Cloud Apps for Tablets and Smartphones

September 28, 2012

I’ve written about cloud computing previously in this blog, but let’s take a second to recap what "the cloud" is: accessing your files and applications remotely via the Internet rather storing the files and programs on your device. The trend toward tablets and smartphones replacing laptops has made the cloud even more desirable. These devices typically have storage capacities of 64 GB or less, making cloud storage and services very attractive for their users. So, if you’re running out of space on your smartphone or tablet, you might consider the following apps:

• Dropbox (Android, iOS, Blackberry, Kindle Fire)
• Google Drive (Android, iOS)
• iCloud (iOS)
• SkyDrive (Windows Phone, Android, iOS)

Most of these services offer free storage (typically 5-10 GB) with additional storage available for a fee. Additionally, Google Drive and Microsoft SkyDrive are integrated with Google Documents and Microsoft Office Web Apps. Many people don’t own a computer, or if they do, don’t want to spend the money to buy a full-fledged productivity suite like Microsoft Office. Also, while USB flash drives are very convenient for storing files created on our public PCs, they are easily lost. I can’t count the number I’ve lost or run through the washing machine. Thus, I frequently recommend that library customers use Google Documents or Microsoft Office Web Apps for creating and/or storing important documents such as resumes.

Another great feature of cloud apps is that they allow a user to sync their files across all of their devices. For instance, I have an iPad, an iPhone, and a MacBook Pro with multiple external hard drives. I no longer worry about which file (or which version of a file) is on which device or hard drive. I just look up to the cloud.

Jeff D.
Grandview Branch