Edit documents in the cloud. "MyOffice" - cloud work with documents has become even easier

Mail boasts a wide range of functions. Here you can add mail not only from MyOffice, but also others - from Outlook and Exchange to Gmail and Yandex. Mail." If you know the incoming and outgoing mail server of your corporate account, add that too.

The mail interface is very nice. The service is built, again, on the principle of “nothing extra”: just your inbox with the appropriate sections and the ability to write a letter to anyone. All letters are conveniently sorted, which allows you to immediately see messages from the same sender.

The window for typing a new letter has everything you might need: text editing tools, the ability to attach a file, create a list, and much more.

With the “Documents” section everything is even more interesting. For now, you can only create test documents and spreadsheets in the cloud, but presentations will be added soon.

What I especially like about the MyOffice product is its clear interface. It’s the same with documents and spreadsheets - even if you’ve never worked in cloud editors, you’ll get the hang of it in five minutes. The control tools are conveniently located, there are no hundreds of buttons that do not understand what they do (newcomers to Word will understand).

Now up to three users can edit text at the same time. You will see in real time who is editing what. The developer plans to increase the number of co-editing co-authors to 50, and as many as a million will be able to view the document.

To summarize the web version, we can say that the guys, of course, still have a lot of work to do, and they shouldn’t demand all the functions at once - after all, the project is still being finalized. But the fact that Russian developers have created a truly cool and high-quality product with enormous potential cannot but rejoice. The most important thing is that “MyOffice” will be understandable not only to businessmen and young people, but also to the older generation. The universal interface plays an incredible role here.

As for the iOS version, only the Mail application is available for iPhone so far, where you can also add any account email. The program is equipped with convenient controls and an attractive design without sacrificing functionality. By the way, other MyOffice applications will appear on mobile devices in the fall.

It is very pleasant to work with such mail. There are no functions like viewing emails with attachments only yet, but this is a consequence of the fact that developers do not overload applications, leaving only basic functions. At the same time, they listen to users' opinions and add new features.

Main sections are available for each mailbox - such as “Inbox”, “Outbox”, “Drafts” and so on, which allows you to conveniently navigate a large mail flow. Select several senders (copy them if necessary), attach a file - and you're done! Everything is very simple and convenient.

And here’s what, for example, the Documents application looks like on an iPad. All files are stored only in the cloud and are synchronized between devices when connected to the Internet (however, this will surprise few people now). Editing is very convenient - started on a computer and finished on a tablet! Moreover, on a tablet with any platform: cross-platform is an important feature of MyOffice.

In the left menu, you can view documents that have been shared with you, view marked files, or view the Recycle Bin. All necessary tools available for editing text documents, and tables - setting the font, text, style, and so on. You can even forget about the desktop version and safely perform most operations on the tablet.

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The interface of Android applications is very similar to the interface of the program for iOS, and in terms of the set of functions they are almost identical. The applications are very high quality, and this cross-platform is very convenient when editing documents on different devices by several users at once.

The advantages of MyOffice include a user-friendly interface, attractive program design and cross-platform functionality - this applies to both the web version and mobile applications. The disadvantages could be the number of available functions at the moment, but the list of possibilities will expand significantly by the end of the year, so this can hardly be called a disadvantage.

Let's summarize. This is really cool: a Russian product, and also so convenient, with a nice interface. True, not all functionality is available yet, but the developers plan to quickly increase it by the time the service is launched for private users at the end of this year. This version is preliminary - we will definitely test MyOffice again after the autumn release and tell you about our impressions.

This publication is for explanatory purposes and aims, where possible, to in simple words and explain as clearly as possible (as they ask, “for dummies”) the essence and mechanism of collaboration using cloud data storage resources, such as, etc.

The “cloud,” speaking from a technical point of view, is an online storage facility consisting of a large number of servers connected into a huge network (cloud data storage).

Cloud data storage should be understood as storing data in systems in which data is distributed across a large number servers united in so-called clusters.

A cluster (English cluster – cluster) is a union of several homogeneous elements, which can be considered as an independent unit with certain properties. In the field information technology A cluster should be understood as a group of computing nodes united by high-speed communication channels, representing a single hardware resource (from the user’s point of view).

Since the consumer does not know in which parts of the clusters his data is stored, but only the point of connection with the array of clusters is known, such an implementation was called a “cloud”. Cloud - cloud (English)

How is data exchanged between users via the cloud?

Each user has an account in the cloud and a client (data synchronization program) installed on the computer. Synchronization is the process by which data stored in the cloud and data specified to the client for mapping to the cloud are brought to identical content.

For example, user-1 has 4 folders in the cloud,
and user-2 has 3 folders in the cloud
user-1 gives access to one of the folders to user user-2 (blue). In cloud storage resource terminology, this action is called an "invite."
user-2 accepts the invitation to the folder and he also has 4 folders in the cloud. The folder received from user-1 for access is marked in orange.
The result is a design in which any change/adding of data in the blue folder will make exactly the same changes in the orange folder and vice versa (the folders are synchronized). That is, the contents of these folders will be identical.

Accordingly, these changes will also be transferred to computers user-1 and user-2 during the next communication session between their clients and the cloud.

It turns out that after synchronization is complete, the contents of the yellow folder, owned by user-1, will become identical to the contents of the turquoise folder, owned by user-2, and vice versa:

Simply put, data is transferred from computer to computer. In this case, the cloud acts as an intermediary in this process.

Synchronization of client data with the cloud occurs via a secure protocol that prevents data interception over the network. Depending on the specific implementation, either new file to replace the old one, or the “delta” value (the difference in the values of the new and old files).

For its operation, such a scheme does not require the completion of all synchronization operations during a communication session with the Internet. During the synchronization process, the client continuously calculates the contents of the client folder and its corresponding cloud folder, and also keeps track of the timestamp assigned to each file and each folder. Based on this information, the client writes or deletes data in the client or cloud folder whose timestamp is older (that is, earlier). If the synchronization process was not completed during an Internet session, it will be continued during the next session. This process can be conventionally called “data resupply”. Considering the above, the process can be associated with the term “asynchronous replication”.

Replication is a mechanism for synchronizing the contents of several copies of an object (file, folder). The replication process involves copying data from one source to another (or many others) and vice versa. In other words, changes made to one copy of an object are propagated to other copies.

In synchronous replication, if a given replica (a copy of an object that is updated automatically when the original is updated) is updated, all other replicas of the same piece of data must also be updated in the same transaction (transaction). – agreement, contract) is a minimal logically meaningful operation that makes sense and can only be completed in full, see wiki). It can be said that in practice there is only one version of the data.

With asynchronous replication, an update from one replica propagates to others over time rather than during the same transaction. Thus, with asynchronous replication, a delay is introduced (waiting time), during which individual replicas may not be virtually identical (that is, the definition of “replica” is not entirely appropriate, since we are not dealing with exact and timely copies). In most cases, asynchronous replication is implemented by reading the transaction log or a persistent queue of those updates that are to be distributed ().

In the philosophical concept of development in a spiral, user-1 and user-2 exchange data through a shared network folder (Shared folder), as previously happened in local network. But if in that case for implementation information exchange user-1 and user-2 should have been located no further than 80 meters from each other (the maximum information transmission range that guarantees high-quality communication without the use of special repeater amplifiers), but now their geographical location does not matter.

Users and businesses will continue to move away from bulky and expensive servers and instead choose the cloud to store files. Given the variety of storage options available, you should choose carefully.

Lifehacker suggests paying attention to services that provide maximum free space with reliable data protection and quality service. Prices shown are for starter plans only.

Price: 2GB free, 1TB for $8.25 per month. The standard Dropbox Business subscription costs $12.50 per month per user.
Applications:
Russian language support: There is.

Initially, this cloud storage giant gives access to only 2 GB free space. But it can be expanded up to 16 GB without much difficulty: just link your accounts to social networks and offer a referral link to several friends.

A Dropbox Business subscription allows you to use your corporate account for collaboration, and also gives you unlimited space for your personal account. Moreover, you get a number of advanced features like file recovery and customization of access levels.

Price: 15 GB free, 100 GB for 139 rubles per month.
Applications: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Russian language support: There is.

One of the most obvious options for owners of devices running Android control, since the application is initially installed on smartphones and tablets based on Google OS. However, due to the considerable amount of free storage, the service may also be attractive to owners of other devices.

Among the disadvantages is that the interface of the browser version is not the simplest. But Windows users and macOS can download a much more convenient application.

3. Mega

Price: 50 GB free, 200 GB for 4.99 euros per month.
Applications:
Russian language support: There is.

Another service with a generous free plan and an interface that supports drag-and-drop files. Mega has a convenient mobile application for downloading files, as well as desktop clients for synchronizing them.

According to the company, all data is encrypted on your device before it ends up on the servers. The Mega client source code is available on GitHub and can be reviewed by any expert. Therefore, the statement inspires confidence.

Price: 10 GB free, another 10 GB for 30 rubles per month.
Applications: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, LG Smart TV.
Russian language support: There is.

The cloud from Yandex works quickly and stably, and is constantly acquiring new functions. The service has a high synchronization speed. The platform's capabilities are built into some third-party applications.

Despite the presence of clients for all popular desktop and mobile platforms, the Yandex.Disk browser interface is also very practical. The service also has very good opportunities to expand space through partnerships with companies. For example, if you are a Muscovite and use the OnLime tariff plan from Rostelecom, then the disk capacity increases by 100 GB.

Price: 5 GB free, 50 GB for 140 rubles per month, 1 TB for 269 or 339 rubles when registering for a personal or family subscription on Office 365 respectively.
Applications: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Xbox.
Russian language support: There is.

The former SkyDrive is built into the standard Windows Explorer 10. There is no need to download the application - everything is already downloaded for you.

The operating system's built-in Photos app can use OneDrive to sync all your pictures between devices.

When installing a client for macOS, there are some things to consider: positive reviews about him.

In addition to the regular pricing plans, Microsoft has Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home. Both subscriptions include 1 TB of cloud storage, full versions Office applications for Windows and macOS and a whole host of other benefits. The second option gives 1 TB to five users at once.

Price: 8 GB free, 64 GB for 69 rubles per month.
Applications: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows Phone.
Russian language support: There is.

The closest analogue of Yandex.Disk in terms of available features, web version interface and supported platforms. Loses to its main competitor due to its extensive referral program. Among the advantages is a larger amount of free storage.

Among other things, the service has a tool for quick creation and saving screenshots to the cloud.

Price: 5 GB free, 50 GB for 59 rubles per month.
Applications: Windows.
Russian language support: There is.

5GB of free space may not be enough, but iCloud is the most convenient way to create backups photos from iPhone.

The service is integrated into the Finder program on macOS - the desktop of all MacBooks. Documents created through the iWork office suite are also saved in iCloud and can be synchronized between devices. The platform also has an official client for Windows, with which you can keep files on your PC up to date.

8.Box

Price: 10 GB free, 100 GB for 8 euros per month. Business subscription costs 12 euros per month.
Applications: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Russian language support: There is.

The platform quickly gained popularity and is supported by a number of popular work services, such as Google Docs and Office 365. Box desktop clients allow you to not only synchronize, but also edit files.

The company is actively promoting business subscriptions. It is the one that appears in the center of the screen when you click on the registration button. Tariff plan Gives you access to advanced collaboration features and unlimited cloud space.

Price: Free setup and use, space prices vary by hosting provider. Nextcloud Box costs 70 euros.
Applications: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Russian language support: No.

The company itself is not a cloud storage provider, but offers free software to configure the cloud on your own server. The main advantage of this option is speed. You can also enable encryption and not worry about files leaving your home network.

If you do not have experience in setting up servers, you can buy a pre-configured option - Nextcloud Box. Inside the device - hard drive for 1 TB. It easily connects to an inexpensive single board computer. True, in order to get your hands on a mini-server, you will have to use the services of third-party companies: there is no direct delivery to Russia and the CIS countries.

Price: 2 GB free, 250 GB for $9 per month.
Applications: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Russian language support: No.

Another English-language platform that has long operated under a zero-knowledge protocol. It was implied that the company interacts with user data without disclosing its content in any way. Recently it turned out that there are some caveats here, and SpiderOak abandoned its main feature. But this did not stop us from striving to provide files.

The repository has clients for all popular desktop and mobile platforms. You can use the web client, but for privacy advocates this is the least preferred option since it gives away your password to SpiderOak employees.

Price: 5 GB free, 2 TB for $52.12 per year with special offer, then $69.5.
Applications: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows Phone.
Russian language support: No.

The product keeps all your files in constant sync - even those stored on network drives. The web interface allows you to share data by mail, Facebook and Twitter.

The advantage of IDrive is that files deleted from the computer from the cloud do not automatically disappear. The company also has a service called IDrive Express: if you lose all your data, they will deliver a hard drive to you for quick recovery.

Price: 10GB free, 500GB for $3.99/month, pCloud Crypto encryption price: $3.99/month.
Applications: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Russian language support: There is.

The service has restrictions on the speed of downloading files, but there is no limit on their size. The storage can be used from any platform - through an application or website.

The company is registered in Switzerland, a country known for its strict privacy laws. For an additional amount, you can use the pCloud Crypto service to encrypt individual files.

Recently, not only computer, but also mobile technologies. In this regard, the issue of secure storage of relatively large volumes of information has become very acute. And it is for this purpose that many IT corporations offer users of any type of device the use of so-called cloud services. How to use the cloud and services that are included in the basic kit of any developer will now be discussed.

What is cloud storage?

First, let’s define what kind of service this is. Roughly speaking, this is file storage in the form of allocated disk space for a company providing such services.

In other words, in a sense, it can be called a kind of virtual flash drive on which a certain amount of data is placed. However, if you need to constantly carry a USB device with you to access downloaded information, then such a service (for example, the Mail.Ru cloud or the corresponding Google service) can be accessed both from a computer and from a mobile device. That is, the files are synchronized in the cloud itself, and you can view or download them simply by entering your registration data (although in some cases this is not required).

Quite a lot has already been written about how to use the cloud. Now let’s pay attention to some main points, and also consider the simplest principles of its use, explaining the situation in detail.

Most popular services

It goes without saying that initially, to use such storages, you need to decide on a service provider, that is, choose the most suitable service for yourself

Today you can find quite a lot of such services. The most popular are the following:

Dropbox.
SkyDrive.
Cloud Mail.Ru.
"Yandex.Disk".
Google Drive (Google Disk).
Apple iCloud and iCloud Drive.
OneDrive, etc.

Before we figure out how to use each type of cloud, it should be noted that these services are somewhat uneven when compared to each other. The fact is that some repositories can be accessed exclusively from a computer terminal, while others require synchronization of both computers and mobile devices. Sometimes you may need a specialized application that plays the role of a kind of conductor, sometimes just an Internet browser is enough.

The same applies to freely allocated disk space for storing your files, as well as payment for additional space on a remote server. In any case, most services are very similar to each other.

What should you pay attention to before starting work?

Now let's look at some important points, without which the use of cloud services is out of the question.

The very first and most important thing is pre-registration, and in some cases it is absolutely unimportant whether it will be done via the Internet using a regular browser or a special computer or mobile application. The whole process takes a few minutes.

Mobile devices with operating systems installed on them differ favorably from stationary systems. The fact is that when you turn it on for the first time, to access some advanced functions or stores like AppStore or Google Play (Play Market) the system initially prompts you to create an account (registered email address and password). At the same time, your smartphone or tablet already has a pre-installed application for working with cloud services. For convenience, you can install their desktop counterparts on your computer or laptop (although access can also be obtained through a browser).

Allocable disk space

Another important point is the amount of disk space that the user initially receives in the free version. As a rule, the volume on different services ranges from 5 to 50 GB. If this is not enough, you will have to increase the storage capacity and pay a certain amount for it, which includes the cost of purchasing more volume and maintenance for a certain period of use, which, by the way, can also vary.

General principles

As for how to use the cloud in the broadest sense, everything is quite simple. After registration, the user only needs to add folders and files, contacts and much more to the storage.

At the same time, in the settings section, he can add friends who, like him, will upload files to the server or edit them (the simplest example is Dropbox). Often, new users can use their own passwords to log into the system.

But here's what's interesting. When installing special program On a computer, access to files in the cloud is much faster than when launching the same Internet browser. The same can be said about synchronization. It is enough to place the files in the application folder, and synchronization will be performed instantly for all users who have access rights to the service. Let's look at the most popular storage facilities.

Cloud Mail.Ru

So, as mentioned above, you will first need to create an email box, after entering which the panel at the top in the projects tab will display cloud service. This is the Mile cloud. How to use it? It couldn't be simpler.

Initially, 25 GB of disk space is offered. carried out using the corresponding button, which can be used to add several objects at once. The limitation concerns only the size of the uploaded file - it should not exceed 2 GB. Before starting the download, you can use additional features, for example, create and then just as easily files can be moved and deleted. Please note: it does not have a “Trash”, as in the same Yandex service, so it will not be possible to restore deleted information.

The function of creating, viewing or editing files can be very useful. Let's say we have a Word document (or it is created directly in the repository). Changing it directly in the cloud can be as easy as if the user were launching the editor on a computer. Upon completion of work, we save the changes, after which synchronization occurs again.

Yandex cloud: how to use?

With the Yandex service, in principle, things are almost identical. The functional set, in general, does not differ much.

But the developers of this service thought that the user could delete files completely by accident. This is where the so-called “Trash” comes to the rescue, into which information is placed when deleted. It works like a standard computer service. True, data recovery tools are not applicable to it if they have already been deleted from the Recycle Bin. Nevertheless, the function is very useful.

Google Drive storage

Now let's move on to another powerful service called Google Cloud. How to use Google Drive? There are no fundamental differences compared to other services. But here access can be obtained both from a mobile device (built-in service) and using a utility installed on a computer (not to mention logging in via an Internet browser). With a phone or tablet everything is simple, let’s look at the computer program.

We assume that the account has already been created. After activation, the user receives 5 GB of storage. An increase to 25 GB will cost approximately 2.5 USD. We install the application on the computer, after which the service folder appears on the Desktop (it is also displayed in Explorer).

As is already clear, just place the files in this directory and synchronization will occur. During operation, the program “hangs” in the system tray as an icon. Right-clicking opens an additional menu where you can view the available space for downloading files, make personalized settings, expand storage space, shut down, etc.

One point is especially worth noting here. As it turns out, copy the files to the program folder on your computer, and then download them from the cloud to mobile device It turns out to be much faster than connecting the gadget to a computer and then copying using Windows.

iCloud and iCloud Drive services

Finally, let's look at how to use the Apple cloud. There are two services (iCloud and iCloud Drive) that are pre-installed on the iPhone or iPad according to the version operating system installed on the device. Essentially, iCloud Drive is an updated version of iCloud, and for it to work correctly, I should take into account that the mobile gadget must meet the stated technical requirements: iOS 8 on the device itself. Computer - Windows 7 or higher with iCloud extension for Windows or a computer terminal running Mac OS X 10.10 or OS X Yosemite.

Initially, after logging into the service, folders created by default will be displayed there. Their number may vary depending on the settings of the computer and the client on mobile device. How to use the cloud on iPhone? In principle, there is nothing supernatural about this. It is enough to launch the application on the gadget (switch the launch slider to the on state) and log in using account. It's another matter when the input is supposed to be from a computer. Here you will need to use the settings menu of the program itself and select enable there.

Another disadvantage is the rather low synchronization speed (this is recognized by everyone). And one more, most unpleasant moment. If you switch from iCloud to iCloud Drive without updating all devices to the required configuration, the data in the old cloud will simply not be accessible, so be vigilant.

Conclusion

That’s briefly all that concerns the question of how to use the Cloud application or services of the same name. Of course, not all the possibilities of such services are considered here, but, so to speak, only general principles(basics) of work. However, even with such minimal knowledge, any newly registered user will be able to carry out basic operations within 5-10 minutes.

We decided to send a collective review of the conference to the organizers of TechEd Russia 2012. Today I'll talk about how we collaborated on it using OneDrive.

The initial discussion, of course, took place via email. Once everyone had their say, I compiled all the feedback into a Word document and uploaded it to OneDrive. Now it was necessary to provide colleagues with the opportunity to view the document and make changes to it.

Note. The article was written before SkyDrive was renamed to OneDrive, hence the old name in the screenshots.

Today on the program

Share OneDrive files and folders

In OneDrive, file permissions are controlled at the folder and file level. When you make a folder public or grant permission to specific people, these settings will also apply to all subfolders and files unless you set other permissions for them.

I uploaded the file to my personal folder and proceeded to grant rights to it to my colleagues.

In general, in the column " Sharing" can be seen when the rights to a file or folder have been changed. Essentially, in cloud storage Microsoft has three options for providing access, and I'll start with the simplest ones.

Create a link to a file

From the picture below it is clear that anyone with the link will be able to view or edit the document. Less obvious is that in order to make a folder or file public, you need to create an appropriate link (called “Share”).

Of course, public access, as well as access via a link with editing rights, can be terminated at any time. Moreover, when you re-create the link for editing, the URL will have a different key.

Sending an email message

This option is more interesting because it has the option to require authorization with a Microsoft account. Moreover, this is the only option that allows you to provide access to the file only to certain people.

Your recipients will receive the email from the account you are signed into OneDrive with (i.e. you cannot send an email from a random address). In this case, a link is also created, but the requirement to log in to the service limits access to the file or folder to the recipients of the letter. Of course, recipients of the letter can download and transfer the file to anyone in any other way.

Interestingly, in the case where several accounts are linked, permission is granted only to the account from which access was made for the first time. By the way, when someone has shared a file with you, you can access it from the General section in the left pane of OneDrive.

Access rights management

Artem participated in our correspondence, suggesting good topics for reviews. However, he is not an MVP, so he did not need the rights to edit the file. After sending the letter, I corrected the access rights, which are managed in the right panel.

The picture shows that Artem can only view the document, while everyone else can edit it in the local Word application or directly in OneDrive using Word Web App. Here you can deny access to any person or all holders of the link to view or edit the file.

Collaborate on Office documents

Important! Open files from office programs directly from OneDrive (Ctrl + O → OneDrive), and not from the synced folder on local disk. Otherwise, when several people work simultaneously, a conflict will arise, which will result in copies of updated files with the PC name in the title.

You can open Word files, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote and work on them as in local applications Microsoft Office, and in their web versions directly in the browser. In both cases it is supported collaboration over the document of several people. The maximum number of simultaneous editors is not specified anywhere, but eight people worked successfully (thanks to Oksana for checking).

It works very conveniently in OneDrive! I opened our review in Word 2013 and began editing the first paragraph.

The paragraph was immediately locked to prevent someone else from accidentally making overlapping changes to my fragment. Oksana, who made her edits at the same time as me, saw this in the web application (she prefers the English interface).

Here I want to draw your attention to several points.

It clearly indicates which paragraph I'm editing (my name appears on hover).
This paragraph is truly protected from other people's edits. Now the cursor is positioned in it, and in the figure you can see that all formatting options are locked in the ribbon.
You can see a list of all the people currently editing.
It is known that someone has already changed the document, i.e. after the update you can see their edits (there is no real-time synchronization, unfortunately).

In OneDrive, you can see who last edited a document.

But what’s more interesting is that OneDrive automatically tracks document versions. You can go to the version history from context menu or from the top menu “Management” (in the figure above it is hidden behind three dots due to the small size of the window).

Here you can restore or download any of the previous versions. According to the information I have, up to 25 versions of a document are saved on OneDrive. However, versions are only created when files are edited. If you upload a new file with the same name, overwriting the old one, the version history will not be saved.

Poll and discussion

As you can see, managing rights in OneDrive is very simple, although some points are not entirely obvious. In this case, you can create and change Word documents, Excel workbooks, PowerPoint presentations, and OneNote notes without leaving your browser. Of course, web versions of Office applications do not have all the features of their web-based counterparts. Office package, but for many users their capabilities are more than enough.

You can work on Office files individually and collaboratively using at least 7 GB of personal storage space. Oh yes, it's all completely free ;)

Do you store files and documents in the cloud? Share some of your favorite cloud storage features in the comments!