We talked previously about the wireless future of smart devices and Apple's desire to cancel the charging port and data transfer in the iPhone -this link-. And an essential part of being able to make this transition was life in the cloud. For my part, efforts to migrate to the cloud began a while ago. With some success and failure. And with experimenting with Google, Apple's cloud, a mixture of Apple and Microsoft, then settling recently on the product of the search giant Google. Here is my story with it and why I settled in the Google camp even though I am stuck in the Apple system.
Apple cloud features
Of course, since the Apple cloud is firmly present in the foundations of Mac and iOS systems and most of the applications designed for both systems, it is one of the best options for cloud storage across Apple devices. And it is easy to use of course. All you have to do is turn it on with just one click and it will run continuously and in the background to sync all your data, photos, and files. On the Mac, it uploads files to the cloud and removes others from the computer automatically to save space. It really saves space on Mac.
Apple downsides
Although iCloud is excellent, it is not without flaws. The most obvious of them, of course, is the lack of free space. You only have 5 GB of free storage. If you own even medium-sized photo libraries, it can be filled very easily over several days. Also, the prices, although they are no longer exaggerated, are still among the most expensive for users. First, it starts at 50 GB, while Google Cloud starts at 100 GB for the paid plans. Also, Apple's cloud services do not allow you to manage what remains on your device and what goes into the cloud from the photos on the iPhone. There may remain in the device approximately 1.5 GB of image storage in the device to save those thumbnails that Apple wants to display quickly and smoothly. This is at the expense of space, of course.
Storage space
As we mentioned, Apple's storage prices are no longer as expensive as in the past. But it is still more expensive than others. And start at just 50GB. With Google, I found my way in the storage space. Which starts at 15 GB for those who don't need more or want space to experiment at first. Also, Google Photos can store your photos unlimitedly if you agree to reduce the largest photos to 16 megapixels and videos to 1080p automatically by Google. Or you can save it with the full space if it is larger, but it will be calculated from the storage limits.
Also, Google is characterized by different prices to suit each country. In the Arab Republic of Egypt, a capacity of 100 GB costs only 15 EGP every month. And 30 for 200 GB, and only 75 pounds for 2 TB, compared to 190 EGP at Apple.
Ease and control
One of the best features of Google is that it specializes in selling software and systems, not hardware (even if it sells it, but it is not the basis). Google teams seek to make its programs the best and most user-friendly on all devices, whatever they are. I can sync Google Drive to Mac by placing files in the Google Drive folder or even syncing my desktop and any other folder on the device that I want to sync. The downside here is that Google will not delete files from my local Mac storage when I need them. But I think I can do it myself.
Then I can access all of these files on iOS, whether through the Google Drive program, which I prefer, or even through Apple's file browser, which allows you to browse other cloud services.
Also, now I can completely empty my phone of image storage by using Google Photos.
Software that serves all my needs
When I mainly relied on Apple services, I used mainly Microsoft Office programs. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote to work alongside Apple Notes for personal use. Unfortunately, Apple's programs do not provide the same level of file-sharing ability and multiple devices. However, Microsoft's programs are not free from problems as they are not very smooth with everyone in terms of sharing and collaborating on file creation. Especially since it needs a Microsoft 365 subscription that not everyone has. So I've always had a problem with the person I want to work with not having a scholarly article for example to subscribe.
As for Google, I have similar Google programs, the most important of which is Docs, a text editor that has developed greatly since its inception and works on all devices without exception and is also free so I can share it with anyone I want and share editing. Google office software may not have some of the advanced Office features, but it does have everything I want, and rightly so, 80% of people want anyway.
The versatility of devices and the speed of synchronization
All you need for Google programs to work is a backup program for Mac and Windows. It also has its own software on iOS and Android. Otherwise. You can forgo all of this and just use Chrome to access the wonderful Google Drive Store, which works on the browser like a local file browser in exactly the same way as the Windows File Browser or the Finder on Mac. So it is easy for me to access my files anywhere. On one of the library's computers, or maybe at a friend. No problem as long as I have my own Google account.
Also, although I have appeared as someone who does not deviate from Apple devices, I own a Chromebook. It is a small laptop running on Google's lightweight Chrome OS. It is very fast, light and simple, as it is light in weight and small in size, so I use it when on the move or in the university often instead of the Mac. And with Google programs, I have access to all my files. I can also use it without the Internet as Google programs such as Docs work without an internet connection, no problem.
It should be noted that Apple enables you to access some of its programs and the iCloud store via iCloud.com, but it is not at all effective and requires a permanent internet connection, unlike Google's programs designed primarily to work on the browser and which have the ability to work offline.
ICloud is still under service
Although I consider that I have completely switched to Google for my main business, I don't think I can completely leave iCloud. I cannot do without the Apple Notes app for a lot of personal notes and it is better with i-Cloud. Also, many programs on iOS sync their data to Mac via iCloud. Although I still use the service for easy syncing and improving my life, I can be satisfied with the 5 GB space provided by Apple for free, as it suffices for some notes and the like 🤷♂️.
In conclusion
Loving a company's products doesn't just mean being aligned with them as if we are competing teams. Ultimately we are users who want to get the best features at the best rates. Therefore, we benefit from the diversity of companies' offerings and the competition between them. So that we choose what suits us and make our lives so much better.
This is what I felt when I explored the products of every major company to create a system that fits my life perfectly. What is your system?
I agree with everything you said, but I find the backup in the cloud a big problem, as 5 GB is not enough to make a backup for my iPhone, and I may have to buy two spaces in Google and Apple at the same time.
I have a question about the Apple cloud .. I use Google for working files. As for Apple, for Mac, iPad and phone, I have a problem as you mentioned that Apple uploads all the pictures and gets rid of the purchased space. Is there a possibility I can delete the pictures from the cloud ?? And how do I do that by transferring all the images to an external hard disk or Google Cloud?
On a Mac, you can go to the Image Program and copy all the images from it to the hard disk you want. Then delete them all from the program.
If you want to prevent the photos from being stored in the cloud completely, go to the icloud settings and turn off the icloud photo library or Apple Photo Library.
You can easily transfer them to Google Cloud from iPhone by downloading Google Photos and then running Backup. Then, after completing it, you will find a button in Google Photos that scans the photos from the iPhone and thus the Apple cloud.
What do you think of My Cloud Home from Western Digital?
What is wrong with it and its advantages and the extent of its safety because I am very confused
My Cloud is not bad. In principle, it differs from the usual NAS devices. You must always be online to use it and it cannot be done over a LAN as you would expect from similar devices. He has also been criticized for reasons of security problems. The company says it fixes problems, but it keeps popping up. Its application is not as good as the applications of companies such as Google and Microsoft, and it is not as comfortable as it is to view and browse files over the Internet (of course these are personal opinions that you may like). Also, I don't know how easy it is to share files right.
The features are that it has an excellent price. Approximately $ 150 in one go for 3 TB of storage space on some shows. It also contains alluring properties.
You can read more at this link
https://www.cnet.com/reviews/wd-my-cloud-review/
this too
https://sharpshutter.co/reviews/wd-my-cloud-home-review/
Can we know the difference between Google Drive and Google Images?
They are both the same service. The images program is to facilitate browsing of images and to obtain additional features. Drive is for storing and browsing files just as you would on a computer.
They both store the Google One space you purchase (or the free 15GB).
Photo program allows you to store endless images without being cut off from your storage package if you choose to store while keeping the image size less than 16 megapixels and the video at the limit of 1080p.
ICloud problem is high and expensive. I pay them $ 3.99 a month. But your brother is forced, not a hero. Google, I am afraid of it, especially security, confidentiality and privacy. I do not trust Google. This forced me to pay a monthly fee because Apple was forced to.
Would you please share links to news that made you fear Google's safety and privacy? In order for the benefit to be permissible for us using Google Images
Because we've heard iCloud photo hacks of celebrities and more
After my experience with Google, Apple and Microsoft, I went to Microsoft with an Office subscription and found this choice that is the best for me and my business needs.
For me, I put the pictures in the Apple cloud in the picture sharing folder and arrange them in the form of albums, and for the videos I put them in Google Drive because they are large in size.
Google considers a world of imagination in terms of services and features that Apple is impossible to keep pace with, but what knows its value except for those who delve into it will see the wonder and we have in our brother the author of the article a lesson .. Apple was famous for its strong and superstitious technical development in the days of Steve Jobs, and then it became a tradition in the tradition of the greatest example. When they added the Bluetooth feature, they were locked, the idea of bluetooth in the IOS system, which is accustomed to the IOS system when it goes to Android. True, Apple was famous for the system, but in the world of the net, protect yourself by yourself
God gives you just
Is there a difference between Google Drive and Google Photos, and which one is better for storage? Please clarify and thank you
They are both the same service. The images program is to facilitate browsing of images and to obtain additional features. Drive is for storing and browsing files just as you would on a computer.
They both store the Google One space you purchase (or the free 15GB).
Photo program allows you to store endless images without being cut off from your storage package if you choose to store while keeping the image size less than 16 megapixels and the video at the limit of 1080p.
The question that baffles me is whether there is any intrusion-safe cloud storage among those on the net
According to the research that I did a while ago, I did not find almost anyone I asked with experience in this field who advised me of any of the services defined on the Internet to store
This is a question that is still stuck in my mind ??????
Usually yes. Cloud storage at major companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Dropbox is highly secure.
But nothing in the internet and technology world comes with 100% guarantees. There is always a risk of a technical vulnerability or a breach. This is not specific to the cloud only, but locally Apple devices are one of the most secure devices against penetration to the point of conflict with governments that companies have been able to penetrate.
This is how technology is. It comes with risks. Although the risks for the average user are small, the insurance is now increased, of course.
In my opinion, it is not worth the risks to refrain from using the technology.
But if you are asking whether these companies monitor what they intentionally store or use, the answer is no. No one will intentionally intrude your data.
DropBox is second to none (from my own experience of many years)
Too many advantages!
I strongly recommend it!
Reemas
Thank you for the topic and regarding the notes program, you can use google keep, which works as efficiently as the Apple notes program, moreover it is present on all different operating systems and can work directly via the internet browser, and you can also share some notes with others.
Try it and you will not regret it.
There is no doubt that the cloud is welcoming for services from companies competing for subscription storage, from my humble experience the best of them is Microsoft's service. And don't crack your head like an FTP program. Not to mention full integration into Office programs.
The prices are reasonable as well, the confidence in security remains, the trust with Microsoft is less than the apple, but things have been shown to be "good" so far.
For me, I subscribed to all the popular clouds such as OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud and Google Drive, and through the use I settled for more than 6 years on the giant Dropbox and iCloud of course, in fact Dropbox meets all my needs on all devices and all devices The value of the subscription is relatively cheap on space, which is 2TB at $ 119 annually in addition to many services, and now I have 1TB space on all OneDrive, which is part of the Office 365 package and I use it little to store work temporarily, as for the total reliance on Dropbox only, and on the iCloud side it is An almost compulsory service to sync the contents of the iPhone and iPad, except for photos and videos, so I subscribed with a limited space of 200GB, which is enough for me
I liked your fairness and your liberation from the nervousness of the one company👌👍
In my opinion, the best of all is to buy a (NAS) device that enables you from local storage and also to access everything via the Internet if you are abroad.
I have a Mac XNUMX TB of which I use XNUMX GB only for the projects I work on, and sometimes less, and the rest of my clamshell (about XNUMX TB) on Synology NAS and its services is the best in my opinion
A subscriber in ICloud 200 GB and the opinion of the best thing is the family sharing feature, which allows sharing space with a family of up to XNUMX individuals, and of course this is more suitable for iPhone and iPad
Really an excellent feature, which is also present in the Google Cloud
Peace, mercy and blessings of God
I do not have an iPhone, but a Samsung, and the speech at the top may be correct, but I previously encountered a problem when uploading photos or videos to Google Drive, which is a long time, as if the upload does not end, and that is when selecting all at once
I also heard that the Mega service is excellent and has strong protection, but there was an encryption key or something similar, and I do not know what is the wisdom of using it
I previously used Dropbox, and I encountered a small problem in it, which I do not remember exactly
Ok, the question is how to do the storage drive for iPhone, just like iCloud
The google photo has the feature of live photos and portrait, so that when I put them on the mobile again, I can be fairer in their features !! 😎
What about privacy, and is it correct for Google to have the right to access and use your photos?
No, this is unreasonable.
Apple Cloud prices are the same as Google Cloud prices
The 200 GB is 10.99 SAR
The matter varies from country to country
Sync photos, use Google Photo, with the free version, but the rest use Apple services
I have become a subscriber for two years with 100 Geha, pay 19.99 dollars annually, and much better than Apple Cloud
If you try Google keep, you will not return to Apple Notes
Easy synchronization .. and easy access from the browser
Google Keep is really nice and I use it for some notes, but Apple Notes has more features and better design for me.
I always prefer Apple Cloud because it is more secure than Google
What about Backup for iPhone, can I do it on Google ???
You can back up photos and you can backup all files including Files. But automatic copies of all the system like icloud are not allowed by Apple.
I have all the devices with a high space of over 256 GB and thus an iCloud 50 GB is also sufficient to place the necessary files that I may need at every moment
I want to rely on one place, frankly, Google, nor any cloud, one drive, or dropbox. What do you think?
For me, I see Dropbox as excellent, easy and fast, and you can use it as if it were a local file on your device, whether a phone or a computer (this is for storage services in general). As for backup and ensuring that all your contents on the phone are not lost, of course, iCloud. In short, for storing and saving all files, Dropbox, and for backup storage of names, notes, mail, application contents, passwords, and backup storage of the entire system, except for photos and videos, of course, iCloud.
I think Dropbox is the best for storing files, as Brother Saeed said
It works as if the files are on your device
And you can make files on your device or leave them only online. The (smart snc) feature
And when looking at files
It searches all files online and files on your device
However, you did not tell us the method
I know it is possible to use Google Drive to store files and pictures
But what about other services for the system, such as saving files for use between devices, such as PDF files and images
Can it be obtained without downloading it every time or what?
For example, I want to send a message with an image or a PDF that is already stored on a cloud service
Is it possible to add an attachment in the e-mail or other Google cloud as it can be done with the Apple cloud?
Yes, you can store all files and get them without downloading them every time. They are temporarily downloaded and you can make the files you want available offline.
All my personal photos upload them to the Google cloud As for notes and files, the iCloud cloud is sufficient 😅
Hello.
My experience is very bad with the cloud because I bought a monthly subscription for 200 GB to store the photos, which amount to approximately 140 GB, in the notebook pro, thinking that I will gain this space in it, but I was shocked that the cloud refuses to take all the pictures, but turns a small percentage of the pictures on Apple's whim and remains The Mac suffers from a lack of space for which I bought the monthly subscription, and now I decided to buy an external hard disk of a category XNUMX soil and transfer to it what I want to preserve, and then empty the space that I want in the Mac, and I will abandon the cloud forever. And we proclaimed the highest prayers and peace be upon him.
Your brother Radwan al-Maghribi
Dear, you can change this in the image settings and save more space on the device
Old School 🤣