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Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside

By | August 1, 2011, 4:33pm PDT

Summary: Who needs Live Mesh, YouSendIt, or Dropbox when desktop Ubuntu Linux comes with its own built-in free cloud file and music-streaming client and service?

Things can get really confusing when you start working with cloud-computing but we can all agree that having cloud file-storage is a good thing. It’s just so much easier to keep files in a universal storage box in the sky than worrying about whether you put the right USB drive in your laptop bag when you left for work. At this time though only one mainstream desktop operating system comes with the cloud built-in: Ubuntu.

Instead of having to use an extra service, like Windows with Live Mesh; wait for Apple to get iCloud deployed; or use a third-party services, such as YouSendIt or Dropbox, Ubuntu’s been coming with Ubuntu One, it’s built-in cloud file client and service, since Ubuntu 9.10 was released in October 2009.

Ubuntu One, which recently passed the one-million user mark, has had some recent improvements. These have made it much more useful. For those who prefer more storage, which is pretty much everyone, Ubuntu One Basic, the free service, has changed its name to Ubuntu One Free and it now comes with 5GBs of free storage Instead of 2GBs.

If you opt for the paid Ubuntu One Music Streaming service in addition to music streaming, you’ll get an additional 20GBs of storage. For $3.99 a month that’s not bad. Need more room? It’s $2.99 a month for each fresh allotment of 20GBs

On top of that there’s also now Ubuntu One file and music streaming clients for Android There’s also an Ubuntu One iPod/iPhone/iPad music streaming client. It’s my understanding that an iOS file client is also in the works.

If you use Windows as well as Linux, there’s also a Windows Ubuntu One client. This is still in beta, but I’m told that it will be getting new features and pushed out to the door for general release soon.

Last, but far from least, Canonical, Ubuntu’s parent company, has finally opened up the Ubuntu One App Developer Program. The application programming interfaces (APIs) are also publically available now. Canonical is hoping that will, besides just improving the clients in general, will help lead to the creation of an Ubuntu One client for Macs.

All-in-all, Ubuntu One’s a good deal. I use it myself. I’m looking forward to the arrival of the cleaned-up Windows client and the Mac client, so I can recommend Ubuntu One to all my computer using friends-and not just the ones that are sold on Ubuntu Linux.

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Desktop, Ubuntu, Desktop Linux, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, UNIX, Storage, Open Source, Workload Optimization, Software, Hardware, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, aka sjvn, has been writing about technology and the business of technology since CP/M-80 was the cutting edge, PC operating system

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Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.

Biography

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, aka sjvn, has been writing about technology and the business of technology since CP/M-80 was the cutting edge, PC operating system; 300bps was a fast Internet connection; WordStar was the state of the art word processor; and we liked it!

His work has been published in everything from highly technical publications (IEEE Computer, ACM NetWorker, Byte) to business publications (eWEEK, InformationWeek, ZDNet) to popular technology (Computer Shopper, PC Magazine, PC World) to the mainstream press (Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, BusinessWeek).

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December 19 update Ubuntu derivatives and Ubuntu 1
pfyearwood Updated - 19th Dec
@pfyearwood I installed Pear OS, an Ubuntu disguised as OS-X. If you have the Ubuntu repos active, you can install and use Ubuntu 1.

Enjoy the holidays.
Paul
View in thread
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
daikon 1st Aug
Kudos to Ubuntu.

Hooah
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Imrhien 1st Aug
I totally forgot about Ubuntu One. I'm gonna sign up now =D
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Cylon Centurion 1st Aug
Does Ubuntu One run on Windows? No? Then I guess I'm sticking with Live Mesh.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
daikon 1st Aug
There is a Ubuntu One for Windows, yes it is beta.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuOne/Windows
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
kirovs@... 2nd Aug
@daikon
Please do not destroy the fragile world where Cylon Centurion lives!
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Cylon Centurion Updated - 2nd Aug
@daikon

That's what I mean - "beta" - so, no.

Besides Ubuntu one has nothing on Live Mesh. Where's the remote desktop feature? wink
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
kirovs@... 2nd Aug
@Cylon Centurion
You have never used Linux so it is forgiven you do not know there are many remote desktop options and configuring in Ubuntu means just checking few boxes.
I just wonder why are you here?
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
priyamvaidya 2nd Aug
@Cylon Centurion

yes ubuntu can run inside windows as a software.... you can do this by installing ubuntu through Wubi client
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Earthling2 Updated - 1st Aug
Its just so much easier to keep files in a universal storage box in the sky than worrying about whether you put the right USB drive in your laptop bag when you left for work.

It's a solution looking for a problem.

Why not access your work files at home over a VPN? How's leaving files "in the cloud" easier? Do you like limited space and slow access both from work and home?
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Is the glass half empty?
Dietrich T. Schmitz, *~* Your Linux Advocate 2nd Aug
@Earthling2

Honestly, give it up. Supposing you don't have access to your home computer? Supposing you don't have a VPN?

You know, there is really a viable product being described here that even Microsoft endorses and provides equivalents for that you don't seem to accept.

The Cloud. It's here and for good.
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If you don't have access to your home computer...
TheWerewolf 2nd Aug
@Dietrich T. Schmitz, *~* Your Linux Advocate

What's the likelihood you have access to the 'Cloud'?

It's exactly the same kind of connection.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
tmsbrdrs 2nd Aug
@TheWerewolf
Not having access to your home computer could mean just not being at home or that your machine is off (energy costs or power outages).
If you don't have a VPN, that keeps you away from your files just as much.
What Ubuntu one and the other cloud file storage providers do is eliminate this problem by hosting where you can get your files. It's just that simple. The files are there, you go to the site, you get your files.
If you're going somewhere without internet, that's the only problem.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
ItsTheBottomLine Updated - 2nd Aug
@TheWerewolf I was thinking the exact same thing. He so blinded - it's down right funny.
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@Earthling2 .. Yeah right
thx-1138_@... 2nd Aug
"...Why not access your work files at home over a VPN?"

.. and you expect the average Jane & Joe, that can't tell the difference between a floppy disk and an adult entertainment device to be able to configure and setup a VPN at home? .. not even considering the cost of implementing said service through their respective ISP's.

This is a great opportunity for the public to get a free OS (in Ubuntu), free live storage capacity of 5GB's, and a great chance to learn a comparatively new Linux flavor - with no strings attached.

If you don't like the idea of the cloud .. that's your prerogative. You even had a minuscule, fraction of a point .. but lost it in the midst of your rant, why? because this is a completely free OS and ancillary cloud service - so you haven't a leg to stand on, buster.

3/10 for the FUD mongering,
8.5/10 for melodramatic effect
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
tiderulz Updated - 2nd Aug
@thx-1138_@...
well, the average Jane and Joe dont use Linux either. They are afraid of it, think it requires you to be techie and dont understand it. And it doesnt cost anything to set up a home VPN. If i really want cloud storage, i use A-Drive. 50 GB of free storage with no client, web browser it all it needs.
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@tiderulz .. since when the
thx-1138_@... Updated - 2nd Aug
.. **** did you care what average Jane & Joe do? You're obviously only concerned with flaming .. and since you're obviously a MS Sales Rep' shouldn't you be focusing on the latest Toyota Camry ? You know? the one you've been coveting for so long??

Oh, and news flash scooter, i'm fairly certain the article is actually aimed at Ubuntu users / enthusiasts .. not trolls paid by a multi-national: sent to spread baseless crap, tired rhetoric and the same old FUD on anything OSS.

" ... And it doesnt cost anything to set up a home VPN."

It does if you want the best. But then again, if you self righteous chumps are gonna suggest this stuff, at least have the common courtesy to recommend or provide a link or two for average Jane & Joe. But you know, either way, it doesn't change the relative complexity for average Jane or Joe .. and since you have reading comprehension problems, your friend suggested, and i quote: " ... Why not access your work files at home over a VPN? " . Indeed .. so, why not enlighten the readership instead of offering empty lip service. (Hint: You might start by explaining the benefits of IPSec versus PPTP, or maybe how to manage VPN sessions (if a user chooses PPTP) or how to manage certificates - by Client (if a user chooses IPSec for VPN tunneling)).

At any rate, i think your lunch break is over .. i'm pretty sure they're not paying you by the blog ... if they did, based on your crap reporting skills, the nearest you'd get to the latest *any* car, is sleeping in a cardboard box under a freeway billboard of [...place make & model of car here...].
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
jgm@... 2nd Aug
@thx-1138_@... Install Opera. Activate "Opera Unite" and tell it what files you want to share. Voila! Home cloud. happy
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
sullivanjc 2nd Aug
@thx-1138_@... Something like Tonido isn't that hard to set up. However, when a home computer is shared with others as it often is, uptime would be more questionable.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
tiderulz 2nd Aug
@thx-1138_@...
wow, dont know where that rant came from. As being an obvious MS sales rep, i own a MBP, dual-boot my home machine with Win 7 and Linux Mint. i dont stick to one OS, i like to dabble in them all. And since i do, i get a lot of calls from family (as anyone who knows IT does with their family) and many family havent heard of linux and many more have no idea how easy it might be for them. I put my 90+ yr old grandparents from Vista to Linux Mint almost 2 years ago and except for an issue with 1 printer driver, they have been happy as can be. But they wouldnt have done it, as an average Jane & Joe, if i hadnt suggested it to them.

And i set up my home VPN with my router, not with my OS. didnt cost me a cent.

and my, you have quite the rant going on. My lunch break is over, but as i have a six-figure job that allows me to do what i want during my work hours. I could act as young as you seem, and say that my job doesnt force me to ask people if they would like to super size their fries with their order like your job must do, but then, i think that people reading our 2 posts can see who is slightly insane and who isn't.

Good luck with that. Purge your hate, you will live longer.
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Or worse...
TheWerewolf 2nd Aug
@Earthling2

Putting your files on the Cloud and then finding out you don't have 3G access or the company you're at doesn't let you have access to Dropbox - like the company I work for.

I'll stick to memory sticks or pocket drives. I can store 1TB and I never have to worry about getting access to it.
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very good point made on alternitives .......
SoYouSaid 2nd Aug
1TB storage can/will accomplish one hell of a work load, etc ...... no one ever talks about the real world short comings of the cloud .................
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
jgm@... 2nd Aug
@TheWerewolf It's also much faster to access and doesn't advance toward your home Internet data cap.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
fawlty70 Updated - 2nd Aug
deleted
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Ubuntu One works well
root12 1st Aug
Ubuntu One has improved a great deal. I use Ubuntu One on my Ubuntu 11.04 and it's great, it works behind the scenes. I deleted Dropbox, as Ubuntu One does it now (although Dropbox still has more features which I don't use anyway). Sometimes I use Mac OSX so I wish they made a client for that.

I live an uncluttered computing life without any Microsoft product lock-in.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
CobraA1 Updated - 1st Aug
@root12 Never experienced this "lock-in" you claim Microsoft has. Most things Microsoft are supported by everybody else.

And Dropbox isn't a Microsoft product anyways. Live Mesh is Microsoft's product.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
kirovs@... 2nd Aug
@CobraA1
Noone claimed Dropbox is MS product.
And yes, MS locks you in as much as they can. Not as much as they wish, this is what Apple does.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
CobraA1 1st Aug
@root12 "Sometimes I use Mac OSX so I wish they made a client for that."

So why NOT continue to use Dropbox, then? They support MacOS X.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
root12 Updated - 2nd Aug
@CobraA1 Because I found it slow and UbuntuOne now does what I want it to, it has improved alot. Sometimes Dropbox is used when others want to share a file. Ubuntu is my main machine, and UbuntuOne integrates very nicely, and I would rather support Ubuntu.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Rama.NET 1st Aug
Ubuntu One is not Live Mesh. SkyDrive is the right one to compare. Let me guess I get 25GB for free with SkyDrive and in order to get 20GB on Ubuntu One, I have to shell out some $. Yes in order to get 25GB on SkyDrive, I don't have to buy or invest in Windows. I can access it from my Linux or OSX box too.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
CobraA1 1st Aug
@Rama.NET

"Ubuntu One is not Live Mesh. SkyDrive is the right one to compare."

I'd agree, they're trying to become SkyDrive, not Live Mesh.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
CobraA1 1st Aug
"At this time though only one mainstream desktop operating system comes with the cloud built-in: Ubuntu."

So an OS that barely hits 1% of the desktop market has it built in?

*yawn*

Apple's gonna have their cloud soon enough anyways, and that's gonna have a bigger impact. And it's not as if Live Mesh and Dropbox are really all that inconvenient anyways - they install easily and quickly.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
daikon 2nd Aug
@CobraA1
Don't cause yourself any heath issues worry about Ubuntu One. Those that use Ubuntu One are going to be just fine.

The freedom of choice is beautiful.
Great article Steven.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
CobraA1 2nd Aug
@daikon

"Don't cause yourself any heath issues worry about Ubuntu One."

LOL. Amusing read, you are. If anything, this makes me feel better.
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If ..
thx-1138_@... 2nd Aug
@CobraA1 .. as you say, its, "... an OS that barely hits 1% ..", why do you feel the need to comment on it??

If, as you so often allude to, it's insignificant, why do feel the need to come across as so threatened? This article is obviously aimed at the "1%" .. what's your angle, if nothing more than to troll?
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
CobraA1 2nd Aug
@thx-1138_@...

"If, as you so often allude to, it's insignificant, why do feel the need to come across as so threatened? "

I don't. Why do you ask?
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I don't. Why do you ask?
guzz46 2nd Aug
@CobraA1

Probably because that's what you are doing, I also find it amusing that so many people comment on linux articles spreading FUD like the 1% myth, linux sure does get a lot of attention for an OS that "apparently" only has 1% desktop market share.
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Message has been deleted.
FourLeaf1 Updated - 4th Aug
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Leppie 2nd Aug
It's good to see that Canonical is improving Ubuntu One.
However, I would not discard Dropbox just yet.

Dropbox provides up to 8GB additional free storage, that's 10GB in total. There is no filesize limit (afaik, Ubuntu One has a limit of 5GB for both the free and the paid services) . It also has version history for the files you store (using a differential save function), which is great when using this for sharing work with colleagues.
And, Dropbox works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry and Android.
I'm using it on Debian+Openbox.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Steven Rosenberg 2nd Aug
Yep, Dropbox's cross-platform ability makes it a better choice for most than Ubuntu One. I'm not even sure how many other Linux distributions have easy access to Ubuntu One. Not having it readily available for Windows, Mac and other Linux systems makes Ubuntu One a non-starter for all but those who only run Ubuntu on everything.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
wkulecz 2nd Aug
I'd think and Android client should be a higher priority than a Mac Client. Are there any Mac users who don't have Apple's "Mobile Me"?
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
toolman30044 2nd Aug
"but we can all agree that having cloud file-storage is a good thing"

I totally disagree as well as some ZDNET writers. As long as the providers can arbitrarily decided who has violated their terms of agreement/usage and without warning delete any account as Google did then as well as concerns over who owns and has has access to that data stored then the Cloud is not a good thing.
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I almost hate to point this out, but ...
jscott69 2nd Aug
Apple actually launched its integrated iDisk service way back in 2000. It was free cloud storage (among other things) before we had the term "cloud". Though launched as part of the iTools suite of utilities, it was later integrated right into the Finder, where your iDisk would mount like any other server volume and you could store whatever you needed there ... up to 5GB for free (I think) and up to 20GB with a paid Mac.com/mobile.me account.

Not sure how many people used it (I did for a while), and I know folks don't like to give Apple credit for anything ... but, in fairness, I suspect that did make them the first to offer free, integrated "cloud" storage.

It did not do streaming music or anything like that, however.
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Clever misdirection...
TheWerewolf 2nd Aug
Windows actually comes with the same kind of functionality as is being described here. Live mesh isn't necessary for it- it solves one problem that even Ubuntu has to solve: getting around firewalls.

I keep my files at home on my own server - I can stream my TV shows and music... I can upload and download files - I can even remote access my desktop and email.

No need for Ubuntu.

No need for someone else touching my files.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
kirovs@... 2nd Aug
@TheWerewolf
I think you misunderstand the concepts. First of all Windows cannot solve your access problem: your local IP address is local, you have to forward and this is something your router does.
This single step is beyond what most people can do.
Firewalls are not an issue with Ubuntu One. Unless you are at work of course.
If you need remote access to get your e-mail, then there is something wrong with you.
I really have the feeling you are just a fanboy.
Oh, there is always someone touching your file. Comcast, Verizon, MS... You name it... Get familiar with gpg.
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Skydrive gives me 25 GBs of storage
adacosta38 2nd Aug
Plus, I can edit, view Office files in the cloud easily. Although Live Mesh is a bit difficult to setup at first, its magic the way keeps everything synced across all my Windows PC's.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Digger_z 2nd Aug
@adacosta38

And don't forget Live Mesh supports Mac OSX as well. I love having my critical files available and synced on my two Windows 7 desktop PC's and my MacBook Pro for when I am travelling.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
ItsTheBottomLine 2nd Aug
@Digger_z Yes that is very nice for my Macbook and my Dell at work.
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Meh the Cloud vapor ware
KineticArtist 2nd Aug
What about when their Cloud storage goes down what then? I cant access my stuff on the cloud and even El Googlio goes down... cloud storage MEH Ill trust my local disks and VPN
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
Muttz 2nd Aug
With all the hacking going on lately, why would anyone want to trust the cloud? The only thing that I store online is PDF copies of books. Take them if you want. Granted, Ubuntu is probably one of the safest choices, but if I'm going to lose data, I'd prefer to lose it myself.
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RE: Ubuntu: The desktop Linux with the cloud inside
ItsTheBottomLine 2nd Aug
@Muttz LOL - I don't think we have even seen the experts crack that nut yet...but when they do there are a ton of business models out there at risk. But who knows...time will tell.
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December 19 update Ubuntu derivatives and Ubuntu 1
pfyearwood Updated - 19th Dec
@pfyearwood I installed Pear OS, an Ubuntu disguised as OS-X. If you have the Ubuntu repos active, you can install and use Ubuntu 1.

Enjoy the holidays.
Paul

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