Tech tips -
I've been seeing a lot of online file storage these days. Many websites offer to host my files on their servers so I can access them from anywhere at anytime via the internet.
I find online file storage extremely useful especially when I want to share a file with someone else that they cannot easily download or that is too large to email because of restrictions placed on their inbox by their internet service provider.
I already use Microsoft's SkyDrive via Windows Live, which gives me 25 GB of online storage and I can save files up to 50 MB large. I can also share these files with other Windows Live users, through email address, my contacts, or even the world. Now, let's face it, I use SkyDrive because I trust these guys to handle my stuff. Right or wrong, I don't know.
Microsoft has another Beta on the go at www.mesh.com called Live Mesh. Similar to SkyDrive, it is another online storage option but with more features. The main idea behind Live Mesh is synchronization between files on your hard drive and online.
If you use two or more computers you can also add the second computer and an exact copy of the files will also be synchronized to it as well.
Not only computers can use Live Mesh. You can also access your files through any mobile device with web access. You can also upload pictures to Live Mesh from your phone and have them automatically synchronized to your desktop(s).
You can share files just like you would with SkyDrive, and one additional feature is Remote Desktop that allows you to connect to and remotely control another computer that you have defined in your live mesh devices. Right now, you can store 5 GB of files online.
Here is a sign of the times; Live Mesh also works with Mac computers.
If this sounds interesting you might also want to check out www.getdropbox.com . These guys have a similar service that syncs files between online and your computer. You can store up to 2 GB online for free at this site, and there is an excellent screencast on the site to show you how to install and use the software. I wish Microsoft would learn how to do tutorials like these guys instead of making me read through pages and pages of "How To"!
Not to be outdone, rumors are that Google will offer online storage through a service called Gdrive or maybe "Web Drive." You can already sync your Google Documents with your PC via Google Gears but there are tones of speculation about Gdrive on the web. Some have even been so bold as to say "unlimited storage" online and others clam 50 GB may be available. What ever it will be, it is something to watch for.
toddmusseau@gmail.com
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