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Google Drive launches

Posted: , by Michael H.

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Google Drive launches
Google Drive has officially launched, and the details are pretty much what we expected. As we've said before, we expected Google Drive to be nothing more than a rebranding of Google Docs with new desktop and mobile apps for offline syncing of files, and that looks to be exactly what we're getting, because the Google Drive app is now live in the Google Play Store, although it is really just an update to the Google Docs app. 

Google is calling Drive the "evolution of Docs". As we knew, the storage has been upped to 5GB for free, and the other upgrade options have changed a bit: it's still $5 for 20GB, but now higher plans are monthly costs up to 16TB. The new URL http://drive.google.com is also now live and will provide a walkthrough of the changes. One new change that is buried a bit is the addition of apps to the service, which will be found in the Chrome Web Store. Currently, there are 17 apps from various services like DocuSign, and Aviary. 

The new Android app (the iOS app is likely on the way) updates the UI and adds easier options for finding newly edited, uploaded or shared files. The app is laid out better for easier navigation and there are more options for sharing and selecting contacts to share. And, of course you can now upload/download any type of file, which you could do before with Google Docs, but not in the mobile app. 

Google Drive is available for free in the Google Play Store, and there are desktop apps for Mac & PC as well. We'll let you know when the iOS version hits. 

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1. eaxvac posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:03 4 16

Dont trust the Googlightning guy.

8. RaKithAPeiRiZ posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:22 6 4

the symbol looks too much illuminati

2. gwuhua1984 posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:03 8 5

Just turned on my Google Drive service, and I'm really loving it.

3. taco50 (banned) posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:03 4 18

Fandroids please respond about 5gb of free storage. You bashed Apple saying they were ripping off consumers.

4. RaKithAPeiRiZ posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:07 12 2

i got 50gb free from box .....

5. blade19 posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:13 10 2

I got the same!

16. protozeloz posted on 24 Apr 2012, 13:00 5 1

same here, plus the extra storage is way more cheap on Gdrive and they have a handful of webapps that make editing documents and other stuff quite nice

17. GALAXY-S posted on 24 Apr 2012, 13:01 1 1

soo did i!! :)

28. TROLL posted on 24 Apr 2012, 17:56

So did i 2.

29. GENARAL.LEVY (banned) posted on 24 Apr 2012, 18:03 1

And me aswell

7. MichaelHeller posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:21 12 2

With iCloud 5GB was for everything: docs, photos, music, etc. With Google Drive, it's 5GB for everything, but if you use Picasa, you get another 1GB for photos (or unlimited photo storage if you're using auto-upload from G+), and if you use Music, you get 20,000 songs storage free.

Drive is just a locker. If you want to use the files, you still use other apps. Besides which, iCloud upgrades are far more expensive, what would cost you $5 on Google (20GB) costs $40 from Apple. Apple's $100 tier would get you just 50GB, while $100 on Google would get you 400GB and would span across all Google products including Gmail, Picasa, etc.

Not a Fandroid, just someone who understands the products involved.

11. taco50 (banned) posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:28 3 15

not true Michael music and video don't go against storage

13. MichaelHeller posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:33 9 2

my mistake, also Google did just change the pricing plans, so 200GB would cost just over $100 a year, not 400GB. still more storage for your money than iCloud though.

14. gwuhua1984 posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:36 2

Michael, I think Google change the pricing plan to Google Storage plans. It's now $2.49/month for 25GB each for Drive, Picasa and gmail, $4.99/month for 100GB for Drive and Picasa, 25GB for gmail.

12. gwuhua1984 posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:29 2

I don't know what happened, I saw the $5 for 20GB earlier. When I went in to check again right now, they have a completely different pricing from before...

9. networkdood posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:22 1 3

It will hold 4 RAZR ROMs....not much space

21. sulabhgupta posted on 24 Apr 2012, 14:11 3 1

I don't understand iCloud at all. You can't access files through the Finder, you can't view your photos unless you pay for a newer version of iPhoto, you can't even access pictures online at iCloud.com. It is by far the worst cloud service out there. And he says "It works like magic", what bullshit ?!!?

24. JunitoNH posted on 24 Apr 2012, 15:14 2 1

Have to agree with you on that one. I like Apple, but by far iCloud has to be the ugliest and most difficult UI to understand.

27. eyephone (banned) posted on 24 Apr 2012, 17:51

Me to

6. sudhar131998 posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:19 1 2

whoah a 16Tb online storage???? That's too much for a rebranding of documents unless they are planning something major other than the usual media stuff

10. MichaelHeller posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:22 3 2

That tier is more for businesses, because the rebranding does expand to Google Apps as well.

15. tward291 posted on 24 Apr 2012, 12:39 1 17

booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo​oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo​oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo​oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo​oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo​oooooooooooooo

22. tward291 posted on 24 Apr 2012, 14:54 2

the guy up top got it going on MS all day F9ck apple and your dame Android

23. Roomaku posted on 24 Apr 2012, 14:55 2

Im just fine with my 25 GB skydrive. Except the limit on file size is a pain.

25. MichaelHeller posted on 24 Apr 2012, 15:14 1

didn't that just get reduced to 7GB?

26. tward291 posted on 24 Apr 2012, 16:59

if your already using it they let you keep the 25 for free

30. djripster posted on 25 Apr 2012, 08:17

Still not available for my account :(

31. troybuilt posted on 25 Apr 2012, 10:18

Yes, I'm getting the same thing. It says "We'll email you as soon as your Drive is ready". That's all I get since yesterday.

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