Ron Schenone

Is A Free Google Backup Service In Our Future?

Posted by on May 23, 2008 | 5 Comments

Well this could be just a rumor for now, but one that makes logical sense. Think about it. With Google offering their apps. for free, their Google Sites for free, their Google Blog sites for free, why not free backups to compliment their other free wares? So it was not a huge surprise when I read a prediction by a well known Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

Over at news.com.au they are quoting the following from

Jason Calacanis, the founder of the people-powered search engine Mahalo, revealed on his Twitter blog yesterday that a new online storage service was coming.

Mr Calacanis, in Sydney for the CeBIT Australia technology expo, told NEWS.com.au the Google service was on its way.

“From what I know it’s coming out,” he said.

“I know people, and I’ve heard that it’s being worked on, and it’s really awesome.”

Online backup services allow people to use the internet like a hard drive, usually on a subscription basis. This is part of a shift towards “cloud computing”, or moving data onto the web so it is accessible from anywhere.

So for now we will just have to wait and see what Google will actually do, but the backup service could become a reality sometime very soon. I know I would use it when it becomes available. Hopefully they will provide ample server space for our important files.

I am currently using MozyHome free which works great. Unfortunately the storage limit is only 2G. But the software is easy to use.

The MozyHome website is here.

Comments welcome.

Source.

  • zenium

    Ron, does Mozy Backup require installing client software before accessing the backup files?

    I’m trying to locate a free backup service where I can place encrypted information files and then easily retrieve it from any computer without having to install software to get the backup file. Available free space is not an issue since the files total less then 300MBs.

    Any ideas?

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi zenium,
    I found this on their website:
    “The third restore option is to restore via the web. Go to the Restore page, login and select the computer and time/date you want to restore data from. Here, you are able to select all the data you want to restore.”

    In fact I just went to my account, opened the restore page, and there were all of my folders and files.

    Thanks for asking the question. I didn’t know this was an option :-)

    So it seems you could do a restore without having the software installed.

    Hope this helps.

    PS Just to be safe, I’d backup your stuff than test the system to make sure it does restore from the web as advertised.

  • Michael

    You can bet that Google will index/catalog your backups for themselves and use it for their gain much like their Google Desktop and their Gmail and all the other things they do not charge for.

    You should always ask “What is in it for them” when Google (or anybody) gives away something for free.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Micheal,
    Points well taken. Thanks for stopping by.

  • Gord

    Am I missing something here, Ron?

    I already have a total of 6.8 Gigs of storage at GMail. If I want to store something off my computer, I just email to myself with an attachment, containing whatever files I might want to store. Zipping gives me some privacy, but I could just as easily sent a complete Acronis backup if it fits in that storage space, and hold it there.

    Nothing I know of prevents passwording, or even encryption for that matter, if I so chose.

    I really detest the idea of sending things to online storage however, since it would have to be the most unsecure of all options I have. Maybe if something was sent to two different locations (sort of backing up the backup) then it might make more sense. I still prefer local options, and that is what I use.
    I also detest this new idea of “cloud” computing.
    To me, it is just a throwback, albeit with much more modern technology, to what we used in the 70s and 80s, and called “Service Centers”. Run by big corps, these were the “savior…so called” of every business that needed to be relieved of the financial burdens of their own computing facility. In reality, it ended up costing more!
    In a nutshell, from what I’m reading, “cloud computing” doesn’t sound much different.
    It didn’t work then (or survive!) and I don’t think it will be much more than a fad this time around either. All any terrorist, or so-inclined nutbag, has to do is to blow up a couple of manholes in major cities which unfortunately contain backbone fibre circuits “between earth and the clouds”. ;-) Goodbye broadband! Goodbye business!
    Anyone old enough to remember “E.T. — Call Home!”