Google Drive online storage launches today

Google

(CBS News) Google announced its cloud storage service Google Drive Tuesday. The new service is an online file storage system that is also integrated with services, like Gmail, Google+ and Google Documents.

So how does it work?

Google Drive is similar to Dropbox or Microsoft SkyDrive. The service requires you to install software onto a Macintosh or PC, which acts as a drive on your computer and syncs with a remote server or the cloud. Once a file is saved on your Google Drive, it should also sync to the cloud. That means you can access your files from anywhere that has an Internet connection. The service will also be available on Android tablets, with Apple iOS devices in the works.

Integration with Google products is easy enough. Google Documents is built into Google Drive, so files will be synced automatically. Soon you can grab files and photos from Google Drive and attach them to Google+ or Gmail.

Because it's Google, the search function of Google Drive is emphasized. You'll be able to search by keywords, file type and owner, but that's not all. Using technology called Optical Character Recognition (OCR), you'll also be able to search text in scanned documents.

Google describes OCR  as technology that "lets you convert images with text into text documents using automated computer algorithms." An example of how this technology can be used is if you scan a newspaper article. You can later search the scanned image for the text from the article.

Google Drive starts off with 5GB of free storage space. Paid plans start at $2.49 for 25GB going up to $49.99 for 1 terabyte. The service is not widely available yet, but you can sign up to be notified at drive.google.com.

[leyonchung]

Google has recently launched a new service called maximum upload with Google Drive Integration to Gmail users. Now you can easily upload as big as 10GB of data files, and to send it anywhere you want to.This is amazing though! Check best top 10 online file storage now; http://www.cloudreviews.com/blog/online-file-storage

[ffgghg]

Hi i also found a post like you have a look :

http://tipsturtle.com/google-drive-online-storage-must-download/

[Scimajor]

I carry a 16 GByte SD card around in my wallet (which I backup to my desktop) that fits all my devices (Phone, Tablet, Desktop). I have very little use for online storage until the capcity greatly exceeds what I can get on an SD card.

[rnrworldwide]

You REALLY need to read the Terms and Conditions on this before you sign up. Google's policy states that YOU agree that GOOGLE and ANYONE who they decide to share them with, can use any of your files on content for their own purposes. The exact wording is as follows:

"When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content."

[PartneDaugherty]

Thank you for providing us with what most of u already suspected...

[westrajc]

Data Security should be a real concern for any individual or business considering storing information in the Cloud. Although "free" or "low cost" storage is attractive, people should also look for Cloud storage that provides comprehensive data security controls including strong encryption, tokenization, activity monitoring, and malware detection, like those provided by 3rd-party Cloud Security vendors like CipherCloud. For those who don't want to trust/store all their data in the Cloud, Microsoft's SkyDrive is the ONLY Cloud Storage solution that provides Cloud access to data stored locally. If you're really concerned about your data privacy, use a solution like TrueCrypt to both encrypt and hide your data on a portable storage device like a memory stick and keep it with you at all times!

[5345637457845673]

Yeah, like I'll trust my saving my personal files on Google's servers. They know too much about us already...