OpenDrive

This cloud service is great for storing, sharing, collaborating and backing up your data. Once you upload a document to your OpenDrive account, you’ll be able to sync it across multiple computers, giving you access wherever, whenever. This includes using your Apple iOS devices, including the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

What sets OpenDrive apart from some cloud services is you’ll be able to make changes to files on any of your devices, and those changes will be saved on all synced computers and iOS devices. For example, if you write a report at work and decide later that you need to make changes, you can open the OpenDrive app on your home computer and make changes. They will appear on all the computers you’ve synced to this cloud service. There is an option to make changes then save and create a new document, if you wish.

Once you’ve uploaded your files to OpenDrive, you can share links to specific documents with others so they can collaborate with you on them. You can find and copy the links from the OpenDrive cloud service app or from your online account. No one will be able to access anything without your providing a hotlink, plus all your data and files are very secure, using a 128-bit encrypted SSL (secure socket layer) connection.

The public folder is also a great way to share files and collaborate with others, and fortunately it isn’t open for anyone online to find and access the files. You can allow certain users to only see specific items you upload, such as a report you’re working on with a co-worker. But they won’t be able to see vacation photos you’ve uploaded to your OpenDrive public folder for your friends and family to view.

When collaborating with others, any changes they make will appear across all synced computers. You won’t have any issues with trying to figure out which document version is current since changes are made across all devices in real time.

If you don’t have a Mac or Windows PC with the OpenDrive app downloaded, you can log into your account from any browser and access the document to make changes. When you click on the document you want to view or edit, an online app opens, which allows you to make edits to your document easily, just like with using a Microsoft Office application. Since the file is synced, changes will appear across all you computers and iOS devices you’ve set up with OpenDrive. You can also create new documents in OpenDrive from your browser, and sync them with your devices and other users.

You can set up OpenDrive to back up all your important data by downloading the app to your Windows PC or Mac and setting it up save whichever files or folders you’d like to back up. It’s always important to have an excellent backup strategy, and this cloud service comes with this option. Your files and folders are backed up safely, so if your system fails, you can restore your data easily to your new computer or hard drive.

You’re not limited to just sharing and syncing documents with this cloud service, but also photos, music and videos. Once you’ve uploaded, you’ll be able to view these across your synced computers and iOS devices. Playback is fairly smooth and the quality is great with both music and videos.

The only thing you can’t do with OpenDrive is sync your email and calendar, but being able to upload, sync, share and edit your documents via this cloud service is a great feature.

Mobile Access

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8.8/10

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You can access your OpenDrive account from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with their special app. It’s easy to use the app to access and read documents, collaborate on files with your colleagues and stream videos or music. This is an especially useful feature if you’re using a smaller capacity iPhone, such as an 8GB or 16GB model, and you can’t fit your entire collection of music and videos on your iOS device.

Once you've set up your account, you can begin uploading your data and content to your personal OpenDrive cloud. From there, download the app and sign into your account and you’ll have immediate access wherever there’s a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

Ease of Use

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9.4/10

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As with any quality cloud service, OpenDrive is easy to set up, then essentially gets out of your way while it backs up and syncs your files in the background. It is also relatively simple to share your files with others, and the collaboration tools work great so you and your colleagues can work on documents online without trouble.

While working between multiple operating systems and devices, including Windows, OS X and the iPhone or iPad, can be tricky, OpenDrive’s intuitive apps and website interface keep things simple so you’re not clicking around trying to find certain features or files.

Help & Support

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10/10

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OpenDrive offers several help and support options, including a FAQs page, a user forum where you can interact with others and a Twitter page where they post advice or any potential issues with the cloud service. If you have further questions or need technical support, you can contact them via email.

OpenDrive Summary:

9.2/10

OpenDrive’s greatest feature is allowing you to create documents on one computer then access and edit them online with your iOS device or another computer. This cloud service makes it perfectly easy to sync all your files across every device you own. It’s a great tool for collaborating with others, plus sharing your files, photos, music and videos is very easy, and the quality of playback is great. We’d like to see access to other mobile devices, such as those powered by Windows or Android, but as long as your mobile devices are made by Apple, you're covered.

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