ZumoDrive for webOS: Cloud-Based Storage for Music and More 35
One of the more exciting recent developments for webOS has been the ability to access real-time online storage from anywhere, to extend the non-expandable 8-16 GB of available on-device storage for the Pre and Pixi. First, Grooveshark enabled uploading of one’s music collection for access via its webOS software, and now, technology firm Zecter has released a new webOS client for its ZumoDrive remote storage service.
It is, as mrkalel says, hot.
The basic ZumoDrive service and desktop/webOS software are free, including 1 GB of online storage (and an additional 1 GB for completing the quick “Dojo” training exercises), with additional storage available for monthly fees ranging from $2.99 for 10 GB to $79.99 for 500 GB.
To use the service, you need to download and install a desktop client (available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux) and the mobile client (the webOS client for Pre and Pixi is available here; there are also iPhone and Android versions), and create an account for the ZumoDrive service. After designating particular folders and files on the desktop as ZumoDrive files (either via a right click or drag-and-drop onto the ZumoDrive desktop icon, or directly uploaded via your account on the ZumoDrive Web site), they are automatically uploaded, and then appear both on the Web and within the ZumoDrive application on the Pre.
Another nice feature is that, if you link particular desktop folders to ZumoDrive, you can choose to have changes you make on the desktop versions synchronized with the ZumoDrive-stored version. Note that there may be some delay between the time files or folders are sent to ZumoDrive from the desktop and when they are uploaded and available either via the Web or the webOS client, depending on how many files/folders you are uploading, how big they are and the upload speed of your desktop’s Internet connection. You may also customize the settings on your desktop for your particular needs and connection.
In addition to making files available for yourself, you can also use ZumoDrive to share particular files or folders with other users; as with services like DropBox, others with whom you wish to share are sent e-mail messages notifying them of your offer, and directing them to install the ZumoDrive desktop software in order to access your files. You can limit their access to read-only, or allow them to upload and edit as well.
While you can share any type of file via ZumoDrive, webOS still restricts the types of files you can view or access via the Pre/Pixi client to music, pictures, documents, PDFs and others for which a viewer program is set on your phone; as a test, I shared a folder containing IPK (homebrew) programs, but while I saw the files in the webOS ZumoDrive program, I could not install them by clicking on them. Media files like music and videos will stream from ZumoDrive to your phone, although the quality of that streaming will depend on your Internet connection (ZumoDrive claims that streaming music at least can be done over 3G and EDGE networks; it isn’t clear from the site whether video can also). ZumoDrive also offers additional features including support for iTunes, playlists and revision controls, although they may not work fully on the Pre and Pixi because of other limitations (iTunes DRM and ongoing lack of Office file editing). For now at least, the webOS client is one-way only; you can access and view files stored in ZumoDrive, but can only upload via the desktop clients; You can’t use ZumoDrive to, for example, free your Pre’s memory of photos or videos you take while away from home or office.
So if you're the sort who's into cloud-based storage and if you have more files you’d like to access than you have available space on your Pre/Pixi, wish to share files with other users via their desktops and smartphones, and/or you are frequently away from the computer on which your key files are stored, ZumoDrive is a welcome addition to the webOS environment.
Pros
Up to 2 GB of free cloud-based storageCons
Viewing limited to file types supported on Pre/Pixi
35 Comments
I have been using zumodrive on my desktop for a couple months, this was a much anticipated app for me, I really like it. I doubt I will use it ever for music, but I do know that when I tested it, the song only played about 30 seconds then died, don't know why.
Awesome !!! I have been waiting for something like this !!!
Same here. I use SugarSync, but they apparently have no plans to make a WebOS app. Might be time to switch.....
Believe me guys... its take all of 10 min to set it up and get the extra gig as well... and it is damn worth it...
How and why? What's the big deal?
I must be missing something...
Sounds alright, but why wouldn't it be able to connect through an IP address or something on your computer at your own house and be able to search through your computer at home.?
This is more of what i'm looking for, and i would be able to search, (probably pretty slow) all my photo's and mp3's on desktop and then transfer or stream over my my own internet?
This would be really good over WIFI
What you describe is something I would buy. I would prefer it sync to my Windows Media Sever the same way my PS3 and other windows machines in my house. I'm not sure which version of Windows Media Player introduced the feature but it is really nice for keeping things on a massive ugly PC in a back room and using a small HTPC in every other room.
I bet the windows 7 phone will be able to do it right out of the box. not that I'm going to switch for that, I love my PRE.
AmpachePre does that. I use it all the time and it works fine. I can access all 45gb of my music and all my photos etc from my Pre.
Where can I find ampachepre?
you should check out Orb, a free site that lets you connect to your home pc to stream content to your mobile device. Mycast.orb.com ; I wish they would also make a webos app.
I moved from KeePass to LastPass because they offered a webOS app. If Dropbox don't get their act together sharpish I'll be moving to ZumoDrive for the same reason.
huh? I don't get your comment. The dropbox mobile web site (dropbox.com/m) does everything the zumo app appears to do, and has done for months. You just don't have to install an app.
The concept of this app is excellent, however I am having issues with getting my mp3 files to play. I get a spinning circle constantly when I try to play my files.
You have to first click the music button and then the audio in the format the Pre/Pixi will play will be displayed.
I have the same problem when clickin into a particular music file, and when I do get a song to play, it plays for 30 seconds and switches to another song automatically without me pressing anything. I think this app is good for photos and documents, but horrible for music which I needed.
interesting. Ill give this a try.
Zumodrive takes care of many aspects missing in Google Apps with their lack of support on the Pre and anything besides Android.
Smart move and excellent service Zumodrive providing excellent webOS Support and taking advantage where Google is falling asleep. Sorli...
Hmmmm... Sometimes selecting an mp3 file will cause it to play within ZumoDrive, other times, it sets up a stream. I have a 345 Mb mp3 that just spins...So this doesn't do what I was hoping - providing an easy way of transferring files to the Pre (instead of the hassle of using a cable or setting up the SFTP server). Maybe as the client matures we will be able to actually download to our Pre. Then use Internalz to move the file to the correct place.
hmm i just tried it out..but it's too damn slow..i'll pass it up..thanks
If you need more space you should bring your laptop with you. HAHA.
great idea though
Is anyone familiar with GlideOS? It offers 30GB of online storage along with the ability to set automatic synchronization. I tried to access it, but it utilizes Flash for the ui.
Does anyone have any idea how that might function with the forthcoming flash player?
you guys should check out a program called everything search engine. this is a search application for your pc but it can function as a web server as well. i have it setup so that i just type in my DNS server name along with the port that i have specified the Everything search engines HTTP server to run on. all of my files are password protected but once you log in you can search anything on your computer and stream (correct file formats are necessary) things to your phone. may be something to check out http://www.voidtools.com/
Wow, thanks for posting this.
I just downloaded it, I am not using it for music but for storing important documents that I need for work and it works awesome!
I love it and I am glad that these guys put out a webOS app.
I would like to know why no one is saying anything about the free 25 Gig storage from Windows live skydrive. I am able to up load music and stream it to my Palm pre I can even upload pdf files then download them from skydrive. All for free.
I use Skydrive but I have not even been able to successfully download a word document on my Pre from it.
Awesome app! $2.99/month to double the size of my Pre... it's a no brainer!!!
I also don't get it...
Why can't someone just make an app that will allow the pre/pixi to view shared folders on a windows network? Then all that would be needed would be to drag and drop files onto your desktop shared folder, load the folder with the pre/pixi and tell the app to move or copy to the pre, hopefully allowing the user to pick the destination drive. It seems like a lot of work to just do what a lot of systems and phones let you do now with a laptop/netbook computer.
I'd love to do this type of cloud storage, sharing and streaming. However, I want to do it with my own servers. I have plenty of space on my own systems in my home office that I can use. Would love to figure out how to do that.
You guys should check the EULA / Terms and Condition for the ZumoDrive, just like other spyware.
It collects your browsing history and what not, and give you 2Gb space in return.
Proceed at your own risk, just saying.
I really don't think PreCentral should help promoting apps that works like spyware to begin with.
I reviewed both the "Terms & Conditions", as well as the "Privacy Information" on the ZumoDrive site. Neither document contained anything I would define as "Spyware" or invasive. It uses "Cookies", but what service such as this doesn't/wouldn't? I also use the "WOT - Web of Trust" extension in Google Chrome, which rates ZumoDrive as a "Trustworthy" site.
I installed both the Desktop and Pre clients, as well as setting up a Free account, including the upgrade to 2GB. After a few test runs, I am EXTREMELY pleased with both the service and user interface. I can also confirm that I am successfully streaming (on EVDO) MP3 music files on my Pre with zero cut-out or any other issues that I've seen mentioned.
I'm also finding this a much more convenient and automatic method of keeping various Word and Excel files updated and properly synced on my Pre. This method definitely beats USB connecting my device to the PC.
Short Term Usage Grade... A- (easily turns to a "+" with a few more tweaks)
Just think about this: they're not running a charity, and they're there to make money. How do they recoup cost of the 2Gb storage, AND make money while you're using it?
I don't doubt there's any problem with the zumodrive website itself; it's the application that you download from their site and install on your desktop (not the one on WebOS, yet) that I would like to point out.
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From the privacy policy:
"We also use third parties (service providers, consultants, partners, etc.) to facilitate the Services, including, but not limited to, sending email, processing payments, providing computing servers, storing data and personal information, managing databases, and monitoring and analyzing the performance, reliability, and user experience of the Services. In connection with these business operations, these third parties may have access to your personal information for use in connection with their business activities and tasks on our behalf. As we develop our business, we may buy or sell assets or business offerings. Personal and aggregate information is generally one of the transferred business assets in these types of transactions. We may also transfer such information in the course of corporate divestitures, mergers, or any dissolution."
Thanks for the review. I want to point out that we are making it so ZumoDrive will appear as a network drive instead of a removable drive soon. Also, we have another feature in the pipeline that will silently watch any folders that you point to; it make those folders available in your ZumoDrive online and on the other devices. That should eliminate the need of periodic backups all together.
video sender
I LOVE this app. I tried Ampache and no matter what, could never get the server to read my config php file. Tried on two different machines and two different OSs and had no joy. Was going to give up, but decided to try this out first. Couldn't be any easier. It took about three days to upload one gig of music, but I could stream songs as they came available. Set up was a breeze, and once I tagged all my songs with media monkey, I have all my album art. It does shut down the music stream every once in awhile, but I won't complain since it is free. Things I would love to see added to the pre app are.
1. Create Flylists.
2. Dashboard.
3. Song/shuffle bookmark memory when the stream is shut down by user or crash.
Great product! Thank you to the devs who brought it to WebOS. I will try it for about another month and then will probably get some form of premium account. I see a lot of potential for this.
THis is a great product but I would like to see better pricing plans/options
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