google cloud. Google Drive Cloud: Getting Started. Google Drive for mobile

Hello, dear readers of the blog site! I am opening a series of publications on cloud storage, which allows you to store files on disk space and work with your documents not only with home computer, but also from any suitable electronic device(for example, from a tablet). This is very handy when you are away from home and don't have access to your main computer.

Let's start with the cloud Google Drive, which is one of the many products of the almighty Google. Of course, the Google service has quite worthy and real competitors in the face of the same Yandex Disk, Dropbox, Skydrive, which we will certainly talk about in more detail.

Perhaps a comparison of their capabilities will help guide your choice in favor of one of these cloud storages according to your preferences. As you know, there is no ideal in the world, each of them has both pluses and minuses. This is no exception.

Login to Google Drive and an overview of the provided features of the service

First, let's see how you can go to your Google Drive account. Login is easy and simple by going to the page drive.google.com. True, beforehand, you must enter your . You can also switch to Google Drive by clicking on the corresponding icon in the upper right corner after logging into your account:

To determine the opportunities that Google's cloud storage provides us, we find in the lower left corner home page drive.google.com "Settings" link. If you move the cursor over it, a tooltip will appear with brief information about general use free space at the moment:

If you click on this link, you will be redirected to a page where more information is given. detailed information on this issue, and you can choose tariff plans:

The total storage space that Google Drive provides with the free plan is quite solid, and equals 15 GB. But keep in mind that the proposed space is divided for files that will be stored on three services: Google Drive, and Google Photos.

True, judging by the information below, the restriction does not apply to all files. Let's say spreadsheets, documents, and presentations don't take up disk space. The same applies to photos located in Google+ Photos. Space is limited only for images larger than 2048x2048 pixels.

If you need more storage space for your folders, emails, photos and a free plan are not enough, then several paid ones are at your service tariff plans from which you can choose the appropriate one. You can learn more about the rules for storing files in Google Drive on this support page. A short video will add information:

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Work in the online version of Google Drive

Now let's see what actions you can perform in your Google account Drive using work functions. On the left side after logging into your account, there is a menu that offers various useful promotions right in online mode. For example, by clicking on the red button with an arrow pointing up, we download files or even entire folders from the computer.

By clicking on the nearby and also red “Create” button, select from the drop-down list the type of future object you need (folder, document, presentation, table, form, picture):

Note that if necessary, it is possible to connect additional application, I will say more about this below. So, select the desired item from the menu and start creating your creation. For example, in Drive Google it is easy to create a table in the manner of Excel, albeit not as fancy as in the original program:

After you create documents and upload necessary files, the account view will look like this:

The "All Items" tab will provide files included in the "My Drive" folder and others, including those that are shared. Also, using the menu, you can filter them and select those available only to you, marked as important, recently created and placed in the trash. By going to the trash, you can empty it, permanently deleting unnecessary files.

To mark a document as important, simply click on the star icon next to it. If you tick any of the elements (to select all elements, you must check the Header option), then a panel with options will appear at the top that allow you to perform certain actions with the selected file or document.

When you click on the picture depicting a man with a plus, the settings for sharing this object are made:

If you check the second option, then the above link to the file with the document will go to those to whom you provide it. Here you can define the actions that will be allowed. In this case, select the required settings from the menu (editing, commenting, reading). Then everyone who received the link will have access to the file, but first they will have to log in to Google.

If you want to post in open form some file for download or review ( share from English. share - share, share), then check the box next to the option "everyone on the internet". Then all users, without exception, will be able to get to it, and authorization in this case is not needed.

In addition to the above, it is possible to invite certain persons as editors by entering their names or addresses. Email. If you click on the “Change” link below, you can determine if they have the right to change access settings:

In the same menu that appears after ticking, you can move the marked file to another folder, delete it by throwing it in the trash, and view its contents. Moving on right side interface of the Google Drive window, where there is another panel with settings:

If any object is marked, an icon with the Latin letter “i” appears, by clicking on which you get complete information about this file or document, including its description, location (in which folder it is located), access rights, and See also editing history by time and date.

The next two buttons allow you to define how files in your Google Drive account are displayed (as a list or as a table) similar to how it is done in Windows interface. Finally, if you call the drop-down menu from the bowels of the button with the image of a gear, you can customize the document interface by selecting the appropriate item, configure the download and keyboard shortcuts.

Separately, I would like to dwell on the management of applications, which I mentioned at the beginning of this section. By clicking on the appropriate line, you will get a list of applications installed by default (the same list, if you remember, can also be found in the left menu):

For each application, there is a button with which you can view its settings. But it happens that you need to add to the existing functionality additional features. In this case, click on the "Connect other applications" link, then choose from the provided list:

If you know the name of the application, you can try to find it using the search. Drive in search string the desired combination of letters, press the "Enter" button on the keyboard and experience a surge of satisfaction because the desired program has been found. For example, I use it tightly when working with the site, so I decided to use it in Google drive.

To connect the application to Google Drive, press the button of the same name and, voila, the procedure is over, which you will immediately be aware of:

Note that the checkbox will be checked by default, which activates the option to set Pixlr as the default application for files opened with it. In principle, this checkbox can be left unchecked. Simply, if any image was created using this program, it is quite logical to assume that its editing will be done in it.

How to install Google Drive on a computer

As you probably noticed, online version quite self-sufficient and provides a fairly wide range of possible actions. However, in order to use the functionality to the maximum and view the contents of the folders created on Drive on your computer, which will be synchronized with Google Drive, it does not hurt to install the program. To do this, click on the corresponding icon at the very bottom of the left menu:

Immediately after that, a beautiful picture with the “Install on PC” button will appear. Click on it and download to your computer setup file. The installation will take place quickly, after which you will receive a message about its completion. Then you need to move on to the next steps. First of all, find the "Google Drive" folder from the list of programs. For example, for the Windows7 operating system, this list is in the Start menu:

As you can see, the folder includes 4 items (Docs, Drive, Sheets and Slides). We click on the line "Drive" and log in to the corresponding Google account by entering the username and password:

I have been using 2-Step Verification when logging into my account for a long time, if you also use this effective security tool, you will have to enter the security code received by SMS:

Personally, I try not to place third-party software folders on drive C, where I have OS files. Therefore, I used the "Advanced Settings" option and selected drive D:

Now click on the "Synchronize" button to complete the process. As a result, the Google Drive folder will open, where all the folders and files you created in online service and uploaded there:

Needless to say, after synchronization is complete, any changes you make to files or folders on your computer will be reflected in your cloud storage account. Let's say you can edit the access settings in the same way as it is done in account google drive clouds. To do this, simply click on the selected file and from context menu click "Open access":

As a result, you either block access to outsiders to given file or folder, or vice versa, share it for downloading or reading. In general, I have already described in detail the process of setting up access above in the text. When working with objects on a computer, it is completely identical. After installing the application and completing the synchronization, the Google Drive logo will immediately appear in the notification panel (tray):

To open the context menu, simply click on the logo once with the left mouse button. You can choose the action you want, including editing settings and opening the Google Drive folder.

In conclusion, I note that the program provides for some requirements for the system: this application available for operating rooms Windows systems and Mac OC, for iPhone and iPad (iOS 5.0 and later), and devices on Android based. Reference videos (with subtitles in Russian).

Hello, dear readers of the blog site. Today I want to continue cloud storage theme(file hosting), which allow you not to carry flash drives and other media with you, but at the same time have access to the necessary data at home, at work and on the road (from a computer, tablet or smartphone).

Our today's hero (guinea pig) will be Google Drive, which appeared one of the last among the major players in this market (if you do not take into account), but nevertheless has unique capabilities in its arsenal that allow you to gain some competitive advantages.

Features of Google Drive and why it is so remarkable

Before talking about this cloud service to store various important and not very data, I’ll just say a couple of phrases about competitors, of which there are already quite a few:

— seduces with its ability to work with office documents(sharing, work through the online interface). It also has a unique opportunity for this type of service to receive remote access to the contents of your computer from the Internet (not just to the OneDrive folder, but to all the contents hard drives comp). The free plan gives you 7 GB of cloud storage.
- appeared historically first in this market, and in addition to the wonderful opportunity to roll back to previous version file (in free account the history of changes is stored only for the last month) has a convenient (familiar) interface and is supported by a bunch of mobile applications. 2 GB is provided free of charge, which will be easy to expand later up to 16 GB.
- now it doesn’t look like a simpleton compared to competitors, but nevertheless, when I posted some for download on Dropbox, they were blocked after a while, because excessive traffic was created. In Yandex, the same courses are still lying and no complaints have been made about the heavy load. For free here you can get 10-20 GB of free space in the cloud.

5 Reasons to Store Files in the Google Cloud

The main feature, it seems to me, is exclusively convenient online work with files(tests, tables, presentations, graphics, etc.). For the most part, it owes this to the tools inherited from it.
But still impressive is the total number of file types (more than 30) that can be viewed in their web interface from any device (computer, laptop, tablet, phone).
Remarkably, for those types of files that Google Drive does not support, you can install a third-party application.
If we talk about disk space in the cloud, which this service provides free of charge, then everything is quite on the level here - 15 GB. However, it should be borne in mind that this place is given to you not only for storing files in Google Drive, but also for storage, as well as for storage.
If you already have mail in this system, then the login and password from your Gmail mail will do to enter the Drive.
If you do not have a Google account yet, you will have to create one by clicking on the "Create an account" button shown. Everything is simple there - you need to fill in the fields, confirm your mobile phone number and start using it (you won’t be able to create an account without a cell phone number, alas and ah).
Access to files and folders for everyone via the link
Personally, I'm more comfortable provide link access by clicking on the button of the same name in the sharing dialog:
Why is it convenient? Well, after all, not everyone has a Google account (although most do), and link access is like a bearer contribution - whoever has the link gets access.
In this case, you do not lose any opportunities. Even the permissions the same ones can be assigned to this file or folder - viewing, commenting and editing.
You can share as individual files or documents, as well as entire folders with them. Those who follow the link you sent will have the opportunity to either simply view these files or download them (if desired). In general, everything is as it should be in the "best houses in London and Zhmerinka" (other cloud services).
Shared folders are marked with a blue person when viewing a Google Drive folder on a computer.
How to remove a file or folder from your drive from sharing
To remove the opportunity public access some previously shared folders or files, you will need to do the process described above again by clicking on the username to which access was granted:
In the window that opens, it will be enough to click on the cross opposite his name:
Settings Google programs Disk quite primitive (to get into them, just click on the tray icon and select the corresponding item of the three-dot context menu that appears) and the only thing you may need is to log out of your account to enter another one (there are 15 GB and there are so many same).
Oh yes. If you have a situation when the two of you use the same account in My Disk (my wife and I do exactly this), then it makes sense to check the box “Synchronize only these folders” so as not to waste time, space on the computer and traffic on synchronization of "foreign" files you don't need.
Online version of "My Disc" and miraculous recovery
Again, the Google Drive web interface is available at drive.google.com. Naturally, it is also possible from there, and not only from a computer through the program described above. To do this, there is a “My Disk” button located at the top left with a down arrow (with a spoiler).
Actually, find in the download window that opens desired folders or files on the computer, after which a window opens in the lower right corner indicating the download process.
In the Google Drive web interface, you can perform certain actions on the objects available there using the context menu(appears when clicked) right click mouse over a file or folder). Remarkably, the same menu is available when you select a file with the left button and click on the button with three dots in the upper right corner (see screenshot below).
The sharing option we have already discussed will be available there, as well as a number of other options that are not available in the desktop version of Drive.
This, for example, version control, which I mentioned at the beginning of the article (appears only for objects that have changed). Within a month, Google stores all versions of documents and, if necessary, you can always refer to them. You can see them by right-clicking on the file and selecting the appropriate tab.
Let's say you wrote an article in Word and stored a draft on Google Drive. At a certain stage, a fragment of the text was accidentally deleted, and only a few days later they sniffed. You most likely will not find another option for recovering what you have lost (unless you use it).
Voila! In the menu of the required version of the document, click on the "Download" button and your precious information is restored.
You can also in the Google cloud access those folders on your computer that you chose to use when you installed the Startup & Sync program Reserve copy.

All these folders with files are available on the tab "Computers" from the left menu of My Drive. In principle, you can connect as many computers as you like to one account, and all data from important folders will be available to you in the cloud:
Folders on this particular computer are opened by double click by its name:
A very convenient thing, which, coupled with all the other advantages of the cloud from Google, can tip the scales in the direction of using this particular storage service.
On the tab "Available to me"(from the left menu) you will find all the files and folders that other users of this cloud have shared for you (provided access to view or edit). It's also very convenient, you see.
Settings appearance and functionality of the online version of Google Drive you will find in the upper right area.
There you can change the display of files (list or previews), see keyboard shortcuts for convenient operation with the application, as well as see a rather meager set of settings hidden behind the menu item of the same name.
If something remains unclear, then here's a video clip to help you:
Online office from Google based on the My Drive service
As I already mentioned, Google Drive is not just a place to store important data and quick access to them. This is also online office, albeit not as sophisticated as in SkyDrive, but rather versatile and with the possibility of expanding its functionality through third-party extensions.
This means that you can not only store objects in it, but also create or edit them. To create a new file the button of the same name in the upper left corner, or the drop-down menu of the My Disk button is used.
As you can see, it is possible to create a new text document in the online editor (opens in a new window), new table in the manner of Excel, new presentation(ala PowerPoint), new form, well, or a picture in the built-in graphics editor or external, about which I have already written in some detail.
Impressive, isn't it? If these opportunities are not enough for you, then click on the button located at the very bottom "Connect other apps" to expand them. In the window that opens, you can read the description and, if you wish, connect the application you like.
For example, I chose the analogue of the online Photoshop Pixlr Editor, which is well known to me. Now, in the menu of the “Create” button, I have added the corresponding item, after clicking on which I will first have to give permission to this application to access my Google Drive so that it can save the picture I edited in Pixlr there.
Some of the documents created in Google Drive can be embed on your site. For what it may be needed, it is rather difficult for me to imagine, except perhaps to add a form to receive any information from readers. Or, for example, you can display the content electronic documents on your blog pages.
On the page that opens, click the "Start publishing" button, and then in the lower area of the window select the "Html to embed in page" item from the drop-down list. A code will appear just below, which will need to be inserted at the right place on the web page.
Actually, using the example of a table, it will be possible to show one more Google opportunity Drive (Docs) document sharing. A little earlier, we looked at examples of file sharing and were somewhat surprised at the complexity this process. These complexities were just what were needed to implement sharing.
So, again, from the "File" menu, select the item "Sharing", after which a window already familiar to us will open, where you will need to add the name or email address (in Gmail, of course) of the user with whom you plan to work on the document together. There you will also be able to access the link to open. If you forgot what it is, then scroll up the article to a description of access to files and folders.
In addition, you will need to specify his rights and opportunities to work with this document by selecting one of the options from the drop-down list - editing, commenting, viewing. The difference between them is significant, so read the instructions before making a decision.
Google Drive for mobile
I used the application for Ipad and Android in my work, and in general, it did not cause any complaints from me. Some types of files can be edited directly in this application, although doing it on the phone is not so convenient by definition.
The application does not have many settings (the transition to them is at the very bottom of the menu shown in the previous screenshot), but among them there is, for example, the setting for backing up your phone data to the cloud.
In addition, it is possible to automatically synchronize videos and photos with a folder in the cloud (or Google Photos).
It's good that there is an opportunity view files offline. As you understand, when working with Google Drive and any other cloud from a mobile device, no one will upload to it all the contents of the My Drive folder (this is done only on stationary computers and laptops).
However, so that every time your gadget does not spend Internet traffic on viewing the same photos or files (which do not change), you can save them in the memory of your mobile device. AT mobile version Google Drive is implemented by moving the engine "Offline Access" to the active position.
In the same place, you can optionally activate access to the file by link or co-editing this document, perform all sorts of actions on it (delete, move, rename), and also open the file in another application installed on your gadget.
To summarize, then google cloud impression good. There used to be complaints, but now all the flaws have been removed. It came out conveniently, massively and virally. I now use this cloud on a par with Dropbox, although in the latter I still took a paid plan.

Good luck to you! See you soon on the blog pages site
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Online FTP client Net2ftp and Google Alerts - useful services for webmasters

The service allows users to store their data on servers in the cloud and share it with other users on the Internet. This is a single space for storing and working with your files. It allows you to work on documents simultaneously with other users - for example, prepare a joint project with a colleague, plan any event or keep track of expenses with partners. With this service, you can upload to the cloud and have permanent access to any files, including videos, photos, PDF, text documents and many others - only 30 types.

Google Drive will allow you to:

Create files and collaborate on them. Google Docs is now part of Google Drive. Together with other users, you can edit documents, presentations and spreadsheets in real time. In addition, you can now leave comments and reply to them in any type of file (PDF, images, videos, etc.). If other users comment on a shared document, you will be notified.

Protect your files and provide access to them from anywhere, including from a mobile device. All the necessary files of any format will always be at your fingertips - at home, in the office or on vacation, no matter what device you work with. Google Drive can be installed on a computer (PC and Mac), and for mobile devices based on android you can download google app Disk. We are also working on an app for iOS devices. Visually impaired and blind users can work with Google Drive using a special text-to-speech program or a screen reader.

It's easy to find the files you need. You can search by keywords and filter results by file type, owner, and other criteria. With the help of optical character recognition technology, Google Drive even "reads" the text in scanned documents. For example, if you've uploaded an old newspaper clipping, you can search for words in the text of the article itself. In addition, we have integrated image recognition technology into Google Drive. It works like this: if you “drag and drop” photos from your trip to St. Petersburg into it, then when you enter search query[St. Petersburg] they appear in the results.

With Google Drive, you can store up to 5 GB of data for free and upload files up to 10 GB in size. That's enough to store and download "heavy" photos from your trips, scanned emails or essential documents and presentations and HD videos. You will even have space to write a whole novel :) If this volume is not enough for you, it can be expanded up to 25 GB with monthly payment for $2.49, up to 100GB for $4.99/month, and even up to 1TB for $49.99/month. If you choose to use paid features, the amount of your email Gmail inbox will be increased to 25 GB.

Powerful search

Google Drive will help you get to your files faster. Search content by keywords and filter by file type and more. Google Drive allows you to recognize objects in your images and text in scanned documents.

show all

The ability to open more than 30 types of files directly in the browser, including HD videos, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, even if you don't have the program installed on your computer.

Google Drive with your favorite apps

Create, open and share files with various applications directly to google drive.

Start a discussion

Write and reply to comments to receive feedback and collaborate more closely while editing files.

Back to the past

Google Drive keeps track of all changes and when you click on the save button, then a new version will be saved. You can go back 30.

Google Drive available for:

PC and Mac
iPhone and iPad
Android devices

Interface language: multilingual

Restrictions: there is a free and paid version

Hello, dear readers and visitors of my blog, I am very glad that you took a minute and looked at me. Continuing the theme computer literacy, I want to talk today about how to store information in our age of crazy technological progress. Do you know Google cloud? You will surely agree with me that, despite the abundance of gadgets and sophisticated technology, we suffer from a lack of memory. And, in every sense.

Remember how it was before: a family photo involved a trip to a photo studio, all dressed up, fit, exciting atmosphere and all that. There were few photographs, but the owner of the album could tell exactly when each of them was taken, even after many years.

Now the situation is reversed: you can take pictures not only with a camera, which (and not only one!) Is in every family, but also with a tablet, mobile phone, video camera. Pictures have lost their meaning, they are digitized and put into computer folders, they are rarely viewed and even less often printed. Ultimately, they all take up space on your computer's hard drive.

Please note that you need to download the version for a computer (if you install Google Cloud on a PC).

That's all, in fact. The program will start by itself, if not, then run it manually:

To work, just click the "Get Started" button and click "Next" after you enter your username and password in the required window. You can work!

Synchronized swimming

For convenient use, the online storage will create a special folder for storing files on your computer and synchronize its work with the cloud. In the same way, synchronization with android occurs, only you need to install special program on your phone and click the sync button.

If you wish, you can dig deeper into the advanced settings, but, to be honest, you are unlikely to find something interesting for yourself there.

How to use the program becomes clear after installation: the desktop pleases with a fresh icon - the Google drive folder. With its help, you can manage the contents of the cloud. The repository will be accessible from any device that has the corresponding software installed.

In this way, it is much easier to transfer photos or videos from one device to another: you just need to upload the contents to the Google Drive folder, and then go from another gadget and copy what you need to memory. 15 gigabytes is big enough to let your imagination run wild and provides data storage.

Google Drive is good not only because it allows other users to view your documents, but also the ability to adjust access levels, from viewing to making edits, comments, editing documents.

The service assumes the following degrees of "trust", which can be changed at any time at will:

Reading involves only third-party viewing without the right to change anything.
Commenting - accordingly, people who have received access can express their opinion about what they see, but they have no right to change anything.
And, finally, the highest degree of trust is editing with the right to change settings, including access.

A computer

If you demolish all the files that you want to open access to one folder on the Disk and right-click on it, a menu will open in which you need to select the "sharing" item - this way you will open the folder for other users.

Who it will be is up to you, just indicate their email addresses in the appropriate line and indicate the level of access. A click on the button will signal the end of the work. "Ready". For each of the indicated email addresses notification will come.

android

In the Google Drive app, select the file you want to send to someone.

Click menu icon next to the file or folder. It looks like three dots stacked vertically on top of each other. In the drop-down menu, select the item "Access", just like on a computer, specify the email addresses of those to whom you will open the documents and click "send".

It should be noted that even with open access to a shared folder, only authorized users will be able to edit documents.

Protect yourself, sir!

We are all adults, so we must be aware that files placed on the Internet storage can become the property of unauthorized persons, so you should take care of protection:

Password protect important folders and files. Even if the account is hacked, attackers will have to pick up additional passwords for documents;
If you know how to work with archives, then this will greatly facilitate the task: create an encrypted archive, select strong password and sleep well;
You can install the BoxCryptor application and use it to create a secret folder for storing files.

I note that all utilities for working with Google Drive are provided for free, just use it.

I want to make it clear right now: mobile office- this is the main difference between the Google service and other similar ones. With its help, you get access and the ability to work with your documents anywhere in the world, wherever there is an Internet connection. It is to work, and not just to store. Those. – edit, insert documents into websites and blogs, create new ones and share with friends.