Computer hardware: Service

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Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Canonical Releases Windows Client for Ubuntu One Cloud Storage Service

Ubuntu One, the cloud storage service available for Ubuntu versions 9.04 and higher, now has an official Windows client. Previously available as a beta, Ubuntu One for Windows gives XP, Vista, and 7 users a free 5GB of cloud storage space in which to keep their files.

Ubuntu One works a bit differently than, say, Dropbox, a competing cloud storage service: for example, if you'd like to sync your My Documents and My Pictures folders, Dropbox would require you to store them within your Dropbox folder, while the Ubuntu One client allows you to select folders anywhere on your hard drive for syncing. Once synced, your files can be accessed from Ubuntu, Windows, and Android devices, as well as through the Ubuntu One web site.

For users with more storage needs, Canonical will bump your space up to 20GB for $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. You can also add an Android and iOS-compatible MP3 streaming service (which also includes the 20GB storage upgrade) for $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year.

Source: Canonical

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Sunday, 5 June 2011

Apple iCloud service to replace low-quality tracks with pristine ones?

Apple's iCloud music service is set to upgrade your low-quality tunes to higher bit-rate tracks stored in its cloud-based music locker, thanks to its licensing agreements with major record labels.

Business Week cites three sources who confirm that the license deals Apple is in the process of putting in place with labels will allow the company to scan a user's music collection and 'mirror' it virtually, avoiding the hassle of uploading your 1,000 song strong collection.

Apple has reached agreements with three major labels and is close to inking a deal with the fourth, Universal Music, according to BusinessWeek's sources.

All about the Benjamins

It's all about clawing back revenue from consumers who shifted to the free music model all too easily, regardless of the ethics.

Labels are said to be "negotiating aggressively" to make sure a slice of the cloud-music pie ends up firmly on their plates, revenue that will come from users' subscription fees.

It's looking likely that the iCloud service will be bundled with MobileMe, Apple's data back-up and synch programme, which currently costs £60 a year.

"It may be the last opportunity to stem rampant piracy and years of plummeting sales," says Business Week, which seems a little bit fatalistic to us.

Of course, nothing's set in stone until an Apple exec gets up on stage to tell us all why we won't be able to live without the music service; no doubt we'll hear all about it on 6 June at WWDC.