I was thinking the other day that it would be nice to synchronize files with some cloud. To avoid it, so to speak. There are quite a lot of companies providing this kind of service, but... I wouldn’t want to contact the Chinese, for example. Well, I don’t have any trust in them. This means you will have to use “our” servers.
So what do we have? There are 15 GB for Yandex. This is enough to create backup copies of small files, but not the same, for example, video surveillance. Why do I need a copy of video surveillance on the Internet? Let's imagine this hypothetical situation (pah-pah-pah): they broke into your apartment and took everything away, including the computer on which all the records are located. And that’s it, you won’t see anything or anyone else. With the cloud there is at least some chance.
But let's continue. There are approximately 120 GB on Google servers and about 1 TB on Mail.ru. Of course, it would be preferable to use the latter, but taking into account the fact that you will have to work with it from the command line, which it does not support, as far as I know, then Mail.ru is no longer necessary. So that leaves Google. An Internet search yielded only a couple of utilities for working with the cloud from the command line. Nothing was found in the system repositories either. Finding ourselves in such cramped circumstances, we will use what we have.
I started with the gdrive utility. Looking ahead, I will say that, most likely, I will stop at this one; I will not consider the second one for now. What can she do? And they can do everything that can be useful to us. The most important thing is that it has a synchronization function, which is required. Installation is also not required, this is another plus. The help is very good, examples of use are shown at the end. In my case, it is enough to add the necessary command to the scripts that are executed when the motion recording is completed. In other words, everything turned out to be so simple that I lost the desire to experiment with other programs.
A little earlier, I came across the official Yandex client, which can be used on the Linux command line. I also tried it and was also pleased with it. It is installed on the system, works as a daemon and automatically synchronizes the folder specified during initial setup. It cannot synchronize several folders, but there is a way out - use symbolic links, it supports working with them. There is a list of exceptions; here you can already specify several objects that should not be synchronized. In general, it would also suit me if I had more space in the Yandex cloud. You can buy one of the tariffs, paying only 800 rubles per year and getting 100 GB of space. Or another, paying 2000 and getting 1 TB. I'm not happy with this yet, so let's leave everything as it is.
The Mail.ru company, of course, pleased me. To begin with, the fact that after many years there is still no normal way to synchronize files other than their native client. Which, of course, cannot work from the command line. It seems that there was access via webdav for corporate clients, but there is no such information on their website anymore, so we will assume that they also removed this function. Then I inquired about the prices. In the corporate segment, disk space is not regulated, but you will pay 2.3 rubles per day for each gigabyte of stored information, and you will also pay for downloading it from the cloud. Or, in the case of video files, for watching them. Uploading or deleting information is free. Reminds me of the old joke about free camel riding, from which it costs a certain amount to get off.

According to a survey recently conducted on our website, more than half of our readers do not use cloud services to synchronize data. It’s probably worth saying they’re not using it YET. Because after Google and Yandex introduced their new services last month, and Microsoft released a client program for SkyDrive, it has become almost impossible to ignore the cloud.

Synchronization services can be considered as a new stage in the development of file storage services that are familiar to many. Files could only be stored on Google Docs and Yandex.People, but Google Drive, Yandex.Disk and others not only save copies on a remote server, but also make sure that the latest versions of files are always at hand on local computers and mobile devices.

So much has already been written about how the magic word “synchronization” simplifies computer life that we see no point in repeating it again. Instead, we offer you a comparison of five current data synchronization services.

⇡Dropbox

Despite the fact that Dropbox has seen a number of serious competitors emerge over the past month, the service is still the primary cloud storage service for many millions of users. The main reason for this is that Dropbox was the first service to offer the simplest synchronization solution (you place files in a folder - they are immediately copied to a remote server and to other devices). Now, many active Dropbox users are probably trying other services, but often not as an alternative, but as an addition to their main storage.

Perhaps Dropbox's biggest drawback, which may have some impact on its user acquisition rate, is its very small amount of free storage space - only 2 GB. However, thanks to a powerful referral program, under the new conditions of which you can receive an additional 500 MB for each attracted user, the storage volume can be increased by 16 GB. And it is possible - even more. Just recently, a new version of the desktop client (1.4) was released, which includes the function of automatically downloading photos from the camera. If you use it to upload 2.5 GB of photos to Dropbox, you can get another 3 GB of free space (photos can be deleted later, but the earned space will remain).

⇡ Google Drive

The recently launched synchronization service from Google is an improved version of the familiar Google Docs. The Disk web interface is almost the same as Documents, and the main difference between the renamed service is client programs for Windows and Mac that make it easier to download files.

Thanks to the presence of the client, you can put files into online storage by simply copying them to the Google Drive folder. Synchronization is two-way, so in this folder you can also find files that were previously uploaded to Google Docs, and even links to web documents. If you enable offline work with the service in Google Chrome, you can even work with these texts, presentations and tables without an Internet connection.

Google Drive integrates with Gmail and Google+. Through the service's web interface, you can send files and links to them by email, and you can publish photos previously uploaded to Drive in your Google+ feed.

Google Drive has adopted flexible options for providing access to files from Google Docs - you can open full access, leave files read-only, or only for commenting. However, for now, access to files is only possible through the web interface, and the functions of the desktop client are very limited.

All the benefits of Google Drive can be appreciated when working with the web interface. The service offers a text search for all documents stored in the cloud. Even images are included in the search index - the new service uses technology for recognizing famous places in photographs, familiar to users of the Google Goggles mobile application. Therefore, if you upload, say, photographs of the Hermitage, then there is a high probability that when you enter the search query Hermitage, Google Drive will show your photographs. The service also automatically recognizes text in images and includes it in the search index.

Google Drive “knows” more than three dozen file formats and allows you to view them directly in the browser. Such files include, for example, videos that the service independently converts for online viewing. You can also view the contents of PSD and AI files in the browser.

SkyDrive

Despite the fact that Microsoft's data storage service was introduced almost five years ago, synchronization capabilities only appeared in it at the end of April, when a preview version of the long-awaited client for Windows and Mac was released.

The SkyDrive client creates a folder of the same name on your hard drive and automatically uploads all the files stored in it to the server. Unfortunately, the client's capabilities end there - there is neither selective folder synchronization nor fast file exchange by generating links to them. But let's not forget that the client version is currently marked as preview. Moreover, there is something special - if you allow access to the file system in the client settings, then you can access all files on the computer from the web interface, and not just those stored in the SkyDrive folder.

SkyDrive may be of interest, first of all, to fans of Microsoft products and services. The cloud service is closely integrated with online versions of office applications Office Webb Apps, thanks to which you can work with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote files directly in the browser. In addition, SkyDrive can be used in conjunction with the Windows Live Hotmail email service and the Windows Live Mail application. Thanks to this, when you send photos by email, the files are uploaded to SkyDrive, and the recipient of the email can view them as a gallery. By the way, you don't need a Hotmail account to use this feature in Windows Live Mail—it works with any mailbox.

SkyDrive has quite convenient file management via its web interface. You can view all documents and photos separately, share them with other people, and quickly publish links to public files on Twitter and Facebook. Downloading data through the browser occurs in the background, so there is no need to wait for it to complete before moving to another folder.

⇡ “Yandex.Disk”

In reviews of synchronization services on English-language sites, you can often come across the phrase that Microsoft remains the leader in the amount of space allocated for free for user files. Despite the fact that with the release of the desktop client, the quota for new users was reduced from 25 to 7 GB, this is still more than other services.

In Russia, after the reduction of free gigabytes on Skydrive, the new service Yandex.Disk became the leader in terms of free space. It is currently operating in closed testing mode by invitation, but invites are sent out quite actively, so the number of its users is already quite large (this is at least indicated by the results of the survey on our website).

In addition to the Russian interface, the Yandex service has another important advantage over foreign services. This is a speed not limited by the tariff for those providers who are connected to the Yandex Local Network program.

Yandex.Disk is tightly integrated with Yandex.Mail, and in the Disk web interface you can search for all attachments that have ever been sent from or received to your mailbox. In addition, integration with the file storage service “Yandex.People” has been implemented - all files uploaded to “People” can be transferred to “Disk”, and then there will be no need to extend their storage period.

The service does not have a separate mobile application - to use Yandex.Disk on a smartphone or tablet, you need to download the mobile Yandex.Mail. According to our experience of use, working with mobile Yandex.Disk is much more convenient than with the Google Drive application. Uploading files to the service from your device has been made much easier.

But the desktop client of Yandex.Disk clearly needs polishing - on some computers it does not install at all, on others synchronization does not work well. However, Yandex.Disk supports the WebDav protocol, which means that a “native” client is not necessary for it to work. WebDav support also makes it possible to configure Yandex.Disk to work in a Linux environment.

⇡ SugarSync

According to the results of a survey conducted on our website, the last place in popularity among cloud services was taken by SugarSync. To some extent, this is natural: it is quite difficult for this service to compete with the user base of Google, Microsoft and Yandex, especially without client support for the Russian language. Nevertheless, without SugarSync, a review of cloud services would be incomplete, because this ambitious project has a number of important advantages over its competitors.

Unlike its main competitor, Dropbox, this service offers synchronization of any number of folders. When working with SugarSync, you do not need to place all the files that need to be copied to the server in the directory created by the service. Instead, you are asked to select folders that already exist on your hard drive and configure backup or synchronization for them. For each folder, it is separately indicated with which devices it should be synchronized. Until recently, the free version of SugarSync only supported syncing between two devices, but this limitation has now been removed.

Another distinctive feature of SugarSync is media streaming, which works both in the web interface and when using mobile applications. If you want to listen to music stored in the SugarSync storage on your smartphone, you don’t need to wait for the audio files to download—playback starts instantly. The web interface offers an integrated player with the ability to create playlists.

Unlike Google Drive and SkyDrive, this service does not allow you to edit documents using web applications, but it does offer a unique file editing feature that can be useful when working on public computers. You can make changes to files without leaving any traces on your local computer. When using the Edit with WebSync feature, the file is downloaded from the server and opened in the desktop application. When it is closed, a modified copy is sent to the server, and all temporary files and shortcuts on the local computer are deleted.

⇡ Conclusion

Service	Dropbox	Google Drive	Yandex.Disk	SkyDrive	Sugarsync
Website	dropbox.com	drive.google.com	disk.yandex.ru	skydrive.com	sugarsync.com
Free storage size	2 GB	5 GB	10 GB	7 GB (25 GB for older users)	5 GB
Referral program		—	—	—	500 MB per user
Storage expansion	50 GB for $9.99 per month 100 GB for $19.99 per month	25 GB for $2.49 per month 100 GB for $4.99 per month 200 GB for $9.99 per month		20 GB for 310 rub. in year 50 GB for 780 rub. in year 100 GB for 1,570 rubles. in year	30 GB for $4.99 per month 60 GB for $9.99 per month 100 GB for $14.99 per month
Maximum upload size from desktop file	no limits	10 GB	3 GB	2 GB	2 GB
Selective Sync	+	+	—	—	+
Opening access to files from the desktop	+	—	+	—	+
Sharing files/folders	+	+	+	+	+
Streaming Music	—	—	—	—	+
Windows support	+	+	+	+	+
Mac support	+	+	+	+	+
Linux support	+	—	via WebDAV	—	—
Android app	+	+	+	—	+
iOS app	+	- (promised soon)	+	+	+
Windows Phone app	—	—	—	+	+
Main advantages	Plugins, support in applications from third-party developers	Integration with Google services, full-text search	Search by email attachments, Russian interface	Through the web interface you can access any files on a remote PC	Sync multiple folders, listen to music in the browser
Main disadvantages	Small amount of free storage	No quick creation of public links	"Raw" client for Windows	There is no selective synchronization or creation of public links in the client	Keeps only the five most recent versions of a file

Which synchronization service looks the most attractive? It is hardly possible to answer this question unambiguously. Those who are used to working with Google Docs and other services of the search giant can use Google Drive, while adherents of Hotmail and Microsoft programs are more likely to prefer SkyDrive. Yandex.Disk is interesting because it offers the maximum amount of free space for storing files, although the Dropbox and SugarSync affiliate programs make it possible to get even more.

There is no doubt that with the entry of such large companies as Yandex, Microsoft and Google into the synchronization market, we will see its active development over the coming years. Time will tell whether Dropbox, SugarSync and other services will be able to compete on equal terms with the giants of the IT industry. And while each of them is fighting for a place in the sun, we can enjoy all the conveniences of storing files in the clouds. And don't forget that nothing prevents you from using several services at the same time. Five cloud storages allow you to store at least 29 GB of data for free.

The modest creation of the LogMeIn company was completely lost against the background of the spring “cloud boom”, when Google, Yandex and Microsoft launched their services for synchronizing files in the cloud almost simultaneously. Meanwhile, Cubby has several interesting features that deserve attention.

When I first heard about Cubby, I was especially attracted by a feature unusual for such services - the ability to synchronize an unlimited amount of data between computers, bypassing the cloud. That is, you may not use the free 5 gigabytes in the cloud at all, but synchronize folders with terabytes of data. In theory.

Greeted by clothes

After installing the program, I immediately saw how it differs from Dropbox - Cubby has a window! A real window that you can grab with the cursor by the scruff of the neck - that is, by the title - and drag it around the screen. The interface is extremely minimalistic - the window shows only the list of synchronized folders, the amount of space used in the cloud and the HUGE Cubby logo at the top of the window.

By the way, the ability to synchronize not just one single folder (like Dropbox), but an arbitrary number of folders located in an arbitrary location is another advantage of Cubby. Of course, SugarSync has been able to do the same thing since time immemorial. But managing folders and synchronization in SugarSync always seemed inconvenient and non-obvious to me. Cubby's designers did a great job - they combined the simplicity of Dropbox with the functionality of SugarSync, creating an interface that is brilliant in its simplicity. Seriously. In terms of ease of control and ease of learning, Cubby beats everyone.

Let's look at the Cubby window again - this time more carefully. To add any folder to the synchronized list, simply drag it from Explorer into the program window. The program does not ask any unnecessary questions. The folder name appears almost immediately in Cubby clients on your other computers. In order for a folder to start synchronizing with another computer, you only need to select the location on it where it will be stored by clicking “add to this computer”.

When you hover over a folder name, control buttons appear. There are only four of them. The first one is the most interesting. It allows you to specify where files are synchronized. True, you cannot disable synchronization from one computer to another. But you can uncheck the “cloud” box and then the files will be synchronized only between computers, without wasting precious cloud space.

The second button allows you to “share” the folder for another Cubby user by sending him an invitation by e-mail. I didn’t have any friends in Cubby, so I couldn’t test collaboration with folders.

But about the next function I will certainly say a couple of affectionate things. The third button is to get a public link. Since you cannot view the contents of folders through the program window, you can only get links from there to the main folders. Links to subfolders and individual files can be obtained through the context menu in Explorer. This is where things get weird. By right-clicking on a file and selecting “Cubby → public link” in the context menu, you bring up a small window in which a link is displayed - but not to the file, but to the folder in which it lies. In order to still get a direct link to the file, you need to guess and press a tiny button, which is not even visible until you hover the cursor over the file name. Why it was necessary to fence off this entire garden is completely incomprehensible. One thing is good - the link to the file actually leads to the file, and not to a sprawling page for downloading it, like some domestic competitors.

The fourth and last button (cross) is to completely disable synchronization for this folder. A tooltip that starts with "Remove this cubby from the cloud" is more confusing than helpful. Clicking this button completely disables synchronization of the folder both with the cloud and with other computers.

Flying in the ointment

So, Cubby’s interface is convenient, intuitive and can be mastered in about twenty seconds. Although there were some mistakes here too. For example, when uploading a large number of files, you cannot determine which files have already been synchronized and which have not yet - there are no status icons on the icons in Explorer, as in Dropbox or Yandex.Disk folders.

But these are minor things compared to the main flaw of the program, which kills all the joy from communicating with the program, and also deprives it of practical value. Files are uploaded slowly. And not only to the cloud - apparently, the Cubby developers have not heard about LAN sync and are sending through their server even those files that should be synchronized only between computers, without being saved in the cloud. So plans to synchronize a 500-gigabyte collection of films with a laptop can be given up - the end of the world will come before Cubby finishes transferring this pile of data.

On the one hand, everything can still change - when Dropbox was still in closed beta, it also did not work very quickly. On the other hand, it’s a pity that the most interesting feature of the service (unlimited file synchronization between computers) is still poorly suited for practical use. Wait and see.

P.S. I have two invites to Cubby in my stash. Whoever manages to be the first to send me his email address in a personal message will receive an invite. Invites have been successfully distributed.

Cloud technologies have become so firmly established in our lives, they have become so familiar and commonplace that you will probably never meet a person who has not used their services in one form or another. Along with synchronization, cloud services also offer the ability to store personal files, both on a paid and free basis. Limitations on the amount of allocated cloud disk space in free mode do not particularly confuse users.

They often create several separate accounts in one or more services.

The only question that remains is how to organize the most convenient access to accounts of different cloud storages in order to have access to them from a single common interface and transfer files from one storage to another. In fact, a lot of tools have already been developed for their purposes, both for mobile and desktop platforms. There are also Internet services that do not themselves offer data storage services, but connect cloud storage, providing centralized access to them.

Today we propose to get acquainted with some of these tools.

An online service, as well as a desktop client that allows you to access files stored in Google Drive , OneDrive , Yandex.Disk , Dropbox , Box , Cloud Storage , Amazon Cloud Drive and several other popular cloud storage services. The application supports working with protocols FTP , SFTP And WebDAV, data synchronization between connected clouds, as well as folders on the local computer through the Explorer context menu.

Support includes sharing, encryption, and using multiple accounts. It is distributed free of charge, but there is also a commercial version with more features. Disadvantages: lack of Russian language and incompletely thought-out client usability.

Mover

A web application that allows you to transfer files from one cloud storage to another, and it allows you to move data directly without using an intermediate link - a disk on your local computer. Supports most popular cloud storage and services, including Google Drive , Yandex.Disk , Amazon , Dropbox , Box , SugarSync , OneDrive , Picasa , Copy etc. Protocols supported FTP And WebDAV .

The application's web interface is divided into three parts. The first two columns contain cloud storage (source on the left, destination on the right) , in the third column is a button to start the operation. In addition to transferring files by command, Mover supports scheduled copying, moving only changed files, sending notifications to email, transaction logging and archiving.

Perhaps the best of the cloud file managers, which stands out due to the availability of a wide range of functions in free mode. In addition to all basic file operations, allows you to transfer content from one cloud storage to another, bypassing the computer, and after sending the file, you can safely close the browser - the data will be transferred in the background. By the way, the premium version includes a scheduler that allows you to run data copying tasks at a certain time without user intervention.

Among the cloud storages supported by the service are: Google Drive , MEGA , Box , Flickr , MediaFire , OneDrive , HubiC , SugarSync , Alfresco , Yandex.Disk and a dozen others, there is protocol support WebDAV And FTP It is equipped with a convenient interface in the form of an Explorer; it additionally supports previewing some types of files.

Otixo

A very good service that combines the functions of cloud storage and a file manager. By providing 5 GB free in your own storage, Otixo allows you to connect more than 30 cloud resources, supports exchange protocols FTP , SFTP And WebDAV. Additionally worth noting is the function Space, designed to organize shared access to files, regardless of which cloud storage they are located in.

To Work with Otixo just as easy as with Windows Explorer; for example, to copy files from one cloud to another, you just need to drag them to the appropriate folder in the navigation bar. There are desktop and mobile clients, among the disadvantages are restrictions on the size of downloaded files. "native" file cloud.

If you only need a desktop application, consider . This program allows you to connect cloud storage as network drives and thus exchange data between them through the Windows Explorer interface. simple, convenient, devoid of complex settings, supports work with popular cloud storages, it is possible to connect using protocols FTP , SFTP And WebDAV. Minus - the data is partially cached on the local disk, the program is paid, but in free mode it works with significant limitations.

A convenient tool for managing and sharing files between different cloud storages. The program works with two dozen popular services, including Google Drive , Dropbox , One Drive , Mega , Amazon , Mail.ru And Yandex.Disk, protocol support implemented FTP , SFTP And WebDAV. Externally is a two-panel file manager; when cloud storage is connected, their contents are displayed in the right and left columns.

The controls are familiar to most conventional file managers: copying, moving, deleting, renaming, etc. performed using the context menu; you can also copy data from one cloud to another by simply dragging and dropping. Among the additional features I would like to note synchronization, built-in search and scheduled operations.

Instead of a total

By linking different cloud storages into a single structure, the programs and services described above provide the user with an invaluable service, significantly simplifying data exchange and saving his time. But you have to pay for such convenience, and in this case it’s not about money at all. By resorting to the help of intermediaries, you one way or another provide them with potential access to your files, and therefore reduce the level of security and confidentiality. So whether to trust or not to trust a third party is up to you to decide.

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Syncing files between devices is a great thing. We save the file in one place and have access to it from all devices. The downside is that our files are stored on servers in the cloud and someone could steal them or view them. However, you can sync files between computers and smartphones without the cloud.

How dangerous it is to store files in the cloud doesn't need to be written - everyone has probably heard about the latest scandal involving naked pictures of celebrities who only managed to gain access by hacking their cloud accounts. Therefore, if you are concerned about data security, find an alternative solution.

An alternative is BitTorrent Sync. It is a data synchronization tool that allows you to automatically transfer files between computers and smartphones from selected folders. The difference, however, is that the files are transferred directly from device A to device B - there are no intermediaries, and the files are not stored on any servers, they are copied directly to the disk storage. The connection is established via a local network (Wi-Fi) or, in the absence of one, via the Internet.

Download BitTorrent Sync on Windows(select the appropriate version for Windows XP or Vista, 7, 8, 8.1)

Download BitTorrent Sync on Android

Download BitTorrent Sync for iOS

Download BitTorrent Sync on Windows Phone

Download BitTorrent Sync on Kindle Fire

Step 1: We provide a folder on your computer

The principle of the program is very simple. First, we share a directory on the computer in which we have, for example, your photographs. We will then invite other people (devices) to this folder who will share the directory with each other.

To do this, we download and install the BitTorrent Sync program and then launch it. Let's start by sharing a folder, so we click the "Add Folder" button and select a directory on the drive.

A new settings window will appear. During sharing, we can choose whether the folder should be read-only by other devices (Read Only - one-way synchronization, other devices will not be able to add files to our directory), or whether it should be synchronized on both sides (Read Write - other devices will be able to read and also add files to the folder, and they will appear on the disk with us).

We then receive a link that, once sent, allows other devices to join the shared directory. We can copy the link to the clipboard (Copy) and paste it, for example, into a Facebook chat or send it by email (Mail). We also have the option to display a QR code which, after scanning with the Sync Android app, will sync the folder with your smartphone.

Step 2. Connect to a folder on another computer.

If you want to join a folder from another PC or laptop, copy the link to the clipboard and send it via email, chat, or any other method to another computer. We install the BitTorrent Sync application on the second computer and then receive the link.

After opening the link, we accept the attachment to the folder - from this moment on, the folder will be shared and, depending on the selected type of synchronization, new files will be automatically sent to one or both parties.

Step 3: Attach a folder from your smartphone or tablet.

To join a folder from your smartphone, simply download the app to your phone or tablet. Links to the corresponding versions for Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Kindle Fire can be found at the beginning of the article.

After launching the application, you will see a fairly simple interface with a list of subfolders. Until then, we won't find any directory here - click the plus button in the top right corner to connect to the folder. A QR code scanner will appear.

We scan the QR code. The folder will be immediately added to the list. When we enter it, all the files contained in it will be displayed in the list. Touching the selected file will download it from your computer to your local memory and open it. If you want to sync all your files immediately, just click the menu in the top right corner and select the Sync option.

If we want to add files to a directory, we click on the first icon on the left in the top toolbar. We then mark the files that need to be added and that's it - they will be immediately sent to other computers using the shared directory.