Jolicloud

Mar 12, 2017

10 ViewsMarch 12, 2017 No Comments Reviews GN For those who’re like most individuals, you reside half — or most — of your computing life within the cloud. And odds are that you simply use a couple of cloud-based storage service, equivalent to Dropbox , Google Drive , Microsoft OneDrive and others. Do you end up tearing your hair out while you attempt to bear in mind on which service you have saved what information? Do you want you might simply transfer or copy these information between your cloud companies, or between the companies and your native storage? Effectively, do not despair. We have rounded up three free web-based companies — Jolicloud desktop, MultCloud and Otixo — that make it easier to do all that and extra. Every service permits you to handle and think about your cloud storage from a single interface without cost. After that, they cost further for extra options, equivalent to offering extra bandwidth for dealing with information. Some additionally provide separate desktop and/or cell apps. To check these three companies, I attempted them out with Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. I put them by way of their paces with duties equivalent to file administration, looking for file names and for textual content inside information, and copying and shifting information between cloud storage companies. I additionally tried out any cell apps they may have. If you wish to discover the fitting service for you, learn on. Jolicloud desktop IDG Jolicloud desktop is the newest model of a cloud service that was once referred to as, merely, Jolicloud (which started its life as a Linux-based OS ). Like the opposite two companies featured right here, it permits you to entry a number of of your cloud companies at one time utilizing a single web-based interface. To start utilizing Jolicloud desktop, head to the location, click on the Attempt Desktop hyperlink, and arrange an account. As with many websites nowadays, you try this by utilizing your present Google or Fb account — however not like with many websites, there isn’t any separate electronic mail log-in choice. If you do not have an account with both Google or Fb, otherwise you desire to not affiliate your account with a third-party app, you are out of luck. After you create a Jolicloud account, you may have to hyperlink your cloud storage accounts to it, a easy matter of clicking “Add new accounts” and following the prompts. Jolicloud handles a dozen cloud-based companies, together with OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox. The free model is a really fundamental instrument and allows you to do little other than searching by way of your information in every cloud service, deleting them, renaming them, and importing new information to them. You’ll be able to’t switch or copy information between companies except you improve to the paid model. The interface is simple: A listing of all of your cloud companies seems on the left aspect of the display. Click on on one and you will see its folder and file construction in the principle a part of the display. From there you’ll be able to flick thru the folders and handle information. You can even view information, though in a considerably kludgy manner. Click on a file to view it and you will see the message “Doc viewing is reserved for Members” — members being the time period Jolicloud makes use of for subscribers. Nevertheless, on the backside of the message is a hyperlink that reads “Open in OneDrive,” or no matter cloud service you are at present searching. What occurs subsequent is dependent upon the service and the file you are making an attempt to view. For instance, in OneDrive, Microsoft Workplace information open within the on-line model of Workplace. In Dropbox, one can find your self in Dropbox itself and within the folder the place the file is. The exception to that is Google Drive. Click on a file, and it opens robotically within the Google doc viewer, with out first getting the “Doc viewing is reserved for Members” display. Nevertheless, Jolicloud does a wonderful job permitting you to look by way of your entire cloud companies concurrently. Merely kind your search time period into the field on the prime of the display and it shortly finds all of the related information, listed with the title, measurement, writer (if that data is offered within the file itself), and the service on which the file is discovered. One other good function of Jolicloud is that it reveals you at a look how a lot storage you have utilized in every of your cloud accounts, and the way a lot remains to be obtainable. Apps and for-pay variations In contrast to among the different companies right here, Jolicloud has no cell apps for accessing cloud companies. At one level it had an app referred to as Jolicloud Me for iOS and Android gadgets, however that’s not obtainable. The paid model helps you to view information instantly, and likewise helps you to copy and switch information and folders between cloud companies. The speed is in euros: €5/mo., which interprets to about $5.30/mo. Backside line The free model of Jolicloud is a considerably barebones, fundamental instrument for searching by way of your cloud storage and performing easy duties like deleting and renaming information. In just one manner does it excel: At looking for information throughout your entire cloud storage. MultCloud IDG Like the opposite cloud-management companies reviewed right here, MultCloud treats your cloud companies like they’re one massive exhausting disk. It really works with 26 cloud suppliers, together with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and SugarSync . Including companies is straightforward — simply click on the service you wish to add and observe the prompts. Every service is listed on the left; click on to flick thru every. You’ll be able to rename, delete, copy, transfer and share information and folders by right-clicking on the file or folder. One remark: It could be higher if there have been some on-screen icons for these capabilities. Viewing information is simple — MultCloud makes use of Google’s doc viewer irrespective of which service you employ. I discovered the method of transferring information between companies to be not somewhat complicated. On the prime left of the display there are two icons: one for Cloud Explorer (which is MultCloud’s predominant interface) and one other labeled Cloud Switch. You may assume that as a way to switch information between companies, you must spotlight the file you wish to switch after which click on the Cloud Switch icon. You would be mistaken. Once I clicked that icon, I used to be led to a puzzling display that permit me switch a folder from one service to a different, however did not let me switch particular person information. It additionally let me schedule once I wished the folder transferred (the scheduling function is barely obtainable for individuals who use the paid model). If I wished to switch a file, I needed to as an alternative go to Cloud Explorer, right-click the file, choose “Copy to” from the drop-down menu that appeared, click on the Transfer button, then click on Switch. Not what you’ll name intuitive. Apps and for-pay variations MultCloud is web-only, and would not have cell apps. The free model helps you to switch as much as 2TB of information throughout cloud companies — while you attain that restrict, you may should get the paid model for $7.99 monthly, which provides you limitless transfers. The paid model additionally helps you to schedule file transfers and offers you entry to extra technical help, amongst different options. Backside line For those who primarily wish to view information and do not thoughts placing up with a sometimes-confusing interface for file transfers, MultCloud will serve you effectively. However its lack of cell apps is a disadvantage. Otixo IDG Otixo is one other web-based service that treats your cloud companies like a part of one massive exhausting drive. You arrange your cloud accounts to work with Otixo by clicking the suitable icons and following prompts. It really works with 35 cloud storage companies, together with well-liked ones like Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox in addition to lesser-known ones equivalent to FilesAnywhere  and  MagentaCloud . Whenever you’re performed connecting your accounts, every reveals up on the left aspect of the display. You’ll be able to flick thru the information and folders of every service and carry out the same old folder- and file-management duties, together with copying, renaming and deleting. You can even copy and transfer information between cloud companies. And you may simply share information and folders with different folks. (Extra on that later.) With regards to viewing information, although, Otixo is a little bit of a kludge. You’ll be able to view .JPG information and .MP4 information with a built-in viewer, and you may view just a few different file varieties, together with .PDFs, utilizing the Google doc viewer. That is all to the nice. However most of my information are Microsoft Workplace information: .DOC and .DOCX information, with a wholesome smattering of .XLS and .XLSX information. Once I double-clicked these, I could not view them and was solely proven a display with details about the file, together with its measurement and the final time it was modified. After some digging, I discovered that in case you click on the file, then click on the “Launch in…” icon on the prime of the display, the file will launch with no matter viewer that specific cloud storage platform makes use of. For instance, if I clicked on a .DOC file that was saved in OneDrive, it launched within the Microsoft Phrase on-line app; if I clicked on it in Google Drive, it launched within the Google doc viewer; and if I clicked on it in Dropbox, it launched within the Dropbox doc viewer. Considered one of Otixo’s promoting factors is the way in which it helps you to share information with others, utilizing a function referred to as Areas. To make use of it, you create a brand new Area, drag information to it from any of your cloud companies, after which give folks entry to that Area. As a result of it is a digital space, your information aren’t bodily moved there — they nonetheless stay of their unique cloud areas. Every Area additionally has its personal dialogue space. Apps and for-pay variations Otixo gives separate apps for Home windows, macOS, iOS and Android gadgets. The macOS and Home windows apps look and work just like the web-based model. The cell apps have a extra stripped-down look, however provide the identical options as the opposite variations. The free model of Otixo limits your bandwidth to 2GB a month. Numerous paid variations provide you with extra bandwidth, ranging from 99 cents/mo. for 5GB as much as $9.90/mo. for 50GB. Backside line The principle attraction of Otixo is the way in which it helps you to simply share information from a number of cloud companies utilizing the Areas function. When you get used to its viewing options, they work fantastic as effectively. However in case you entry your cloud information so much and also you deal with massive information, the restrict of 2GB a month for the free service could trigger issues for you. Conclusions For those who often use a number of cloud companies, have a tough time remembering the place your information are, wish to handle information from a single location and wish to copy and transfer information throughout companies, you’d do effectively to make use of certainly one of these free cloud-service administration instruments. Jolicloud and MultCloud each really feel like works in progress. Consequently, my best choice is Otixo which, regardless of a considerably kludgy interface, will get the job performed — and allows you to do it both on a desktop or through a cell app. To specific your ideas on Computerworld content material, go to Computerworld’s Facebook page , LinkedIn page and Twitter stream . Related articles