Microsoft OneDrive for Business - Very Nice Additonal Cloud Storage App!

Believe I have figured out OneDrive for Business!  I have used OneDrive for many, many years (used to be called SkyDrive).  However, I was confused between the two apps. All of our University faculty, and staff have OneDrive for Business now.  I had go to my unify account and open my faculty email to see the OneDrive for Business app.  I played with the app - found it easy to drag files into it, make new files, and to create folders.  Since it is secure storage, I will be able to mirror my computer with it. 

Afterwards, I downloaded the OneDrive for Business to my iPad and Microsoft Surface tablet. 

I still have my old OneDrive account and Dropbox.  At work, we are transitioning to moving all university files over to OneDrive for Business.  Dropbox will be only for personal files.

Cloud Computing App Changing its Name: SkyDrive's New Name Will be OneDrive

It is challenging to write an update to an informatics book that discusses the latest trends in technology.  For example, I found out today that SkyDrive's name is changing to OneDrive.  The change is the result of a trademark dispute with British Sky Broadcasting. You can read more about the dispute at http://www.pcworld.com/article/2045634/microsoft-to-rename-skydrive-after-losing-trademark-suit.html

This is at the same time that Georgia College is rolling out Office 365 and SkyDrive to faculty, staff, and students.  I worry that the name change will be confusing to some.

You can view the promotion video for OneDrive below.Enjoy!

FTP Software - Trials and Successes

FTP or file transfer protocol software was the main way to use cloud computing sites ten years ago.  It has largely been replaced with cloud apps such as, Dropbox and Google Drive.  Dropbox and Google Drive replicate the experience of having a different storage location on the computer.  In contrast, FTP software triggers the user to login to the remote site.  After logging in, the files and folders of the local computer appear on the left side of the window and the files and folders of the remote site appear on the right side of the window.  You click on files and folder to move them from your local computer to the remote site.  There are no sync capabilities as there are with Dropbox and Google Drive.

I had the FTP address, login and password for the Lippincott site but it did not work with the FTP software on my laptop computer (WS FTP).  I could view the site using the web browser so I knew the address was correct.  That made me believe I needed to find another FTP software.  CNET always provides great reviews of software, so I searched for free FTP software and found WinSCP at http://download.cnet.com/WinSCP/3000-2160_4-10400769.html 

I was able to successful access the remote site with the updated WinSCP software.

Sharing Large Files with Others

TC Geeks has an article on sharing large files with others at http://www.tcgeeks.com/how-to-share-large-files-in-the-cloud/.

Two of the cloud resources mentioned were Dropbox and Evernote.  In the Georgia College School of Nursing, many of the committees use Dropbox for sharing information that has no references to students.  The advantage to Dropbox is that it works on all mobile devices as well as Macs and Windows computers.  Evernote is an excellent resource. I have written several blogs about the fantastic features available in Evernote. 

Two cloud resources that were not mentioned are SkyDrive and Google Drive.  One of my research partners and I use SkyDrive for a manuscript we are writing.  The reason is that we use EndNote citation software and we want to maintain all of the formatting.  SkyDrive allows users to view shared items using a URL; however, the user must sign into SkyDrive to make edits.  Google Drive also allows cloud sharing.  Like SkyDrive, users can set up preferences to allow others to view or make edits to shared files.

Microsoft SkyDrive Updates

I received an email this morning with Microsoft SkyDrive updates.  The first thing I noticed is that when you edit a document with another person, there is no sign-in required.  That feature is one that Google has had for some time.  Other SkyDrive features include:

• Chat
• Drag and drop
• Sharing using social networking apps such as Facebook and Twitter
• A desktop app (similar to Google Drive) that allow you to upload files up to 2 GB

If you are using SkyDrive as one or more of your cloud storage resources, consider exploring the new features.

Google Drive Update - Share Files Up to 10GB in Size

A few weeks ago, I noted that Google Drive, which was released in April 2012, is an app (similar to Dropbox) for desktop (Mac & Microsoft Windows) and mobile devices.  According to a Google blog post yesterday, Google now provides the ability to upload files up to 10 GB in size! That places a whole new facet for sharing.  For more information, read the blog at http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/gmail-and-drive-new-way-to-send-files.html

If I am interpreting the information correctly, the recipients would need to have a gmail address.  Notice that Microsoft recently announced changes to SkyDrive.  With resources such as Google Drive, SkyDrive, and Dropbox, it means is that we have more choices for sharing files and syncing  them with the cloud.   Enjoy!

Microsoft SkyDrive File Size Storage Change

When Microsoft first offered SkyDrive, users were allowed to upgrade to 25 GB of file storage space.  Flor told me that she only had 7 GB of space.  I opened SkyDrive on the iPad - and sure enough - I was limited to 7 GB.  I did a little research from the PC and discovered the change.  Those of us who originally took advantage of the 25 GB have to tell Microsoft that we wanted to keep the 25 GB, otherwise the space would automatically be reduced to 7 GB.  There is now an additional fee for additional space.

Google Drive - Another Free Cloud Storage App

Google Drive is another free cloud file website. Google Drive is available for:

• PC and Mac
• iPhone and iPad (coming soon)
• Android devices

Google Drive provides 5GB for files. You can read more about the website at https://drive.google.com/start#home

Printing Using Google Cloud Print

One of the journal articles that I plan to write is on working in the cloud. There are so many unbelievable cloud resources available!  Google Cloud Print is a great app that works on a Windows PC, the Mac, and any mobile device. One place to begin is the Google Cloud Print website.

BTW - Cloud Printing is beta.  I can see the print function in Chrome, but nothing happens when I select to use Cloud Printing. Thankfully, I have an ePrinter at home, so I can email any document to be printer for printing.

The Cloud Print app is free for the Mac, but PrintCentral Pro is $9.99 for the iPad.

To understand the power of Cloud Print view the video below.

CloudOn

Martha sent me a link about a new free iPad app this morning.  The app is called CloudOn.  You can edit and view Microsoft Office files using it.  That means that I would not have to purchase QuickOffice or Pages for the iPad, but I would have to have Microsoft Office on a personal computer somewhere.  In other words, it allows the user to use Word or Excel to edit files. When I opened a Word .docx file, the menu looks absolutely identical to a Microsoft Word for the desktop.  For more information, go to:
http://lifehacker.com/5872784/cloudon-brings-microsoft-office-to-your-ipad-complete-with-cloud-storage?tag=downloads

Wordle and Cloud Tags

I am doing a review of papers for a conference and ran across a new app that allows the user to create tags - Wordle (http://www.wordle.net/).  What I especially like is that the site allows the user to "own" the image that is created with the words.  The app is worth exploring.

Dropbox Update

I just read an article on CNET that notes that Dropbox, cloud computing file storage is now available for the Blackberry (http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-20017270-12.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=iPadAtlas).  I first learned about Dropbox from Martha - then afterwards realized that so many other colleagues  have been using it.  I am sure that I have mentioned the app previously, because it is amazing that first 2 GB of storage are free.

Dropbox has a social media feature which provides the ability to share files with others.  As examples, I have a shared folder with my husband - anything that we want to share with each other are in that folder.  I have another shared folder with the Walden University student that I am mentoring.  She is applying learning about data analysis using Excel and Access. 

The most amazing feature about Dropbox is that it is available on my iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC computers.  That is not true for iWorks ($99) or Office Live Skydrive (25 GB free strorage with purchase of Office 2007 & 2010).

iPad and iWorks

At the onset, I thought that the iPad was a "piece of cake."  I found that I have a lot to learn (and that is a GOOD thing).  I decided to download QuickOffice and Keynote for the iPad.  QuickOffice works with Dropbox, where I have over 2 GB cloud storage space and I am using less than 13%.  Dropbox is an app on all of my devices - desktops, iPhone, iPad, and laptops. QuickOffice does the essentials of creating/editing of word processing and spreadsheet software. 

Keynote gives me two choices for saving files - a folder on my iPad and iWorks.  I was not familiar with iWorks (still in beta).  iWorks provides 1 GB of storage space - free.  I can choose to share a file with a user's email address, but I do not see a way to share a folder, like I do with Dropbox.

Microsoft Office Live vs SkyDrive

I had an ah-haa moment today while showing a student Microsoft Cloud Computing resource(s).  I realized that Office Live and Office Skydrive are two different cloud computing resources! Office Live provides 2 GB storage space, but no Cloud Computing apps.  When I upgraded to SkyDrive my Office live files were copied to the new space, but they actually currently exist in both spaces.

SkyDrive is the new resource recently released.  If you have a licensed copy of Microsoft Office, you can use the SkyDrive (http://www.live.com/) workspace that includes 25 GB storage and the Cloud Computing Word Apps - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. SkyDrive is more than a backup storage space with web apps.  Explore the site to learn more. 

Windows Office Live

I have been using Windows Office Live beta since it was first released.  It is a  Windows cloud computing resource that has made phenomenal improvements!  I firmly believed that Microsoft should have a free version of Office.  After all, there are many wonderful free choices including Google docs, OpenOffice.org, and Zoho. My wish has finally come true!  This morning I received an email announcing that within the week I can upgrade to Windows Live Skydrive with 25 GB (yes, gigabytes) of storage space AND cloud computing office apps.  The web apps are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote (one of my favorites). For more information about the web apps, go to http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/web-apps/office-web-apps-overview-FX101825723.aspx

The cloud computing resource requires us to use Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari web browsers.

Acrobat.com - Cloud computing office suite, wiki, and webinar all in one

Acrobat.com is a combination of a cloud computing office suite, a wiki, and webinar software all in one.   Acrobat.com is an Adobe shared workspace like a wiki; however, it has a few unique features.  By default, the shared workplace is free, private, and does not have advertisements. You can access the feature if you have an Adobe login and password.  Acrobat.com uses Flash, a platform for animation and interactivity.  It includes a self-contained cloud computing office suite with a word processor (Buzzword), presentation software (Presentation), and spreadsheet software (Project Mgmt).  The other unique feature is that it includes webinar software.  The free version allows up to three connections.  The webinar includes all of the standard webinar features, such as ability to invite others, video conferencing, audio, screen-sharing, remote control, and chat.  The initial file size limitation is 100 MB. According to a CNET article, the file size is expected to be increased later.

 I am pleasantly surprised to note that the file manager will accept file types other than Adobe. The resource is certainly worth exploring.

Cloud Computing Backup Solutions

There are several cloud computing backup solutions available.  Martha told me about Dropbox.  I downloaded it several weeks ago, but never used it until today.  Dropbox is a fantastic solution to my computing needs because I can synch to a remote server in addition to my backup drive. I like the fact that I can access it from any computer where I have it downloaded. I have downloaded the server connection to my home office PC and my iPhone.  It allows me 2 GB of storage space free.

Flor told me about Box.net. Box.net provides off site file storage but not the file synchronization feature.  Box.net does allow for file sharing with others.

Windows Live Office provides off site file storage, but only for Microsoft Office files.  It is certainly a great solution as an extra file backup service for really important files, such as manuscripts, thesis papers, and dissertations.

The malware issue forced me to explore improved synch features. For example, I had all of my standard MERLOT mail merge letters and the associated files on the laptop. Since I loss use of the laptop for 5 days, I got behind on my Editors activities.




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Cloud Computing

Information technology (IT) continues to rapidly change.  I read a news story on CNET about Microsoft cloud computing this morning.  Linda reminded me that information on cloud computing needs to be included in the 4th edition of our textbook.  That term makes me smile because of a comment from one of the grad students, CM, who said that IT terminology was baffling because it often uses terms we know in very different ways.  Cloud computing is one of those terms.

Cloud computing refers to the ability to use an application that does not reside on your local computer.  This blog is an example.  Other examples include Gmail, Hotmail, Google docs, Zoho Office. Some applications, like Zoho, allow for purchase of selected applications. 

To get a better understanding, you may find it helpful to view a YouTube video, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RMWO9JxZjA&NR=1

and/or visit How Stuff Works at http://communication.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing.htm

Although cloud computing has been around for several years, many IT gurus suggest that it will be the wave of the future and save money.  Businesses and education should benefit from the use of cloud computing, but certainly, companies would not be in the business of developing cloud computing if it did not mean increased revenues.