How to use the cloud? Instructions for beginners

Recently, not only computer technologies but also mobile technologies have been developing rapidly. In this connection, the issue of safe storage of relatively large amounts of information was very acute. And it is for this purpose that many IT corporations offer users of any type of device the application of so-called cloud services. How to use the cloud and services that are included in the base set of any developer, now and will be considered.

What is cloud storage?

First, let's define what kind of service it is. Roughly speaking, this is a file storage in the form of allocated disk space on the remote server of the company providing such services.

In other words, in a sense it can be called a kind of virtual flash drive, on which a certain amount of data is placed. However, if a USB device needs to be constantly carried with you to access the downloaded information, then access to such a service (for example, the Mail.Ru cloud or the corresponding Google service) can be accessed from both the computer and the mobile device. That is, in the cloud files are synchronized, and you can only view or download them by entering registration data (although in some cases this is not required).

About how to use the cloud, already written a lot. Now let's pay attention to some main points, and also consider the simplest principles of its use, explaining the situation in detail.

Most Popular Services

It goes without saying that initially to use such repositories it is necessary to determine the service provider, that is, to choose the most acceptable information storage service .

Today, such services can be found quite a lot. The most popular are the following:

• Dropbox.
• SkyDrive.
• Cloud Mail.Ru.
• "Yandex.Disk".
• Google Drive (Google Disk).
• Apple iCloud and iCloud Drive.
• OneDrive, and so on.

Before understanding how to use each type of cloud, it should be noted that these services are somewhat unequal, if they are compared with each other. The fact is that one storage can be accessed exclusively from a computer terminal, while others assume the synchronization of both computers and mobile devices. Sometimes you may need a specialized application that plays the role of a kind of guide, sometimes just an Internet browser.

The same is true for free disk space for storing your files, as well as for paying extra volume on a remote server. In any case, most of the services are very similar to each other.

What should I look for before starting work?

Now consider some important points, without which the use of cloud services is out of the question.

The very first and most important thing is preliminary registration, and in some cases it does not matter if it will be made via the Internet using a regular browser or a special computer or mobile application. It takes the entire process a few minutes.

Favorable from fixed systems are different mobile devices with operating systems installed on them. The fact is that when you first turn on to access some advanced functions or stores like AppStore or Google Play (Play Market), the system initially proposes to create an account (registered email address and password). At the same time on the smartphone or tablet already has a pre-installed application for working with cloud services. For convenience, you can install their stationary analogs on a computer or laptop (although you can access it through the browser).

Allocated disk space

Another important point is the amount of disk space that the user receives initially from the free version. As a rule, the volume on different services varies from 5 to 50 GB. If this is not enough, it will be necessary to increase the storage volume and pay a certain amount for this, which includes the costs of acquiring a larger volume and servicing for a certain period of use, which, by the way, can also be different.

General principles

As for how to use the cloud in the broadest sense, everything here is quite simple. After registration, the user only needs to add folders and files, contacts and much more to the store.

In the settings section, he can add friends who, along with him, will start uploading files to the server or editing them (the simplest example is Dropbox). Often, new users can use their own passwords to log into the system.

But that's interesting. When installing a special program on a computer, access to files in the cloud is much faster than when you run the same Internet browser. The same can be said about synchronization. It is enough to put the files in the application folder, and synchronization will be performed instantly for all users who have access rights to the service. Consider the most popular repositories.

Cloud Mail.Ru

So, as it was said above, you first need to create an e-mail box, after which you will see a cloud service in the top panel of the projects tab. This is the cloud "Mile". How to use it? As easy as pie.

Initially, 25 GB of disk space is offered. Files are uploaded using the appropriate button, which can be added several objects at once. The limitation applies only to the size of the downloaded file - it should not exceed 2 GB. Before starting the download, you can use additional functions, for example, create a new folder, after which you can also simply move and delete files. Please note: it does not contain "Trash", as in the same service "Yandex", so it will not be possible to restore the deleted information.

Very useful may be the function of creating, viewing or editing files. For example, we have a Word document (or it is created directly in the repository). You can change it directly in the cloud as easily as if the user were running the editor on the computer. After the work is finished, we save the changes, after which the synchronization takes place again.

For downloading, you can use a direct download process, but if you want to share a file with a friend who does not have access rights to the service, you can simply generate the link (there is a special button for this) and send it by e-mail.

Yandex-cloud: how to use?

With the service "Yandex", in principle, things are almost identical. The functional set, in general, is not very different.

But the developers of this service thought that the user can delete the files completely by accident. This is where the so-called "Recycle bin" comes in, which contains the information when it is deleted. It works like a standard computer service. True, it does not apply to data recovery tools, if they have already been removed from the Recycle Bin. Nevertheless, the function is very useful.

Google Drive storage

Now let's move on to one more powerful service called "Google" - the cloud. How do I use Google Disk? There are no principal differences compared to other services. But here you can get access from the mobile device (built-in service), and with the help of the utility installed on the computer (not to mention the input through the Internet browser). With a phone or a tablet everything is simple, let's look at the computer program.

We assume that the account has already been created. After its activation, the user gets 5 GB of storage. The increase to 25 GB will cost about 2.5 USD. Install the application on the computer, after which the Service folder appears on the desktop (it is also displayed in the Explorer).

As it is already clear, it is enough to put the files in this directory, how the synchronization will occur. While working, the program "hangs" in the system tray as an icon. Right click on the additional menu, where you can see the available volume for downloading files, make personalized settings, expand the storage space, complete the work, etc.

It is especially worth noting one point. As it turns out, copy files to the program folder on the computer, and then download them from the cloud to the mobile device is much faster than connecting the gadget to the computer, and then make copies by means of Windows.

ICloud and iCloud Drive Services

Finally, let's see how to use the cloud of Apple. There are two services (iCloud and iCloud Drive), which are preinstalled on the iPhone or iPad in accordance with the version of the operating system installed on the device. In fact, iCloud Drive is an updated version of iCloud, and for its correct work, the track should take into account that the mobile gadget must meet the stated technical requirements: iOS 8 on the device itself. Computer - with Windows 7 and higher with the iCloud for Windows extension or computer terminal with Mac OS X 10.10 or OS X Yosemite.

Initially, after entering the service, the default folders will be displayed there. Their number may vary depending on the settings of the computer and the client on the mobile device. How to use the cloud in the iPhone? In principle, there is nothing supernatural in this. Just run the application on the gadget (put the startup slider on) and log in with the account. Another thing is when the input is supposed from the computer. Here you need to use the settings menu of the program itself and choose the inclusion already there.

But there are pitfalls. For example, you can open the MS Office document for editing only after the system converts it into the iWork format. Some difficulties arise when sending files. Unlike the same Mail.Ru service where it is proposed to generate a link to a file, here the file can be sent only by mail, as a message or through the AirDrop service. In some cases, in order not to deal with such things, you can go to the Pages section, and already in it to share the message via iCloud. Not very comfortable.

Another minus is a rather low synchronization speed (this is recognized by all). And one more, the most unpleasant moment. If you transition from iCloud to iCloud Drive without updating all the devices to the required configuration, the data in the old cloud will be simply inaccessible, so be vigilant.

Conclusion

Here in brief and all that concerns the question of how to use the application "Cloud" or the same services. Of course, not all the features of such services are considered here, but, so to speak, only the general principles (basics) of the work. However, even with such minimal knowledge, any newly registered user will be able to perform basic operations within 5-10 minutes.