Cloud Storage: Access your personal files anywhere, anytime using (Windows Azure Storage / SkyDrive / Google Drive and Drop Box)

 

This article explore various cloud storage and client applications features (as of April 2012).

In order to sync / store file with Cloud Storage I used to work with tool called Gladinet cloud desktop free edition, which help to map (as a Z drive) with various Cloud drives (covers almost all provider). The limitation with Gladinet free edition only 1000 items allow to sync with Cloud drives. If you buy commercial edition there is no limitation.

Gladinet cloud desktop application

Alternatively, to store file with Windows Azure Storage, I used tool called CloudXplorer, Azure Storage Explore and Cloud Storage Studio (paid version)

Cloud Explore and Azure Storage Explore

Cloud Storage Studio

Advantage :

• Share files online with friends and co-workers
• Share files with limited time frame using Shared Access Signature.
• 1 GB $0.12 cents per month. (keep 3 replica copy as a backup)
• Each Blob storage size can go up to 1 TB.
• Allow to take snapshot your blog storage

Disadvantage

• No Online Collaboration / Create / Edit document via web browser
• Free Storage is NIL each 1 GB $0.12 cents per month.

Windows 7 PC Client

Windows Phone, IPhone and Android Phone Application

• SkyDrive for Windows (preview)
• SkyDrive for Windows Phone
• SkyDrive for iPhone and iPad
• SkyDrive for OS X Lion (preview)

Advantage :

• Create and Edit a different document types directly in a web browser
• Easy to share files online with friends and co-workers
• Sharing / Print / Download / Re Arrange / digital photos
• Default is 7 GB (25 GB free for loyalty reward)
• Client application for Windows, Mac, Windows Phone, iPhone, iPad and Android (Brower for Skydrive)

Disadvantage

• Drag and drop via browser requires a Silverlight enabled browser such as Internet Explorer

Windows 7 PC and Android Phone Application

• Google Drive (Android)
• Google Drive (Windows / Mac)

Advantage :

• Create and Edit a different document types directly in a web browser
• Easy to share files online with friends and co-workers
• Default Storage 5 GB
• Client application for Windows, Mac and Android

Disadvantage

• Sharing / Print / Download / Re Arrange / digital photos feature is limited

• Dropbox for iPhone, iPad
• Dropbox for Android
• Dropbox for Windows

Advantage :

• Easy to share files online with friends and co-workers
• Sharing / Download / digital photos
• Sync with Samsung Galaxy Note photo gallery
• Client application for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and BlackBerry
• Continues to synchronise

Disadvantage

• Allow to view only different document types directly in a web browser (create / edit not allowed)
• 2GB Space Additional space required 50 GB 99$ per year

Conclusion

To conclude, there are many different storage solutions out there I personally use all above storage for following needs.

• Window Azure Storage with Shared Access Signature to share files for corporate usage.
• SkyDrive to storage my presentations and photos
• Working documents to Google Drive (Backup)
• Dropbox my Samsung Galaxy Note to sync photos and iPad to sync shopping list.