Cloud

Cloud storage price comparison: iCloud vs. SkyDrive vs. Dropbox vs. SugarSync

Microsoft yesterday updated its iOS SkyDrive client and released a brand new app for both Windows and Mac desktops while putting into effect paid storage upgrades.

At the same time, Dropbox released an updated iOS client with new sharing capabilities and Google upped Google Docs storage to 5 GB.

iDownloadBlog thought you might be interested to check out how major cloud storage services fare in terms of value so we've put together a handy comparison matrix providing an at-a-glance overview of paid tiers available from iCloud, Dropbox, SkyDrive and SugarSync...

Dropbox improves sharing with direct links to snazzy gallery pages

Dropbox, the popular Cloud storage startup Apple wanted to acquire for a rumored $800 million, rolled out a new feature to enable easy file sharing across mobile and desktop platforms. While it's been possible before to share folders, you can now give people direct links to the stuff in your Dropbox.

It's integrated into the iOS client and across other platforms and basically lets you share files without having to re-upload them.

Google to launch new iOS-compatible cloud service next week

You can never accuse Google of not trying. Successful or not, the search company has tried its hand in several markets over the past few years. And it's not showing any signs of slowing down.

TheNextWeb is reporting today that it has gotten its hands on a draft release from a partner of Google's upcoming Google Drive service. That's right. Google's about to take on DropBox in the cloud-based storage space...

Create and Edit Microsoft Office Cloud Docs on Your iPad with CloudOn

If you can't wait for the rumored official iPad version of Microsoft's popular Office suite, then you may be in luck. CloudOn's app description suggests that the free iPad app will allow users to create and edit Word, Excel, and Powerpoint documents on the device via a cloud-based interface and Dropbox integration.

For a free app, being able to create and edit Microsoft Office documents on an iPad sounds pretty useful, assuming you're based in the United States. The app is only available in the US App Store, presumably while CloudOn monitors its cloud systems.

Microsoft Releases SkyDrive App For the iPhone

Users of Microsoft's popular cloud storage service SkyDrive will be happy to hear that the company has finally brought an official client to the iOS platform.

Microsoft has been on a bit of a roll over the past week, releasing multiple iOS applications, including an official Xbox Live app and the lovable Kinectimals game. Now onto the SkyDrive app...

There’s a New iOS-Friendly Cloud Service on the Block

The consumer cloud storage market is getting pretty crowded. There's SugarSync, Amazon's CloudDrive, and the ever-popular Dropbox. Not to mention that one of the biggest names in tech, Apple, just joined the game with iCloud.

But that's not going to keep new-comer Pogoplug from trying its hand at cloud services. The company just announced that Pogoplug Cloud is now live for all of your online storage needs. And like its iCloud counterpart, new users get 5GB of free storage...

How to Use iTunes Match: The Complete Walkthrough

After a little bit of a delay, iTunes Match was released to the public today. iTunes Match is a service that's built into the latest version of iTunes. It lets you match, upload, and play music on a variety of different devices.

This is an extremely cool service that allows you to take your entire iTunes library with you on the go, even if you have a measly 8GB iPhone.

Unfortunately, we don't think that Apple has done a very good job explaining the full benefits of iTunes Match. For that reason, we've created this ultimate iTunes Match tutorial, FAQ, and video walkthrough...

How iCloud Syncing Integrates With iWork [Video]

Caught up in all of the hoopla about the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 was the release of an updated iWork suite for iOS.

The new iWork features iCloud syncing compatibility, a feature that has been in beta for months, but was finally released to the public last week.

Inside, we showcase iWork's new cloud syncing functionality, which allows you to sync documents on your iPod touch, iPad, iPhone, and even your Mac in limited fashion...

Apple Really Wanted to Buy Dropbox, Steve Jobs Got Personally Involved

Those with memories spanning more than a few weeks may remember all the rumors going around that Apple was trying to buy Dropbox. The original story claimed that an $800 million deal was on the table, but the people at Dropbox decided not to sell.

Today we have confirmation that Apple did indeed want to acquire Dropbox, and more specifically, Steve Jobs himself personally lobbied for the purchase. Dropbox decided that selling to Apple wasn't the best course of action at the time.

The revelation comes as Forbes profiles Dropbox and its two co-founders, Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi. Understandably, the Apple buyout came up, and Houston admits that the syncing and backup company turned down a nine-digit figure from Apple, and even got a visit from the man himself, Steve Jobs...

OS X Updated to 10.7.2, Now Supports iCloud

Apple is very busy this week, as is evident by their release of iOS 5, iCloud.com, iWork updates, new apps like Find My Friends, AirPort Utility, and more.

Just moments ago, Apple pushed out OS X Lion 10.7.2, which implements iCloud directly into OS X.

iCloud is Apple's flagship cloud service, which will allow you to push contacts, bookmarks, email, and more directly to all of your iOS devices wirelessly..

The Likely Reason Why There Will Be No 64GB iPhone 5

Yesterday, we reported that the iPhone 5 might not receive the bump in storage that some have been expecting. Rumors swirling around a screen-grab from a Vodafone inventory listing, suggests that the iPhone 5 will arrive in one of four flavors — a black 16GB or 32GB option, and a white 16GB or 32GB option — 64GB of storage capacity was nowhere to be seen.

Now, at first, that might seem weird considering that Apple's created 64GB iterations of the iPod touch and iPad lineup. But iCloud is right on the horizon, and with it, Apple has effectively eliminated the need for increased local storage capacity in their mobile devices. Check inside to see why...