Filesharing in the Cloud We’re Still Learning Ritchey, 2012
We’re still learning about this great new tool Fact 1 - how it’s perceived, used and understood
There are some people who think that cloud Fact 2 computing is related to the weather
Fact 3 54% claim they never use cloud computing
Fact 4 63% shop online The Great Hard Drive in the Sky Lily (2012)
• The Cloud delivers convenience by allowing you to: • Store documents, photos or videos online with services like Google Drive or Microsoft SkyDrive
• Synchronise files stored on multiple devices
• Access those files from any PC, Smartphone, or tablet with Internet Access. The Judge’s Verdict
• “Imagine that a user has a computer file but not the program application needed to open or view the file. Cloud computing will allow the user to access the program over the Internet to view and edit the file as needed. Similarly, if a user needs a computer file he does not physically have with him, cloud computing allows him to access the file over the Internet, wherever the file happens to be stored.“
• Judge Herbert Dixon (2012) Some Examples Stallman & SkyDrive Proprietary Software! PERSONAL INFORMATION COOKIES • Personal information • Microsoft use cookies necessary to use and other technologies SkyDrive to keep track of your • Used to inform you of interactions with their Microsoft's products site and services • Other technologies? The Filesharing Landscape – Competitor Analysis
Share and Synch services
Share and Collaborate services
Services for sending large files
Services for storing and streaming music
Services to store and share photos
Services for computer backup
Torrents and other filesharing services Share and Synch services
Dropbox, SkyDrive, Box, SugarSync, MediaFire
Share and Collaborate services
Google Drive, Office 365, Zoho Services for sending large files
Mega, RapidShare, Sendspace, YouSendIt
Services for storing & streaming music
Google Music, Apple iCloud, Amazon Cloud Player Services to store and share photos
Flickr , Photobucket, SmugMug
Services for computer back up
Mozy, CrashPlan, Carbonite, iCloud Torrents and other filesharing services
Bit torrent
Pirate Bay
Netload
RapidGator.net Streams of Thought
Good V Bad
Privacy
Security
Integrity
Cost Industry Stability
Regulation.
Where is my data?
Data loss Compensation
What happens if my cloud bursts?
Back to Back-up? Product Exploration – Dropbox
Share and Sync
100 Million Users ++
Approx 15% Market share
Company estimated value of $5 - $10 Billion ( Financial Times)
Drew Houston and his USB stick Dropbox for Techies
Written in Python language
GUI toolkits including WX-Widgets and Cocoa
Depends on Librsync Binary – a Delta language (C based)
Storage Amazon’s S3 System – SSL transfers
Encryption – AES - 256 Team Problem Solved by SkyDrive
Share problem – latest updates
Email chains – issue numbers
Missing an entire heading at submission
Google Docs – file conflicts
Welcome to the Cloud