Tablets, whether from Amazon, Apple, or Android, are extraordinarily popular today, and a large number of people who own these tablets actually use them for many of their traditional computing needs. The tablets are quite powerful, have ample storage space, and they are easy to take with you. Thanks to the cloud services that are available today, it helps to make these devices even more beneficial. The following are four of the top cloud services used by tablet owners.
Each of these following cloud services is available across platforms. You can use them on PCs, Macs, smartphones, and all manner of tablets. Since they are “universal”, it helps to make them extremely valuable for those who want to have access to their files no matter the device they are on.
Dropbox
While there are certainly a number of companies that are offering cloud storage available for tablets and other devices, Dropbox has one of the most recognizable names. As with most cloud services of this type, there is a very basic free version that’s available. However, you will find that it doesn’t offer too much space – only 2GB. Of course, if you are only storing documents, this is a lot of space. Those who want to use the service for photos and videos though will want to upgrade to the paid plan. The Pro plan is only $9.99 a month, and it comes with 1TB, which is 1,000GB, of storage space. This should be more than enough for most people.
However, a number of businesses are using the service as well. They provide a good deal for companies that need this storage space. It is only $15 a month per user for an unlimited amount of space. No matter the level you need to choose, they are available for use on your tablet as well as on other devices.
Dropbox is a very simple to use application, and most casual tablet owners will find that the free plan is enough for their needs. However, upgrading is very easy if they decide they need to have a bit more space.
Google Drive
Tablet owners who are searching for cloud services that can offer them a substantial amount of free storage space will find that Google Drive is an ideal solution. As with other offerings, there is a free and a paid version available. One of the elements that helps to make Google Drive a better solution than Dropbox for the casual tablet owner is the amount of free space they receive – they get a whopping 15GB. However, it is important to remember that this is connected to your Google Account, and all of the data you have under the “Google umbrella” of Gmail, Google Calendar, and YouTube will count toward this 15GB limit.
Google has a number of different paid plans available at different tiers or levels. The prices are on par with the other cloud service storage devices that tablet owners tend to use.
• 100GB – $1.99 a month
• 1TB – $9.99 a month
• 10TB – $99.99 a month
• 20TB – $199.99 a month
• 30TB – $299.99 a month
This is a good and cost effective solution for those tablet owners who want to keep connected with their data in the cloud. However, some do not want to feel as though they are tethered to Google all the time.
OneDrive
Formerly called SkyDrive, OneDrive works across tablet platforms and on computers, just as the other services do. Similar to Google Drive, the application allows users to upload 15GB of data free. Once you start looking at the rest of their pricing tier though, you will find that it is actually a cheaper option.
• 100Gb – $1.99 a month
• 200GB – $3.99 a month
• 1TB – $6.99 a month
If you need to have the extra storage space, and you want to save a few dollars each month, this could be the better option for you. Also, those who are also using Office 365, you will have 1TB of storage space automatically. This is a huge savings. One of the great things about Office 365 is the fact that you can use it on tablets. Having this platform, along with the OneDrive cloud storage system could be very beneficial for those who want to work with their tablets.
One of the things that make this different from the other systems though is the user interface. Those who are familiar with the design of the Windows 8 interface will find OneDrive, which is a part of Microsoft, to be very familiar. If you are not fond of the new Windows interface, then you might not like this. However, when it is on a tablet, it is far more intuitive and simple to use.
Shoebox
The focus of the Shoebox cloud application is on photos, and it derives its name from the fact that many people used to store their photos in old shoeboxes. This cloud application stores all of your best memories in the cloud, and it comes with a number of features that make it pleasant to use. You can create shared galleries with friends and family, use their Explore and Timeline features to check out some old photos you might not have seen in a while, check out photos based on the camera you used, the location, the season, and much more. Photo lovers really enjoy all of the different options that are available.
Two versions of Shoebox are available. There is a free version and a paid version, which is only $5 a month. The free version features unlimited photo backup, access from all devices, screen quality backup, and encryption for better security. It also offers 15 minutes of video backup. The only real difference with the paid version is that you will have original quality backups, as well as ten hours of video backup. For those who take a lot of video, this is a very good option. However, it might be wise to start out with the free version to get a feel of the software and to make sure it is right for you.
Since this has the potential to store, quite literally, all of the photos that you have and that you take in the future, you will never be without them. Since so many people today love the cameras on their phones, and want to show off their pictures, this is a great option.
Many Other Options Available
These are just a smattering of some of the most popular cloud services used for storage by tablet owners today. A number of other options are out there and readily available. In addition to cloud storage, there are other apps available as well. As the power of the cloud grows and as tablets become an even more important part of daily life, you can expect the number of options to increase quite a bit.