Google gDisk to become official service?

We've all toyed around with those gDisk exploits in the past right? You know, those programs which turned the left-over storage from your Google GMail account into a remote hard drive. Good, because The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google plans to launch a remote storage service as early as "a few months from now." Or so say "people familiar with the matter." While a Google spokeswoman refused to comment on specific storage plans, she did say, "storage is an important component of making Web [applications] fit easily into consumers' and business users' lives." The service would be free (GMail already tops 5GB of free storage) with additional storage available for a fee. Interesting when you consider the launch of Android, Google's possible bid for a chunk of 700MHz spectrum and rumored interest in Sprint's WiMax infrastructure. Hell, perhaps this might even kickoff that rumored .Mac overhaul you faithful subscribers have been waiting (and waiting) for.

[netposer @ Nov 27th 2007 7:04AM]

expoits? You mean exploits.

[Totalfixation @ Nov 27th 2007 7:24AM]

Hindsight this looks like a very convenient idea and may give many benefits, but I see that in the long run invasion of privacy may be jeopardized. How can anyone be so sure what is happening to all the information that is being store on there server? What about court orders that forces Google to hand over your information willy nily? I know Google is just providing service just like any other business in the server storage market. I'm just a little concern over the matter. They are very big and usually the first to be targeted in an event that forces information on there server to be handed over.

[Nick @ Nov 27th 2007 11:24AM]

when in doubt dont a third party store your sensitive material.

[M @ Nov 27th 2007 7:27AM]

.Mac got that overhaul that you were hoping for 2 weeks after that article was posted. August 7th, .Mac was upgraded to a much better offering.

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Nov 27th 2007 8:16AM]

You really think that was a "much better offering"? You are joking, right?

[Chicksta @ Nov 27th 2007 8:58AM]

It also added some enhancements in the past week or so w/the 10.5.1 release... that's the beauty of those sorts of things, they can add features/services at any time, really.

[Chicksta @ Nov 27th 2007 8:58AM]

It also added some enhancements in the past week or so w/the 10.5.1 release... that's the beauty of those sorts of things, they can add features/services at any time, really.

[michael @ Nov 27th 2007 7:36AM]

Well thankfully, there's already Xdrive, that already offers 5 free GB, and has been in : http://www.xdrive.com/service for awhile

And there's also Live SkyDrive, that's still in beta, and only has 1 free GB (for now), but offers a really easy way to make folders public : http://skydrive.live.com/?mkt=en-us

So I'm wondering how Google can outbeat them both.

[Simon Tooke @ Nov 27th 2007 8:52AM]

Because it has penetration and brand recognition?

[Joshua Walters @ Nov 27th 2007 11:12AM]

Because they are google?

Theres also services like media fire, wixi, and rapid share, BUT EVERYONE will use google, simply because its google.

I trust google with my life. I would deffinately trust them with my data, whether it needs to be shared, or kept super secret.

[Carbonize @ Nov 27th 2007 7:57AM]

Personally I'd like to see what would happen if every one filled their 5GB quota. Do we really think Google has that much HD space ?

[Nate @ Nov 27th 2007 9:42AM]

Probably not. But then, your bank doesn't enough money for everyone to withdraw their accounts at once either. Both of them operate on average usage estimates, and (except in rare cases) it works fine.

[RichardBronosky @ Nov 27th 2007 10:46AM]

"Probably not. But then, your bank doesn't enough money for everyone to withdraw their accounts at once either. Both of them operate on average usage estimates, and (except in rare cases) it works fine."

The difference is that most users experience hard disk near full warnings within the first year. It seems that storage/usage follows the model of income/lifestyle. People use all they have.

Most people aren't filling all 5GB of their email storage because they have no means. A gDisk would change this. I would immediately start using it for data centralization and would max it out on day one.

[John @ Nov 27th 2007 11:43AM]

Uh... the average user estimate is how gmail gets away with it now, because 5 gigs is a hell of a lot of email. When you're trying to play file server, your average user could easily be using well over half of the space, and if this gets even marginally popular, that translates into zetabytes.

[marcman @ Nov 27th 2007 8:18AM]

of course companies like microsoft and google want you to store your files online. they can do a better job of targeting ads specific to your life if they can see they contents of your hd. data mining ftw!

[Tonio @ Nov 27th 2007 8:40AM]

You guys haven't noticd that you can already upgarde your gmail storage space?

https://www.google.com/accounts/PurchaseStorage

From 10 GB ($20.00 USD per year) to 400 GB ($500.00 USD per year)

[Italo @ Nov 27th 2007 9:17AM]

WOW! What a deal!! I was going to buy me a 500Gb HD for $120, but now I think I'll pay $500 (it's $500, not $400) for 400Gb EVERY YEAR!!! YAY! I'm so happy!

[Scott @ Nov 27th 2007 10:13AM]

Italo:
It must be uncomfortable having to carry that hard drive with you everywhere you travel, even if it's just between work and home. Since, you know, gmail is accessible from any internet device...

[Seth @ Nov 27th 2007 9:03AM]

You can already buy storage from google
https://www.google.com/accounts/PurchaseStorage

Please select a plan:
Your new plan will automatically renew, but we will contact you 30 days prior to charging your credit card.

10 GB ($20.00 USD per year)

40 GB ($75.00 USD per year)

150 GB ($250.00 USD per year)

400 GB ($500.00 USD per year)

[Waiko @ Nov 27th 2007 9:39AM]

If you're worried about your privacy, just encrypt whatever you upload. It's really not that difficult. Open applications and strong algorithms are out there for free use. Even if someone got a hold of your data, it would take them years if not millennia to crack. Also I doubt your data is that important ;]

This only works of course if the end-user agreement doesn't restrict the use of encryption, which just might be the case...

[Dan Bugglin @ Nov 27th 2007 10:04AM]

Woah when did GMail up to 5gb? I missed that somehow... last time I checked it was pushing 2.5gb.

[Noshino @ Nov 27th 2007 10:19AM]

when I started using
it, it was also 2.5 GB, Gmail keeps increasing its storage, right now is at 5.2 GB...

[John @ Nov 27th 2007 11:44AM]

yeah, I missed that too. Last time I actually looked it was slowly ticking up to 2.8

[zhang @ Nov 27th 2007 11:10AM]

Waiko what are these "Open applications and string algorithms" you are talking about? And do they work on vista?

[Tom @ Nov 27th 2007 11:19AM]

wow, with this, android and the 700Mhz spectrum, they could be a communications powerhouse, not that they aren't already a powerhouse

[Janus @ Nov 27th 2007 11:19AM]

Don't be silly, NOTHING works on Vista ;)

[ark_v2 @ Nov 27th 2007 11:20AM]

Who doubed Google conquering Earth?

[PEZ @ Nov 27th 2007 1:01PM]

As long as andriod will syncronize contacts with a master gmail account, I dont care if they pork fried rice.

[Linh @ Nov 27th 2007 1:05PM]

I hate it when people go bitching around about their data. Privacy? Really, who gives a damn what movie you watch or what you write your ex-girlfriend?? If you have something top-secret, you wouldn't store them there anyway.

[Tom @ Nov 27th 2007 1:37PM]

Yes, i'm totaly onboard with this comment, it seems like everyone has some very sensitive data to hide. The fact that I'm a total nobody surrounded by 5.000.000 other avarage Joes is all the assurance I need that my data will be safe from prying eyes.

[Bee Hatch @ Nov 28th 2007 8:52AM]

GGGGGGGGGGGUnit

It's all gangster here.

I'd use this, bring it out.

[Bee Hatch @ Nov 28th 2007 8:53AM]

Could hip hop artists hang these G-Disks around their neck? Would it be baller?

[Steve @ Jan 14th 2008 4:08PM]

zhang, I'm not sure what encryption algorithms Waiko was talking about, but there are many encryption freeware open apps available. I use Truecrypt. Yes it works on Vista and can use multiple encryption algorithms to ensure your safety. And, as multiple posters have stated, anything 'really' private should be kept off the web anyway. That said, it's kinda funny that many people that say they're concerned about privacy, from are wide open to invasion to a variety of methods from the low tech (non-shredded trash) to the mid tech (non-encrypted, open wireless home network) to the high (non-encrypted cellular communications), to name a few.

For that private data, you just 'have' to carry with you (instead of leaving in cyberspace), you can use an an IRONKEY flash drive.