I just received an email this morning from ZumoDrive stating that they are shutting down. The email had information on how to save your files and also talked about Motorola moving the service to MotoCast in the future. For more information on the shut down: http://support.zumodrive.com/kb/general/zumodrive-shutdown-faq. 

I have already moved all of my files out of ZumoDrive and will be just using Dropbox and Sugarsync as my main backup and sync services.

Here are some other cloud file sync and backup services:

Box.net, an online data storage service, is offering 50GB of free online storage for iOS users in an effort to compete against iCloud. If you sign up using your iOS device before December 2nd, you'll get the 50GB account for free.

Box also gave out free 50GB accounts to all owners of HP TouchPad webOS tablets. I found it to be a bit cumbersome to use. It doesn't sync files like Dropbox or Sugarsync and it is a pain to upload files. However, 50GB of free online storage is pretty cool.





Amazon Cloud Drive is Amazon's version of online file storage. It comes with 5GB of free storage and you can upgrade to 20GB of storage by purchasing an Amazon MP3 album. There are also other levels of storage that you can pay for (up to 1000GB for $1000/yr).

The service does not mention anything about file syncing, just that you upload your files to their servers and then you can access the files from any computer. You can upload documents, musics, photos and video and download and preview them from any computer.

You can stream your music files from the service and any music you purchase from Amazon are stored on the Cloud Drive for free and don't affect your storage capacity.



CX is a new file sync, share and backup service, similar to Dropbox or Sugarsync that I just learned about from the Education Technology Blog.

CX allows you to backup your files, sync them across multiple devices, share your files and collaborate on them with others, and even discover new ideas and friends.

A free account starts off at 10GB of storage, which is more that the other services offer. Like the other services, you can earn more storage for referring others to sign up (to a maximum of 16GB). There are also paid plans with more storage (50GB, 100GB and custom amounts).

It is currently available for iOS and Android is coming soon. No mention of other mobile OS's.

What is unique is that every file you share has a comment system so you can share it and collaborate with others on it.




Pogoplug, a company that already has streaming and sharing devices, announced a new service: Pogoplug Cloud.

The Pogoplug Cloud service provides 5GB of free storage and allows users to store their files online. They can then access, share, or stream the content from their mobile device. You sign up directly from any mobile phone, web browser, or tablet. You can purchase additional online storage also. 50GB is $9.95 per month and 100GB is $19.95 per month. Pricing is similar to many other cloud storage systems.

One thing that is different is that you can host a private, unlimited cloud for no monthly fees by purchasing a Pogoplug box ($99) and connecting it to your network.

Pogoplug will automatically upload photos and videos from your mobile phone to your Pogoplug cloud with no syncing required. (I have Sugarsync set up to do this on my Android phone). You can share anything in your cloud through email, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ and even create shared folders. You can also stream videos, photos, and musics to your phone.

There are free apps for iOS and Android.







SpiderOak is another free backup, sync, sharing and storage system. It works on Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

There is a free 2GB account and you can earn up to 50GB of free storage by referring friends.

It's another great way to make sure that your files are backed up and available to you any where.






How do you backup, sync, and store your data?

CX is a new file sync, share and backup service, similar to Dropbox or Sugarsync that I just learned about from the Education Technology Blog.

CX allows you to backup your files, sync them across multiple devices, share your files and collaborate on them with others, and even discover new ideas and friends.

A free account starts off at 10GB of storage, which is more that the other services offer. Like the other services, you can earn more storage for referring others to sign up (to a maximum of 16GB). There are also paid plans with more storage (50GB, 100GB and custom amounts).

It is currently available for iOS and Android is coming soon. No mention of other mobile OS's.

What is unique is that every file you share has a comment system so you can share it and collaborate with others on it.

I think everyone needs to use some sort of file backup and sync service. Try CX out.

It's no secret that I love Google Docs and use it often. I also use GDoc backup to make a backup copy of my documents to my hard drive. I run this once a week. I also use Dropbox to sync all of my files to the cloud and my school files between my home computer and school computer.

There is a new service available though for people who want to sync their Google Docs to their own computer.

Insync (not the boy-band) is a service for Windows and Mac OS (Linux support coming) that syncs your Google Docs onto your local machine. This means you can access and edit your Google Docs offline using MS Office, OpenOffice, LibreOffice or the like. You download and install the software on the computer you want the files synced too.

It allows you to sync all your files from your Google Docs account, including not Docs files like PDF and Zip files. It even allows for multiple Google accounts.

Storage is through Google since it is syncing the files to your Google Docs account. If you need more storage than the free 1GB, you'll have to pay through Google.

This is another good file sync service. Since your files are synced to Google Docs, you have online access to your files everywhere.

Related:

Cloud Sync and Storage Services

I've recently posted lists of the most popular posts for past weeks and for the life of this blog, but I thought I'd post a list of my favorite resources too. Click the links for more detailed information and discussion about each resource.

1. EVERNOTE - Evernote is my favorite, and most used resource. I have all of my lesson plans, resources, web clippings, lesson schedule, meeting notes, misc. notes, task lists, reference materials and much more on here. I can access my notes anywhere and can even share notes with others.

2. CLOUD FILE STORAGE/SYNC - without apps like Dropbox and Sugarsync I'd be in trouble. All of my files are backed up on these systems and I can access my files from any web browser and from my smartphone. No need to carry flash drives or worry about a computer crash destroying my files and I can even share folders with others.

3. RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS - Trackclass, Dweeber, Google, Evernote and more are great resources for students to use to get organized, stay on schedule, and collaborate on school projects.

4. GOOGLE for EDUCATORS - I use tons of resources from Google, from Gmail, Calendar, Blogger, Sites, iGoogle to Google+, Search, and more. The resources are excellent quality, extremely useful, and free.

5. GOOGLE + - I love Google+. It is cleaner and lacks the messy apps and games of Facebook, but allows you to have more in depth posts and conversations than Twitter. It's great for education, especially the hangouts feature.

6. DISCOVERY EDUCATION - The Discovery Educator Network, DE Streaming Videos, and over 25 free resources for Educators. There is so much here to help educators in so many ways.


And here's an article I wrote detailing all of the resources I use on a daily basis.
http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2011/05/technology-i-use-everyday-as-educator.html?m=0



What are your favorite resources? How do you use them in your job and daily life?

SugarSync saved me again today. I thought I had some files on my school computer, but it turns out I didn't. I went to my SugarSync account and there they were, automatically uploaded from my home computer. It also saved my wife a few years ago when her hard drive failed. No worries because all her files were backed up.

SugarSync is one of many cloud file sync, backup, and sharing services that are out there. They offer free accounts (5GB) and you can always upgrade if you need more storage space.

One of the features that I love about SugarSync is "edit with WebSync." If you have a file on SugarSync that you need to edit, but you don't want to download it on the computer you are using, just to have to re-upload it, you can use WebSync. It creates a temp copy of the file on the computer for you to work with and edit, then automatically syncs it to SugarSync and then erases the temp copy on the computer. It's a great feature.

You can also backup any folder on your computer as well as using the "Magic Briefcase." Any file in the Magic Briefcase is automatically synced across all of your devices. You can even upload files via email.

I even have SugarSync on my Android smartphone and I have it automatically back up all of the photos I take on my phone so I don't have to worry about losing them and can easily view them on my other devices. You can even sync folders to your Android phone or iPhone/iPad.

SugarSync is very powerful and if you don't have your files backed up yet, you need to get going!

SpiderOak is another free backup, sync, sharing and storage system. It works on Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

There is a free 2GB account and you can earn up to 50GB of free storage by referring friends.

It's another great way to make sure that your files are backed up and available to you any where.



Related:

Cloud File Storage, Sync, Backup

Ubuntu One available for Windows - offers 5GB of free cloud storage

Box.net, an online data storage service, is offering 50GB of free online storage for iOS users in an effort to compete against iCloud. If you sign up using your iOS device before December 2nd, you'll get the 50GB account for free.

Box also gave out free 50GB accounts to all owners of HP TouchPad webOS tablets. I found it to be a bit cumbersome to use. It doesn't sync files like Dropbox or Sugarsync and it is a pain to upload files. However, 50GB of free online storage is pretty cool.

My favorite backup and sync services are:












Amazon has officially announced their Cloud Drive this week. Amazon Cloud Drive is Amazon's version of online file storage. It comes with 5GB of free storage and you can upgrade to 20GB of storage by purchasing an Amazon MP3 album. There are also other levels of storage that you can pay for (up to 1000GB for $1000/yr).

The service does not mention anything about file syncing, just that you upload your files to their servers and then you can access the files from any computer. You can upload documents, musics, photos and video and download and preview them from any computer.

You can stream your music files from the service and any music you purchase from Amazon are stored on the Cloud Drive for free and don't affect your storage capacity.



How do you backup, sync, and store your data?

Cloud Storage and Syncing of files is one of the tools I can't live without. I use a variety of services and now there is another one available. Ubuntu One, a service that was for the Ubuntu Linux OS, is now available for Windows. It offers 5GB of free storage and can sync your files across multiple machines and there are Android and iOS apps available.  You can also purchase more storage.

With everything being on our computers, it is essential that we have backups of our data, and it's very helpful to be able to access that data anywhere.

Via Engadget - http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/humanity-toward-others-extended-to-windows-with-ubuntu-one-clo/

AVG, the company that brings us free Antivirus software, has just announced the release of their own file sync, backup, and sharing service called LiveKive.

LiveKive is similar to other services like Dropbox, Sugarsync, and Zumodrive. It allows you to store, sync, and share files through their cloud service and is accessible from Windows, Mac, and mobile browsers. Automatic file sync is available for Windows and Mac platforms.

The free account gives you 5GB of storage and you can upgrade to 25GB for $49.99 per year or unlimited storage (with some restrictions) for $79.99 per year.

Like the Dropbox, Sugarsync, and Zumodrive, LiveKive is another great resource for teachers and students, providing file backup, syncing across multiple computers, and the ability to share files with others.


Related Articles:

Cloud file storage, sync, and backup 

World Backup Day - back up your files with these tips and resources

Living in the Cloud

Joukuu is a free download for Windows that allows you to manage your cloud based files in one file manager. It will manage Google Docs, Dropbox, and Box.net files all in one window on your desktop.

It syncs Google Docs and Box.net files to your desktop and allows you to even edit them using Office or OpenOffice. It gives you a nicer interface for managing your Dropbox files.

You can even manage folders for each account through the desktop interface.

It is currently in Beta, but appears pretty solid so far. If you use those services and Windows, this is a nice app to use. The site mentions that Sugarsync is coming, so maybe we'll see even more services supported. That would be nice, to be able to manage all the different cloud services from one app.