drive

Combine cloud storage in RainbowDrive

Rainbow Drive solves multiple problems in one fell swoop. For many people, cloud storage is a reality -- especially on the iPad, which has limited internal storage. You need somewhere to store photos, music, videos, and work files. However, it can be hard at times to find those files, especially when you can't remember if they are in Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud storage altogether. Rainbow Drive is designed to fix that problem.

The idea is simple. Download RainbowDrive and log in to your Dropbox, Google Drive and SkyDrive accounts so you can find all of your files … Read more

Get started with Google Keep

Google just made an announcement introducing Keep, its new note-taking service. Keep is currently available for devices running Android 4.0.3 and up, or through the Google Drive Web site. Notes will automatically sync between the Web site and the Android app.

After installing the Android app you'll be prompted to select the Google account you want to use with Keep. Once that's done, you can begin keeping notes. There are four different methods you can use to enter a note:

A quick note directly from the text box on the initial screen. Add a checklist by … Read more

Google Drive goes down for many users

Google Drive was having some hiccups earlier today but apparently has since recovered.

The online file storage site had been inaccessible for a large number of users today. On its status page, Google initially said that it's "investigating reports of an issue with Google Drive" as of 7:17 a.m. PT and that it will "provide more information shortly."

A second update on the status page offered a bit more information:

We're aware of a problem with Google Drive affecting a significant subset of users. The affected users are unable to access Google … Read more

Add your videos to iTunes and watch them on all Apple devices thanks to VideoDrive for Mac

Not all video-capable devices support every format, which sometimes makes conversion a real pain. VideoDrive for Mac allows you to easily manage all your videos via iTunes and play them on your iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Apple TV in just a few steps, making it easy and fast to take your videos with you anywhere.

At first launch, after a spooky warning, VideoDrive for Mac will propose to install both Perian and Handbrake to be able to function properly. The installation process is smooth. Thanks to Handbrake, the conversion is fast and will make use of every available core on … Read more

Samsung's S Voice Drive app might not suck (hands-on)

During Samsung's questionable launch of its marquee Galaxy S4 smartphone, the handset-maker introduced S Voice Drive, a breakout version of its S Voice assistant designed specifically for use when on the road.

After the show, I got my hands on an untethered version of the Galaxy S4 and tested it out. Or at least, tested the driving app as much as I could while sitting in a plush, fold-down chair so deep inside a massive theater that I could barely register a GPS signal.

The interface looks smooth, a constellation of circular icons that represent all you can do … Read more

Wireless mobile storage expander roundup: Your iPad wants one of these

It's really a shame that the iPad, or any tablet or smartphone for that matter, comes with such a limited amount of internal storage -- usually around 64GB (OK, there's a 128GB iPad, but it's just too expensive). And after the operating system and apps, the remaining space for digital content is much less than that. This is the reason a wireless storage expander is a must for savvy users who want to carry their entire digital library around with them.

The good news is there is now a relatively big selection of these type of devices. … Read more

Hotmail, Outlook, SkyDrive hit by service disruptions

A handful of Microsoft Web services have been inaccessible for hours this afternoon, including Hotmail and Outlook.

Frustrated users of the e-mail services and cloud storage service SkyDrive complain about the services' hours-long inaccessibility.

#hotmail its my own fault for not leaving you a long time ago, but man its miserable not being able to get your email

— Michael Fish (@MFishFinancial) March 13, 2013

Come on #hotmail I want to check my emails! You've been down for AGES!

— Catriona MacIntyre (@catmac6) March 13, 2013

Error, #Hotmail is down. Click the link "check latest status update" The update? &… Read more

Best Windows 8 laptops with optical drives

If your laptop shopping list includes a touch screen, SSD storage, or even NFC, finding a new system shouldn't be hard. But if you're still tied to your optical discs and need a DVD or Blu-ray drive, that's another story. This once-ubiquitous feature is hard to find in new Windows 8 laptops, largely restricted to older models that have had Win 8 slapped onto them and to a handful of larger desktop replacements.

As laptops continue to get thinner, a charge led by ultrabooks and the MacBook Air (and the MacBook Pro with Retina Display), I suspect we'll see fewer and fewer optical drives.

Slot-loading drives are easier to fit into a small chassis than tray-loading ones, but like Ethernet ports, optical drives may become an added cost that PC makers feel most shoppers can live without, thanks to online gaming, music, and movie services, and the growth of cloud computing.

Since the launch of Windows 8, we've reviewed only a handful of laptops that include optical drives. The list below gives our favorites, and a few that weren't quite as warmly received.… Read more

Top 5 solid-state drives: It's upgrade time

Now that you have learned all about solid-state drives (SSDs) and even know how to take care of one, the only thing left is buying the SSD itself.

Any of the following drives will be a single upgrade that makes your computer feel like new, if the machine is currently running on a hard drive. Some of these drives can prove to be great upgrades even when your system is running on a budget or older-generation SSD. In short, it's upgrade time for many of you out there, especially when most of the drives listed here now cost less … Read more