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Get 50GB of iDrive Android cloud storage for 99 cents

That's not 99 cents per day or even per month -- that's 99 cents for an entire year. And every year after that.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
3 min read

A quick bit of housekeeping before today's deal...

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On to business!

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A mere 99 cents buys you 50GB of iDrive storage -- but you need Android to get it. Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
Cloud storage is no longer an oddity -- it's a necessity. You need it not only to back up your most prized data (while at the same time keeping local backups, natch), but also to sync your files, photos, and the like between your various devices: phones, tablets, PCs, and so forth.

Ah, but which cloud-storage service should you choose? There are tons of them, and they're getting more competitive all the time. And here's one of the hotter deals I've seen to date: You can get 50GB of iDrive storage for 99 cents per year. The catch? It's for Android users and new iDrive customers only.

In other words, you need an Android device on which to install the iDrive Online app and sign up for an account. Also, I should clarify that you're actually getting 50GB of backup space and 50GB of sync space. That's a little vague, but it's still a pretty spectacular deal if you're an Android user.

When iDrive first told me about this, I was sure they meant 99 cents for the first year, then a more typical $50 to $100 each year after that. But a company rep told me in no uncertain terms: "It will be the same [99 cents] a year from now. [This is not] a first-year discount or limited-time offer."

Also, it's worth noting that, although you need an Android device to take advantage of this offer, once you have your iDrive account, you can use it across all platforms: Windows, Windows Phone, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Because this offer just went live (I've literally been waiting for them to throw the switch), I haven't had time to put iDrive through its paces. I do know that it can automatically back up your mobile data (including photos and videos), a great perk, and that the Android app has pretty high ratings (4.2 stars on average) on the Play Store.

So if you're in the market for copious cloud storage on the cheap, you'd be crazy not to give iDrive a try. It's a buck. One buck. For the whole year.

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A few of the heavily discounted iOS apps now available from StackSocial. StackSocial
Bonus deal: And, now, something for the iOS crowd! StackSocial just took the wraps off its first iOS app bundle, and while it's not really a bundle (more a collection of individually discounted apps), it's definitely worth a look.

Among the highlights: top-rated remote-access app Parallels Access for iPad for $19.99 (normally $49.99), top-rated printing utility Printer Pro (also for iPad) for $2.99 (normally $6.99), and beloved appointment/task manager Calendars 5 for $2.99 (normally $6.99).