Written by: Dana Herlihey
I read today that Google Doc’s is going to get file storage. Google App and Google Doc users can back up data online and Google is hoping that with this new feature, they’ll replace the USB key. Google’s move into file storage holds quite a bit of promise. As a student I frequently used my gmail as a means of backup and file sharing with team members. Back then (you know, the 2000’s), USB keys were pretty expensive, and I wanted to be able have access to saved files as I worked on them from different computers. We here at Stitch Media use the Google Doc system to facilitate shared work between two offices. Google Docs allows staff in Halifax and Toronto to collaborate on documents, so the ability to attach a song or movie clip to a design or research document is certainly exciting news.
Google’s move into data storage is a smart step forward for them, yet one that is long overdue. Remember back in the day when gmail had unlimited inbox capacity? It seems Google would have been primed to make a move like this years ago. I suppose though, they spent their development time / money on Google Wave – otherwise known as Google Fail. Google Wave put a bitter taste in my mouth. It was originally touted as this great amalgamation of all electronic communication. What we were hoping for, as Evan put it, was “real time collaborative documents that are also email and chat, everyone typing at the same time”. Unfortunately, the Google Wave us lucky invitees got to test was more like an awkward, clunky email and chat service. Granted, Wave still isn’t open to everyone yet, which gives me hope that Google developers are using months worth of feedback to improve the system. I suppose, for me, Google Wave still holds promise. And although I’m kind of a die-hard for Google, I can’t help but wonder if their latest development is a reaction to the dead-air and furrowed-brows that followed the hype of Wave invites.
Unfortunately, their impending foray into online storage hasn’t warmed me up all that much. The specs for their file storage system leaves much to be desired, and they’re a long ways away from me lovingly calling the Google Doc system Walter (the name for all my USB keys). For example, files that cannot be read or converted by the Google docs systems (such as mp3’s. zips, mov’s, etc etc) are limited at 250 MB / file. Users only get 1 GB of storage space, though Google App customers can buy additional space at a whopping $3.50/GB per year, and Google Doc users at $0.25/GB per year. I suppose that to a casual user who has never backed up data on a network drive or online disk, this offer from Google sounds pretty nifty. However, when you compare the system to what else is currently available, you quickly realize just what Google is lacking.
Here, we use Jungle Disk, an application that backs up data online through the Amazon S3 storage service. Jungle Disk has both a desktop client and a web client. Local drive mapping makes your online storage space appear as a network drive, so you’re not bothered by having to open a web browser, login, upload, etc, etc, every time you want to back up or download a file. It’s just right there, all the time, ready for you to drag and drop. Apparently Google is preparing an API that would allow third party apps the same kind of access to their online storage space. However, while this would solve the problem of mandatory access to your files via a web interface, it will only be available to elite Google App customers. Furthermore, the ability to synch your local folders with your online disc (and vice versa) – thereby eliminating the hassle of the drag and drop – will apparently be unavailable in the Google system, despite being a standard feature amongst many online backup tools. Lastly, and most importantly, while a service like Jungle Disk is not only more advanced than what Google is offering, it’s also cheaper (at about $0.15/GB) and doesn’t have file size restrictions.
While Google certainly has a bit of work to do to really impress the users already in this market, I am glad to see them finally moving towards the service. If their online backup tool integrates with the rest of their services (like Picasa, gmail, etc) then heavy Google users will undoubtedly be drawn due to the convenience of consolidating their web services and files. Rumour has it, such integration won’t be available at first, but would be an obvious next step. The following months will be interesting to see how Google develops the storage system and if they pursue it far enough to become a strong competitor against other online back up tools and services.
POST SCRIPT
Top Six Reasons I Won’t Give Up My USB Key or External Hardrive
1. I don’t need to be connected to the internet to access files
2. I can share files with friends without having to provide access to my online storage space
3. I don’t have to worry about server downtimes
4. Download / upload speed on a USB device is faster than my WiFi connection
5. I can use a USB key to print digital photos at Loblaws – figure that one out, Google!
6. I can get a USB key that looks like a robot
