Amazon Cloud Drive

[Andrew B.]

Any thoughts about the Amazon Cloud Drive?

[Bo Aakerstrom]

Had not even heard about it until now. I use Dropbox, which is much the same thing, plus I can have an email address set up for clients to use when they send me large files.

As a non-US resident I couldn't help but noticing the following in their blurb, "If you purchase an album from the Amazon MP3 Store, you may be eligible for a free upgrade to 20 GB of Cloud Drive space for one year (this promotion is open to U.S. customers only).".

[Steve Rindsberg]

"...5 GB of free online storage that you can access from any computer."

"Amazon Cloud Drive allows access from up to eight devices."

So ... any computer unless it's not any computer.

And ...

"Note that this device limit can be reached if your web browser cookies are deleted or if your browser is set to automatically delete cookies."

Eight sessions with my standard browser settings and I'm screwed. What's not to dislike?

"You can still access your Cloud Drive files and music using Amazon Cloud Player through the eight devices you've previously used."

Presumably unless you've deleted the cookies, in which see "screwed" above?

They sorta bounce back and forth between talking about "files" and "music files". They never make clear whether there's really a distinction in the way they're handled, or if they did, I missed it. Wait. Amazon Cloud Player vs Cloud Drive? If that's it, then see "screwed" wrt regular files. I'm guessing that they really mean to limit playback of purchased media to eight devices, not access to any file. Perhaps they should get a human to read this stuff before they post it, if so.

"If you sign up for a Promotional Plan THAT AUTOMATICALLY UPGRADES, UNLESS YOU chOose not to upgrade,"

DoOd ... UR splckr iz a lUSR.

"You give us the right to access, retain, use and disclose your account information and Your Files: to provide you with technical support and address technical issues; to investigate compliance with the terms of this Agreement, enforce the terms of this Agreement and protect the Service and its users from fraud or security threats; or as we determine is necessary to provide the Service or comply with applicable law."

IOW, what's yours is ours if you're fool enough to upload it here.

"We do not guarantee that Your Files will not be subject to misappropriation, loss or damage and we will not be liable if they are. You’re responsible for maintaining appropriate security, protection and backup of Your Files."

And what's yours is anybody's if they can get at it. Not our concern. Oh and best be sure to back up the files you're backing up here.

I'll stop now. ;-)

[Bo Aakerstrom]

Originally Posted by Steve Rindsberg

I'll stop now. ;-)

Saving some for later, eh.

I guess that part about backing up what you back up here, kind of defeats the object.

[Steve Rindsberg]

>> I guess that part about backing up what you back up here, kind of defeats the object.

I'm sure it's just lawyers playing CYA, but it doesn't make too good an impression, does it.

And I saw nothing in there about what happens if they decide that they can't afford to supply 5gb and bandwidth to all comers and decide ... "Nevermind, shut it down."

Having your data backed up to multiple locations makes great sense, more yet if they're widely separated, but I have trouble putting much faith in invisible people who live in some imaginary place at the other end of a wire, especially when they all but promise to give access to my data to anybody with a governmental interest.

And imagine how suspicious I'd be if I actually had anything to hide! ;-)

[Andrew B.]

Well then, if not for general storage it could be a backup for mp3 files you buy at Amazon. Amazon gives you the choice of sending your purchases there, along with the ability to download from there. I just did this with one purchase.

[Steve Rindsberg]

Sure ... one more button click to have the files stored in an additional location, and for free, and w/o stressing your bandwidth? Yep. A nobrainer.