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Google G-Drive
Storage, anywhere...
by Karl Bode Tuesday 07-Mar-2006 tags: business · bandwidth · content
According to an article over at DailyTech (previously Anandtech), Google is exploring a potential service called GDrive, which would allow users access to Google stored files from any device, at any location. An analyst day document, now stripped of content, shows the direction the company hopes to head:
"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."

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Cjaiceman
Premium,MVM
join:2004-10-12
Parker, CO
kudos:2

Good Idea

This could turn out to be a very useful tool, but it could also turn out to be a flopper. With the deep pockets of Google though I don't think this would fail. Would be a nice way to backup some files to an off-site location...

P Ness
You'Ve Forgotten 9-11 Already
Premium
join:2001-08-29
way way out

Re: Good Idea

as long as they are a bit more private then some of their other services...seems there will be some way to insert ads into your files they will find it


--
www.stopfcc.comI do not think the government needs to restrict free speech especially on a device that has an off knob.

ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

Re: Good Idea

said by P Ness:

as long as they are a bit more private then some of their other services...seems there will be some way to insert ads into your files they will find it


Was exactly my first thught. Except my thought wasn't ads, but the scanning of all your files to extract any information that might be useful for thier marketing purposes or to extract and sell to anyone that wants to ante up.
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King75
King Of All And Nothing
Premium
join:2004-07-31
Stevensville, MD

Re: Good Idea

I doubt they sell any data they mine. While their privacy policies aren't the best they aren't the worst either. I can see them scanning file types and names and then offering ads on whatever type of application that is used to access those files. However, if this does come to fruition I think they would allow users to map their GDrive bypassing all of those ads. (Much as you can use POP3 with gmail and see no ads.) I doubt they will scan inside files unless you chose to open the file as HTML (The option they have when you do a web search and find PDF files.
HMS1

join:2006-01-14
Austin, TX
Privacy concerns are moot if you can just encrypt first then store. Google would see only unreadable blobs.

If it requires using some proprietary software on the client side then I wouldn't trust it.

nekote

join:2000-12-16
USA

How many MB does the average person create/month?

How many MB of data does the average person create.
per unit time - Hour, Day, Week, Month, Year

Data that Google is not already harvesting / storing?
(Not email, blogs, web posts, web pages posted, ... )

How much, additional / incremental, content created?
--
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digital k
Premium
join:2003-12-25
Enjoy it before Google shuts em down.

»www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/E···on.shtml
robie88

join:2003-04-19
New York, NY
good idea....the only problem is what happens when you realize that the government can ask to see a copy of it whenever they want? I don't plan on making things easier for the neo-gestapo anytime soon.
Freegoo

join:2002-12-11
Larrabee, IA

Re: Good Idea

good idea....the only problem is what happens when you realize that the government can ask to see a copy of it whenever they want? I don't plan on making things easier for the neo-gestapo anytime soon

Relax, the government doesn't want to see your Britney Spears collection.

(Some people are sooooo paranoid)
HMS1

join:2006-01-14
Austin, TX

Re: Good Idea

But store your mp3 collection, and the RIAA might like to have a look.

Topmounter
Sent By Grocery Clerks

join:2001-02-20
Evergreen, CO

This could turn out to be a very useful tool, but it could also turn out to be a flopper.


Nice job, I think you covered all the bases.
--
"If PCs are hard, then Macs are flaccid" -bb

chakey
Premium
join:2004-06-14
Gladstone, NJ

10MB Limit?

Isn't this something you can do already (although not with the blessing of Google?) If this becomes a Google-sanctioned project, I wonder if the 10MB per file limit will be lifted?
jimbo2150

join:2004-05-10
Youngstown, OH

1 edit

Cant Wait... and wait...

Good news, expectially since Y! gave up that vibe long ago.
http://yahoo.weblogsinc.com/2006/03/06/y-drive-online-storage-that-appears-like-another-drive-on-you/

I would love to see this service from Google. I am just extremely sceptical... about it being in BETA for the rest of enternity like many of their other services.

As far as Im concerned Google is a publicly traded company operating privately!

EDIT: Found the article about the old Y! Drive:
http://yahoo.weblogsinc.com/2006/03/06/y-drive-online-storage-that-appears-like-another-drive-on-you/

iDonDon

join:2001-12-21
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Nothing Special

Its just in response to Microsoft's aquisition on foldershare »www.foldershare.com
--
iDonDon

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

I'm Lost...

How does Google make the money needed to give out all this free stuff? Surely sponsored ads cannot be bringing in that much cash.
--
Rove / Rumsfeld 2008!

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
kudos:1

Re: I'm Lost...

I'm with pnh. Ads don't pull in that much money, they certainly won't pay for the kind of bandwidth suckage that would go on with an offsite file storage service.
--
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Shark_615

join:2006-01-17
Pickering, ON

Re: I'm Lost...

Yes they do.

Romney2012
Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe in
Premium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4

Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

If Google does this it would be used by many many people. But the usefulness is limited somewhat by the upload speeds available to most internet users. With those limits you can certainly upload some important files(there are security issues to be considered though). But if you are considering backing up whole drives worth of music, videos, etc, then the upload speed limits become an issue.
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powaking

join:2003-02-18
Fall River, MA

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

Use it like an ftp service if you use FireFox

»www.rjonna.com/ext/gspace.php

imtim83
Premium
join:2001-06-03
Kenner, LA
said by Romney2012:

If Google does this it would be used by many many people. But the usefulness is limited somewhat by the upload speeds available to most internet users. With those limits you can certainly upload some important files(there are security issues to be considered though). But if you are considering backing up whole drives worth of music, videos, etc, then the upload speed limits become an issue.
Not for Verzion FIOS or OOL users!
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phantom6294

join:2002-02-27
Abingdon, MD

1 edit

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

said by imtim83:

Not for Verzion FIOS or OOL users!
While FIOS and OOL do have significantly faster upload speeds than the average HSI connection... 1-2 Mbps still ain't that great when someone is considering backing Gigs worth of information.

The math:

10GB = 85,899,345,920 bits @ 2Mbps = 12 Hours

That assuming a perfect 2Mbps sustain speed. If you're still getting the old 1Mbps with OOL, simply double that number. So, for music, videos, etc... even the relatively fast uploads of FIOS and OOL won't make this real attractive. I think I'd rather just buy a USB bus-powered hard drive and carry that around.

For more important things... that I would really want off-site... sure, bring it on.

Edit: Because I love numbers... here's an estimate for 10GB at some different speeds:

10GB @ 128k = 186 Hours
10GB @ 256k = 93 Hours
10GB @ 384k = 62 Hours
10GB @ 512k = 47 Hours
10GB @ 768k = 31 Hours

At that's all assuming utilizing a perfect 100% bandwidth with no overhead.

imtim83
Premium
join:2001-06-03
Kenner, LA

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

said by phantom6294:

said by imtim83:

Not for Verzion FIOS or OOL users!
While FIOS and OOL do have significantly faster upload speeds than the average HSI connection... 1-2 Mbps still ain't that great when someone is considering backing Gigs worth of information.

The math:

10GB = 85,899,345,920 bits @ 2Mbps = 12 Hours

That assuming a perfect 2Mbps sustain speed. If you're still getting the old 1Mbps with OOL, simply double that number. So, for music, videos, etc... even the relatively fast uploads of FIOS and OOL won't make this real attractive. I think I'd rather just buy a USB bus-powered hard drive and carry that around.

For more important things... that I would really want off-site... sure, bring it on.
Verzion FIOS has 5 Mbps upload speed with their fastest tier and OOL has 100 Mbps upload speed with their fastest tier.

I know the Verzion FIOS tier with 5 Mbps upload speed is only $59.99
--
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phantom6294

join:2002-02-27
Abingdon, MD

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

said by imtim83:

Verzion FIOS has 5 Mbps upload speed with their fastest tier and OOL has 100 Mbps upload speed with their fastest tier.

I know the Verzion FIOS tier with 5 Mbps upload speed is only $59.99
Whoops, I did forget about the FIOS tier with 5Mbps upload. However, I was unaware OOL had a residential tier with 100Mbps upload.

Chris 313
Come get some
Premium
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Houma, LA
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Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

said by phantom6294:

said by imtim83:

Verzion FIOS has 5 Mbps upload speed with their fastest tier and OOL has 100 Mbps upload speed with their fastest tier.

I know the Verzion FIOS tier with 5 Mbps upload speed is only $59.99
Whoops, I did forget about the FIOS tier with 5Mbps upload. However, I was unaware OOL had a residential tier with 100Mbps upload.
It is residential as far as I can remember but only the hard core people with money to burn could afford this as last I checked no price on this was announced.

imtim83
Premium
join:2001-06-03
Kenner, LA

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

said by Chris 313:

said by phantom6294:

said by imtim83:

Verzion FIOS has 5 Mbps upload speed with their fastest tier and OOL has 100 Mbps upload speed with their fastest tier.

I know the Verzion FIOS tier with 5 Mbps upload speed is only $59.99
Whoops, I did forget about the FIOS tier with 5Mbps upload. However, I was unaware OOL had a residential tier with 100Mbps upload.
It is residential as far as I can remember but only the hard core people with money to burn could afford this as last I checked no price on this was announced.
Then there is always the 50Mbps tier for both download and upload speeds!

Doesn't mean its to expensive if we never heard how much it cost yet.
--
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lupinia
Premium
join:2004-08-24
Harrisonburg, VA

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it

imtim83
Premium
join:2001-06-03
Kenner, LA

1 edit

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

said by lupinia:

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it
No. So untrue.

By the way 5 Mbps upload speed is more than enough anyway!

Chris 313
Come get some
Premium
join:2004-07-18
Houma, LA
Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·Comcast Digital ..
·Comcast

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

said by imtim83:

said by lupinia:

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it
No. So untrue.

By the way 5 Mbps upload speed is more than enough anyway!
Oh? What would a 100/100 connection be like? Just think what could be done with 100Mbits of upload.

imtim83
Premium
join:2001-06-03
Kenner, LA

Re: Good idea, but upload speeds limit utility

said by Chris 313:

said by imtim83:

said by lupinia:

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it
No. So untrue.

By the way 5 Mbps upload speed is more than enough anyway!
Oh? What would a 100/100 connection be like? Just think what could be done with 100Mbits of upload.
That would be nice for everyone to have!
--
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lupinia
Premium
join:2004-08-24
Harrisonburg, VA
It was a joke, hence the smiley after it.
ossito16

join:2004-07-31
Whiting, IN

What's the big deal?

This has been around b4. Remember I-drive and others like it from the good ol' warez dayz. Me personally I am beginning not to trust google. Yeah I love conspiracy but google going over the top with the ad-sense technology. Stop scanning stuff. My firefox scripts block more google scripts than akaimai or doubleclick combined, ok that's exaggeration, but google getting a little to big for me to like.

SP_Writer
Premium
join:2002-03-19
Clifton Park, NY

Re: What's the big deal?

Remember X-Drive? I use to keep my Resume there.

Matt
All noise, no signal.
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12
said by ossito16:

This has been around b4. Remember I-drive and others like it from the good ol' warez dayz. Me personally I am beginning not to trust google. Yeah I love conspiracy but google going over the top with the ad-sense technology. Stop scanning stuff. My firefox scripts block more google scripts than akaimai or doubleclick combined, ok that's exaggeration, but google getting a little to big for me to like.
Don't do anything illegal and you won't have to worry about who is scanning what.
ossito16

join:2004-07-31
Whiting, IN

Re: What's the big deal?

said by Matt:

/bquote]Don't do anything illegal and you won't have to worry about who is scanning what.
How do you define illegal? Many times info is passed on by people who wish to remain anonymous. Clinton/Lewinski, Watergate, etc etc. Is that illegal? I would like to think that normal channels of law enforcement will snoop out illegal activities without the help of violating a persons privacy. If someone had an email where they mentioned a family member being sick google's ad-sense would root that out and probably send related advertising. Then you maybe put email address on health insurance form and they deny you insurance based on the content of some of that email.

royalpalm

join:2000-12-01
usa

what about the other Gs

I cant wait for the Gstring and the Gspot.....its gotta happen one of these days

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4

Re: what about the other Gs

said by royalpalm:

I cant wait for the Gstring and the Gspot.....its gotta happen one of these days
gspot is already taken by a video identification product software.
--
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jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx

put yourself in the shoes of average users...

You guys are interpreting this within the context of geeky poweruser needs. Most people would jump on this as a place to mirror the most-used portions of their filing tree from their desktop: pics, email db, pointers to sites, passwords, etc.. Google will implement pointer execution on their end: fast for the user and as yet untapped treasure trove of enduser browsing data for Google.

The big question is will google allow self-encrypted storage and, if so, for how large a data chunk. They've little incentive to allow it, but disallowal will crimp adoption rates.

Fatal Vector

join:2005-11-26

Re: put yourself in the shoes of average users...


Will they "ALLOW" self encrypted storage? If they didn't, WHY would you use it? Store your passwords on google? I wish the clueless good luck with this. You wont find me using it any time soon. Suckers.

Matt
All noise, no signal.
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12

Re: put yourself in the shoes of average users...

said by Fatal Vector:

Will they "ALLOW" self encrypted storage? If they didn't, WHY would you use it? Store your passwords on google? I wish the clueless good luck with this. You wont find me using it any time soon. Suckers.
Why would they not allow "SELF" encrypted storage?

I doubt very seriously they are going to say, "Hey, this file is encrypted, *BONK*, you can't upload this file".

You seem to be a bit more clueless than the rest.
wololo1

join:2004-02-09
uk

Whatever Google comes up with MS Can do match it

with their deep pockets anything from google ms can match or do better. But right now i give google the edge in terms of innovation, but watch your backs ms is not far behind!

Its a bit similar to my recent experience....
Hotmail > Gmail > (Back to) Hotmail Live

ssj4android
Redefining Reality

join:2002-04-14
Wyoming, MI

Re: Whatever Google comes up with MS Can do match it

Perhaps, but will Microsoft let me access the files from Linux? I think not.

Matt
All noise, no signal.
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12

Re: Whatever Google comes up with MS Can do match it

said by ssj4android:

Perhaps, but will Microsoft let me access the files from Linux? I think not.
Honestly, who cares? Only less than 1% of the computer market does.

Some Linux-uber-Geek will figure out a way, you'll just have to wait a year or two before they do.

Fatal Vector

join:2005-11-26

The allmighty GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGLE


Trying to be all things to everyone and bound to fail.

Who in their right mind would store their files on google where ANYONE could get at them, let alone letting google insert ads when you access your own files? It's rediculous. Especially with the size of hard drives today, never mind CD's.

If you have so much crap to store that you would need "infinite" storage (which you can bet you wont get free of charge), I would think that, with rare exception, it would be video and audio and a ripe target for the RIAA/MPAA to hit with a court order.

This idea is just crazy, but, I'm sure they'll find a few suckers, just like they allways do at the allmighty Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogle.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4

Re: The allmighty GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGLE

i have 7 400gb drives to back up. better start uploading. . . .
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DrugSkill

join:2005-11-14
Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC

Re: The allmighty GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGLE

Backing up on a website storage drive what's the point?I don't know how people can trust that.I would never put sensitive data anywhere else than on my own storage material...on the contrary....I would put files on the G-Drive or whatever it's called for other users to access it easily and use MY drives as backup.

veloslave
Geek For God
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Pleasant Hill, CA
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Why.............????

Hard Drives are so expensive these days.... I guess that is why someone would want to (SLOWLY) look at ads just to see their own files

NOT!

Don't even get us started on the privacy issue.


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