online ministry tech - cloud storage

Though I wrote my "online ministry tech" series just over a year ago, the recent burst of free and ample cloud storage prompts me to add this topic as an entry to that series.

Cloud storage is digital file storage not on your computer hard drive or a memory stick or CD/DVD... it is figuratively "in the clouds."  (Actually, it is stored on a remote hard drive or storage device at Google, Amazon, or any number of places that specialize in storing data.)

In 2011, cloud storage went mainstream with Amazon, iTunes, Google, and others starting to offer free offsite storage simply for opening an account or using their products.  As of this posting date...

Amazon has offered cloud storage they refer to as the Amazon Cloud Drive.  They offer 5GB of storage free with an Amazon account, and much more with paid plans.  This will store mp3s, movies, Kindle books, or even your own computer files and is accessible from any computer using your user name and password.

iTunes has offered iCloud - also 5GB of free storage with a free Apple ID.  New i-devices default to backup data to the iCloud, but 5GB is only barely sufficient for core contacts and information; photos and music quickly over-run the space (when the smallest ipods now hold 8GB of music); but paid plans are available for more.  This is tempting, especially if one hasn't backed-up all that carefully accumulated music.  (I have about 30GB of music on my laptop and carry much of it on my iPod)  What if it's all lost in a fire?  Or my computer dies?  A year or two ago I backed up much of it to DVDs, but that was really tedious and not something I'd do with regularity.  And I've added a lot of music since then.  But I also couldn't bring myself to pay Apple to store music that I had already bought from them.

Well, there's Dropbox... but it only comes with 2GB of free storage, though with a student (.edu) account and lots of friend referrals, you can apparently build that up to a total of 18GB with no charge.  I'm up to 10.5GB, but also use much of that syncing all my files between three computers.  I do still think Dropbox is a standout among the cloud storage sites because of the local software that allows creation of the "dropbox" folder on one's computer.  But, for sheer storage space, read on...

So, when I last posted about Dropbox, someone mentioned Box.com (same as Box.net)... I checked them out and they give 5GB of free online storage, along with some nice collaboration and sharing features for those files.  So that matches up well with Amazon and iTunes.  But **here's the thing** - last week I ran across a special promo that Box.com is running.  If you download the free Box.net (yes, I know they are inconsistent with the name) app for iPhone, iPod, or iPad, and create a new account before Dec. 2, they will give you 50GB of free storage.  Clearly, competition for customers is ramping up! 

Right before I found that deal, I also found Adrive.com, which gives you 50GB free any time.  But it is clunky and has limitations on the size of files uploaded.  Once I found the Box.com deal, I left it behind.  But if you miss the window for the Box.com deal, it's worth checking out for that large storage space.

And finally, last week I also read about Google Music, which is offering online storage of music files (any type) for up to 20,000 songs (approx. 100GB!). These can be accessed from any computer or device, though it is initially geared to be an iTunes alternative for Android-based phones and devices.  (Having said that, there is an iPhone/iPad app for it, too).  Google provides a desktop program to help upload all your files to their cloud storage.  This is a good alternative backup for the music, though a small percentage of DRM-protected files won't copy (I haven't figured out which ones; it's not ALL my purchased music.).  This is a nice feature because I will be able to access 98% of my iTunes (and other) music from any computer or device, any time.  Google Music also allows a one-time sharing of an entire song... good for FB and other links.

So, how have I used this new-found online storage?  So far, here's the plan...

• Adrive (50GB on my e-mail) - backed up all my iTunes music and the movies we have purchased from iTunes; we've purchased movies from Amazon, but Amazon let's us re-download those any time (iTunes does not).
• Box.com (50GB): am backing up our digital family photos from the past six years
• Google Music (20,000 songs or approx. 100GB?): am backing up my iTunes, Windows Media Player, and other music files to this one location; I may then remove the backup on Adrive and use that space for something else.

The only real hiccup in this frenzy of online backing up... even the fastest Internet connections (like at my church) are generally only fast DOWNLOADING (we are about 10Mbps).  But the UPLOAD speed is .6Mbps, and that's what is being used to send my files to the clouds.  So backing up 30-50GB of information is a long process... I set it running overnight and pause it the next morning.  I seem to remember that the Charlotte airport has 11+Mbps up AND down, so I may save my laptop music backup (the big one) until my next travel venture.

Anything you'd add?  Please comment below!