becomes impractical over time goes away, and another, more advanced one comes to replace it. A clear example of this is the evolution of data storage methods. If earlier CDs and DVDs were in use, now more and more people prefer to store information on flash drives, which are more compact in size and can hold much more information, moreover, they support multiple overwriting.
There is also a more advanced technology that has not yet gained popularity among the masses, but has serious prospects - cloud storage services.
Any user who has created an account in such a service can upload his files to the server and access them from any computer or other supported device (tablet, smartphone, etc.) on which he logs into his account. Agree, it is very practical: you can save time and money. There is only one drawback - you must have access to the Internet. Failure to connect will deprive you of access to the downloaded information. Fortunately, almost everyone now has access to the Internet.
Comparison of cloud storage services: Dropbox, Google Drive, Cloud Mail, MediaFire, Yandex Disk, Microsoft OneDrive, Copy Com, Apple iCloud
This article will compare nine popular cloud storage services, which will be evaluated on the three most important parameters for users: workspace size, security of use and functionality. So let's get started.
The amount of space provided
For those users who work with large files, the size of the disk space is a fundamental criterion. If the service cannot provide the necessary space, it will not be appropriate for them to use it.
Dropbox, which was once one of the founders of cloud technologies can now be safely called an outsider, which cannot compete with other participants in the comparison in terms of disk space. Only 2 gigabytes upon registration, one gigabyte for completing a simple task and 13 gigabytes for attracting users through a referral program (500 megabytes per user who registered and installed the client).
Google Drive was not particularly generous, providing only 15 gigabytes for free on the server. And given that the same space is used to store Google Docs documents and e-mail, users will have to be content with little. You can increase the storage size by purchasing a subscription. For example, now 100 GB costs $2, 1 TB costs $10. You can get a maximum of several tens of terabytes (I wonder who might need so much).
Cloud Mail.ru - no matter what they say about cloud storage Mail.ru, and there is enough free space on the servers for users. Each person who connected the service can use up to 100 gigabytes of space, uploading files of unlimited size there.
MediaFire - 50 gigabytes of space available in the MediaFire cloud, but the conditions for obtaining are rather complicated. The initial disk space is only 10 gigabytes. Another 8 gigabytes can be obtained by installing certain applications and extensions, and the remaining 32 by inviting other people to become customers of the service. 1 additional gigabyte per user.
Yandex Disk - cloud storage of the domestic company Yandex initially gives 3 GB free space, which, through simple manipulations, can easily be turned into 10 GB. Additional space is opened by attracting active referrals (500 megabytes per person). It also makes sense to follow various promotions on the Yandex. For example, now any subscriber of the OnLime tariff plan from Rostelecom can open another 100 GB, and those who buy a Kingston flash drive with the Yandex logo can receive as many additional gigabytes as the size of this flash drive.
Microsoft OneDrive allows you to use 15 gigabytes of information for any registered user, and if he also owns a PC with Windows 8 installed, then the size increases by another 10 gigabytes.
Mega gives out 50 gigabytes to newcomers free space for any files. Although this is not much, you don’t need to carry out any additional fraud, unlike many other competitor services.
Copy.com is another cloud service with a referral program. Initially, it gives out 15 gigabytes of free space, but for each attracted user, not 1 pathetic gigabyte is charged, but as much as 5 gigabytes. If you want to remove all the restrictions inherent in the free version, and get from 250 gigabytes to 1 terabyte of free space, you will have to subscribe, paying $ 5 per month.
Apple iCloud - unlike many other Apple services, the storage can also be used by holders of PCs, as well as mobile devices from other manufacturers. Free iCloud is 5 gigabytes of free space. An extension of 20 gigabytes will cost 39 Russian rubles per month, 200 GB - 140 rubles per month. You can get a maximum of 1 terabyte and it will cost 749 rubles a month.
Security and Privacy
Many people do not want to use cloud services because they are afraid of identity theft or fear that information will be lost for some reason. Let's see what the creators of the services in question have done in terms of preventing such situations.
Dropbox uses state-of-the-art data protection practices: SSL and 256-bit AES, which guarantees the secure transmission and storage of any files uploaded to the server. All applications and extensions of the service are checked for vulnerabilities and updated periodically. It is possible to connect two-step authentication.
Google Drive has no competitors in terms of manufacturability. All data is securely encrypted, there is almost no risk of losing it. Of course, this does not negate the need to adhere to certain security rules - set up privacy in the settings, log out of your account when you finish working from a public computer.
Any files uploaded to the Mail.ru cloud are checked by the Kaspersky utility for viruses and other malicious code. When the databases of the utility are updated, the check is repeated. Files, like in other services, are encrypted. As for the shortcomings, it is worth noting the terms of the license agreement of the service, which remove all responsibility of Mail.ru for any negative situations related to unauthorized access, technical problems.
Microsoft OneDrive creates multiple copies of your files at once by hosting them on different servers. If one of them fails, you will not lose the stored information. Protection against gaining access by third parties is also presented at a decent level - two-step verification, account recovery using additional data. There is an operational technical support service.
Yandex Disk. Encrypted connection prevents hackers from intercepting your personal data, and the ability to set a strong password - penetration into the account of third parties. If suddenly your device (from which you access the storage) is lost, access from it can be blocked using a special option.
MediaFire has two-step authentication and an encrypted connection. For those who do not plan to store really important information in the cloud, this is more than enough.
Mega - all files that you upload to Mega servers, are automatically encrypted on your device, and an already encrypted version gets into the storage, which even the administration of this service cannot access. Frankly, with the last statement, we are probably being deceived, but additional confidence in security appears.
Copy.com not only protects the user's files from malicious in, but also from his own negligence. During a certain period of time, you can roll back files to previous versions and restore accidentally deleted ones.
Apple iCloud - any data that is uploaded to Apple iCloud, are encrypted using AES technology with 128-bit keys. Protection concerns not only the server itself, where the files are stored - the process of uploading files to the server is also protected. If desired, you can enable two-step verification, which allows you to identify the storage user by the device from which he connects. On the other hand, everyone remembers the recent scandal with a huge amount of candid celebrity photos stolen from their iCloud. The vulnerability was quickly fixed, but was it the only one?
Functionality and additional features
The ability to save files on the server is far from the only thing that modern cloud storage services are capable of. Almost any such service has additional features that may be useful to users.
Dropbox works great both through the browser interface, and through the installed application. All tools for creating and editing files are fully supported. Remarkably, modified files load very quickly. This effect is achieved by partial editing (only the modified part of the edited file, pre-compressed, is copied to the server).
Google Drive is characterized by a user-friendly and functional interface which is intuitive even for novice users. Loading, sorting and editing files is done in a couple of keystrokes. There are built-in tools for viewing and editing text documents and images of various formats. Work with mobile devices is supported and there are additional functions designed specifically for them.
Cloud Mail.ru - many complain about the inconvenience of working with storage through a browser, intermittent errors and stuff like that. The problem is solved by installing software to work with the service. Otherwise, nothing special - there is a mobile client, mail integration and other standard features.
Microsoft OneDrive - OneDrive has a lot of useful innovations. The most significant of them is the ability to create and edit Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, etc.) directly in the repository and send files via Hotmail.
Yandex Disk boasts advanced functionality and a wide coverage of supported systems, among which even mobile Windows Phone and Linux were noted. Yandex Disk is integrated with a number of other Yandex services, which greatly simplifies the work.
MediaFire, in addition to its basic function of storing files, allows you to share them on the Internet. More than 200 file formats are supported.
Mega performed well on both iOS and Android devices, and also relatively recently acquired an official client application (previously, work was carried out exclusively through a browser).
Copy.com is very similar in functionality to Dropbox discussed above., although it compares favorably with its beautiful and intuitive interface, as well as wide cross-platform.
Only owners of devices from Apple can fully appreciate the functionality of Apple iCloud. Automatic synchronization with the cloud greatly facilitates the storage of data (photos, contacts, documents, etc.), and there is no need to install additional software. Windows owners who want to use iCloud will have to install iTunes, which is a bit inconvenient.
Let's summarize. What to choose?
Which of the following services can be called the best? It's pretty hard to decide. Each storage has its own advantages and disadvantages. But if you choose the optimal (average) option that will appeal to the majority, then the choice will fall on Google Drive.
Most users, unfortunately, have not yet been able to resolve the issue of proper file storage, in particular, ensuring their security. Most of the largest services have long offered cloud storage that can ensure the safety of your files even as a result of unforeseen circumstances (breakdown, hacking or loss of a computer). This article will consider the cloud service offered by Google.
The development of the largest company received a rather unpretentious name - Google Drive. The service is quite interesting, so you should take a closer look at it. Google allows you to store up to 5 GB of files for free, as well as upload files up to 10 GB in size (of course, in the paid version).
- Creating files. The program allows you to create files, for example, pdf format, various text files and presentations. And besides this, the service has the ability to jointly edit files with your friends and colleagues who have a Google account.
- Providing access to files from various devices. Files located in Google Drive can be viewed both from a computer and from a tablet or smartphone, subject to the possibility of accessing the Internet.
- The ability to recognize scanned pages or photos with text and convert written text into speech.
For active users of cloud storage, free space may not be enough, so storage space can be expanded using a monthly subscription fee.
How to use Google Drive
In order to start using the cloud from Google, you must have a Google mail account. If this is not available, you must go to the official Google page and go through the simple steps of registration.
Now we go under our account and click on the icon with the image of tiles at the very top of the web page and select "Disk".
We will be redirected to another page where we will be asked to download the Google Drive program. In addition, you can find a link to download this program for Windows at the end of the article. 
By clicking on the "Download Drive" button, the download of the program installer will begin. 
Once the download is complete, run the installer and agree to the warning. The program will start downloading from the network, followed by its installation.
After the installation is complete, a welcome window will open in front of you. By clicking the "Next" button, you will need to log in with your Google account. 
Following will begin a short course on the main features of the program. After reviewing the course, click the "Done" button.
Next, the Google Drive folder and an explorer window will open. On the right side of File Explorer, you will see that the Google Drive icon has appeared. 
Now let's move on to working with Google Drive. Many cloud storage creators consider it their duty to add demo files. The Google Drive folder will meet you with a dreary emptiness. To send your first file to the vault, you just need to copy it to this folder in the same way as you do it in other folders. 
A blue sync icon will appear next to the transferred file, indicating that the file is currently being sent to the Google servers. If the blue icon is replaced by a green checkmark, it means that the synchronization was successfully completed and now the file can be viewed from any other device. 
Now let's go to the desktop. We see that our desktop has been replenished with three new icons, including our Google Drive folder, as well as new Google Docs, Google Slides and Google Sheets. These three programs are an office suite that works on the Internet. 
That is, you, for example, want to write a new text. You launch the blue icon and your browser launches, which redirects you to a web page with a full-fledged office editor, where you can type and format text without any problems. 
While you are typing or editing text, there will be an imperceptible synchronization, and all changes will be sure to be added to your Google Drive. This feature can be especially useful in situations where the computer freezes, there is a power outage, or the battery of the laptop runs out. 
We will not dwell on other programs much. Google Sheets is like Excel, and Google Slides is like PowerPoint. The main difference from Microsoft's office suite is that Google distributes its online suite absolutely free of charge.
Output.
Google's goal is not just to create another cloud storage, which is already in abundance today, but to release its own unique product that will be useful to all users. A large amount of space for storing personal files and folders, an office suite for users of the service, fast synchronization, cross-platform and other useful features make this service one of the best to date.
Hello, dear readers of the blog site. Today I want to continue cloud storage theme(file hosting), which allow you not to carry flash drives and other media with you, but at the same time have access to the necessary data at home, at work and on the road (from a computer, tablet or smartphone).
Our today's hero (guinea pig) will be Google Drive, which appeared one of the last among the major players in this market (if you do not take into account), but nevertheless has unique capabilities in its arsenal that allow you to gain some competitive advantages.
Features of Google Drive and why it is so remarkable
Before starting to talk about this cloud service for storing various important and not so important data, I’ll just say a couple of phrases about competitors, of which there are already quite a few:
- - seduces with its ability to work with office documents (sharing, working through an online interface). He also has a unique opportunity for this type of service to remotely access the contents of his computer from the Internet (not just the OneDrive folder, but the entire contents of the computer's hard drives). The free plan gives you 7 GB of cloud storage.
- - appeared historically first in this market, and in addition to the wonderful ability to roll back to the previous version of the file (in a free account, the history of changes is stored only for the last month) has a convenient (familiar) interface and is supported by a bunch of mobile applications. 2 GB is provided free of charge, which will be easy to expand later up to 16 GB.
- - now it doesn’t look like a simpleton compared to competitors, but nevertheless, when I posted some for download on Dropbox, they were blocked after a while, because excessive traffic was created. In Yandex, the same courses are still lying and no complaints have been made about the heavy load. For free here you can get 10-20 GB of free space in the cloud.
5 Reasons to Store Files in the Google Cloud
- Google Drive also has its own features that make many potential users opt for this service.
- The main feature, it seems to me, is exclusively convenient online work with files(tests, tables, presentations, graphics, etc.). For the most part, it owes this to the tools inherited from it.
But still impressive is the total number of file types (more than 30) that can be viewed in their web interface from any device (computer, laptop, tablet, phone).
Remarkably, for those types of files that Google Drive does not support, you can install a third-party application.
- If we talk about disk space in the cloud, which this service provides free of charge, then everything is quite on the level here - 15 GB. However, it should be borne in mind that this place is given to you not only for storing files in Google Drive, but also for storage, as well as for storage.
If you already have mail in this system, then the login and password from your Gmail mail will do to enter the Drive.
If you do not have a Google account yet, you will have to create one by clicking on the "Create an account" button shown. Everything is simple there - you need to fill in the fields, confirm your mobile phone number and start using it (you won’t be able to create an account without a cell phone number, alas and ah).
Access to files and folders for everyone via the link
Personally, I'm more comfortable provide link access by clicking on the button of the same name in the sharing dialog:
Why is it convenient? Well, after all, not everyone has a Google account (although most do), and link access is like a bearer contribution - whoever has the link gets access.
In this case, you do not lose any opportunities. Even the permissions the same ones can be assigned to this file or folder - viewing, commenting and editing.
You can share both individual files or documents, and entire folders with them. Those who follow the link you sent will have the opportunity to either simply view these files or download them (if desired). In general, everything is as it should be in the "best houses in London and Zhmerinka" (other cloud services).
Shared folders are marked with a blue person when viewing a Google Drive folder on a computer.
How to remove a file or folder from your drive from sharing
To remove the ability to share some previously shared folders or files, you will need to do the process described above again by clicking on the username to which access was granted:
In the window that opens, it will be enough to click on the cross opposite his name:
Google Drive settings quite primitive (to get into them, just click on the tray icon and select the appropriate item of the three-dot context menu that appears) and the only thing you may need is to log out of your account to enter another one (there are 15 GB and there are so many same).
Oh yes. If you have a situation when the two of you use the same account in My Disk (my wife and I do exactly this), then it makes sense to check the box “Synchronize only these folders” so as not to waste time, space on the computer and traffic on synchronization of "foreign" files you don't need.
Online version of "My Disc" and miraculous recovery
Again, the Google Drive web interface is available at drive.google.com. Naturally, it is also possible from there, and not only from a computer through the program described above. To do this, there is a “My Disk” button located at the top left with a down arrow (with a spoiler).
Actually, find the necessary folders or files on the computer in the download window that opens, after which a window opens in the lower right corner with an indication of the download process.
In the Google Drive web interface, you can perform certain actions on the objects available there using the context menu(appears when you right-click on a file or folder). Remarkably, the same menu is available when you select a file with the left button and click on the button with three dots in the upper right corner (see screenshot below).
The sharing option we have already discussed will be available there, as well as a number of other options that are not available in the desktop version of Drive.
This, for example, version control, which I mentioned at the beginning of the article (appears only for objects that have changed). Within a month, Google stores all versions of documents and, if necessary, you can always refer to them. You can see them by right-clicking on the file and selecting the appropriate tab.
Let's say you wrote an article in Word and stored a draft on Google Drive. At a certain stage, a fragment of the text was accidentally deleted, and only a few days later they sniffed. You most likely will not find another option for recovering what you have lost (unless you use it).
Voila! In the menu of the required version of the document, click on the "Download" button and your precious information is restored.
You can also in the Google cloud access those folders on your computer that you chose to back up when you installed the Startup and Sync program.
All these folders with files are available on the tab "Computers" from the left menu of My Drive. In principle, you can connect as many computers as you like to one account, and all data from important folders will be available to you in the cloud:
The folders of this particular computer are opened by double-clicking on its name:
A very convenient thing, which, coupled with all the other advantages of the cloud from Google, can tip the scales in the direction of using this particular storage service.
On the tab "Available to me"(from the left menu) you will find all the files and folders that other users of this cloud have shared for you (provided access to view or edit). It's also very convenient, you see.
Settings You will find the appearance and functionality of the online version of Google Drive in the upper right area.
There you can change the display of files (list or previews), see keyboard shortcuts for convenient work with the application, and also see a rather meager set of settings hidden behind the menu item of the same name.
If something remains unclear, then here's a video clip to help you:
Online office from Google based on the My Drive service
As I already mentioned, Google Drive is not just a place to store important data and quickly access it. This is also online office, albeit not as sophisticated as in SkyDrive, but rather versatile and with the possibility of expanding its functionality through third-party extensions.
This means that you can not only store objects in it, but also create or edit them. To create a new file the button of the same name in the upper left corner, or the drop-down menu of the My Disk button is used.
As you can see, it is possible to create a new text document in an online editor (opens in a new window), a new spreadsheet in the manner of Excel, a new presentation (ala PowerPoint), a new form, well, or a picture in the built-in graphic editor or external, which I I have already written in detail.
Impressive, isn't it? If these opportunities are not enough for you, then click on the button located at the very bottom "Connect other apps" to expand them. In the window that opens, you can read the description and, if you wish, connect the application you like.
For example, I chose the analogue of the online Photoshop Pixlr Editor, which is well known to me. Now, in the menu of the “Create” button, I have added the corresponding item, after clicking on which I will first have to give permission to this application to access my Google Drive so that it can save the picture I edited in Pixlr there.
Some of the documents created in Google Drive can be embed on your site. For what it may be needed, it is rather difficult for me to imagine, except perhaps to add a form to receive any information from readers. Or, for example, you can display the content of electronic documents on the pages of your blog.
On the page that opens, click the "Start publishing" button, and then in the lower area of the window select the "Html to embed in page" item from the drop-down list. A code will appear just below, which will need to be inserted at the right place on the web page.
Actually, using the example of a table, it will be possible to show one more feature of Google Drive (Docs) - document sharing. A little earlier, we looked at examples of file sharing and were somewhat surprised at the complexity of this process. These complexities were just what were needed to implement sharing.
So, again, from the "File" menu, select the item "Sharing", after which a window already familiar to us will open, where you will need to add the name or email address (in Gmail, of course) of the user with whom you plan to work on the document together. There you will also be able to access the link to open. If you forgot what it is, then scroll up the article to a description of access to files and folders.
In addition, you will need to specify his rights and opportunities to work with this document by selecting one of the options from the drop-down list - editing, commenting, viewing. The difference between them is significant, so read the instructions before making a decision.
Google Drive for mobile
I used the application for Ipad and Android in my work, and in general, it did not cause any complaints from me. Some types of files can be edited directly in this application, although doing it on the phone is not so convenient by definition.
The application does not have many settings (the transition to them is at the very bottom of the menu shown in the previous screenshot), but among them there is, for example, the setting for backing up your phone data to the cloud.
In addition, it is possible to automatically synchronize videos and photos with a folder in the cloud (or Google Photos).
It's good that there is an opportunity view files offline. As you understand, when working with Google Drive and any other cloud from a mobile device, no one will upload all the contents of the “My Drive” folder to it (this is done only on desktop computers and laptops).
However, so that every time your gadget does not spend Internet traffic on viewing the same photos or files (which do not change), you can save them in the memory of your mobile device. In the mobile version of Google Drive, this is implemented by moving the slider "Offline Access" to the active position.
A Google account allows the Internet user to maximize its capabilities. A person using the search engine of the same name gets almost unlimited access to various products of the company, which is the leader of the global network. Therefore, it is very important to know how you can log into your Google account.
How to register a Google account: the easy way
There are several different ways to connect to your profile toolkit in the system. Let's consider the simplest of them.
- Before you can log in to your Google account, you need to create it. This process is quite simple and intuitive. To create an account, you must visit the page by clicking on the following link: https://accounts.google.com/SignUp?hl=en . This page will begin your registration.
- As soon as the user goes to this page, a special form will open in front of him. It must be filled in with the appropriate data: first name, last name, date of birth, as well as come up with a nickname for the account and specify an alternative email for password recovery. It is important to pay attention to the correctness of the information entered, this will play a key role in case of losing the password or blocking the system.
- The registration process is simple and completely free, it takes only a couple of minutes for an advanced user and requires elementary care.
- After completing the registration stage, the user will be able to log into their Google account. Moreover, this can be done from any user device that has access to the Internet, after logging in.
How to login to google account
How to log into google account
Once the user is done using the tools in the account, they can sign out of the account. It is as easy to do as the entry.
In the same place where the "Login" button was previously, the same key appears, only with the inscription "Logout". Simply click on it, after which the user will automatically leave the account. No windows that can delay the exit process appear.
