[jr2]

If there is something sensitive, just encrypt it and use a good password.  Create a little TrueCrype drive, and upload that.

[S-99]

100% of the stuff I have on my google drive are docs like grocery lists, random pdfs, and tiny snippets of code. I really don't care if google uses my grocery list in their marketing campaign, and if they want to say they own a pdf of Missile Guidance and Control Systems, then whatever, I don't give a ****.

OK, i guess the terms of service that wreaks of it being a bad idea to use it aren't good enough for others. Usually the best course of action to get rid of what is yours to others or entities is through the use of money. You get money, they get your stuff kind of thing.

It's not what you have that is valuable to them. It's what most others have on there that is valuable to them and what in the future that you may have that is valuable to them also. User data is valuable, google makes the big bucks off of user data that they swindle off users now. It's a really ****ty trade off.

[Polpolion]

It's not what you have that is valuable to them. It's what most others have on there that is valuable to them and what in the future that you may have that is valuable to them also. User data is valuable, google makes the big bucks off of user data that they swindle off users now. It's a really ****ty trade off.

you mean them giving users targeted advertisements in exchange for a free service is a swindle? it's not like they're selling your identity to the russian mafia.

[mjn.mixael]

It's not what you have that is valuable to them. It's what most others have on there that is valuable to them and what in the future that you may have that is valuable to them also. User data is valuable, google makes the big bucks off of user data that they swindle off users now. It's a really ****ty trade off.

you mean them giving users targeted advertisements in exchange for a free service is a swindle? it's not like they're selling your identity to the russian mafia.

Indeed. If they use my info to show me ads that I actually care about.. then it's good for me and for them I guess.

[karajorma]

I very much look forward to this only having mobile apps which are poorly updated or non-existent for all the platforms except Android. Like they do with pretty much every other app for their services. Quite frankly I have no idea how Google have thus far avoided an anti-trust investigation on this issue and I hugely look forward to the day when they get one.

**** them. I'm sticking with Dropbox.

[Bobboau]

if by 'all of the platforms except Android' I assume you mean IOS? if that is the case keep in mind that Apple holds the keys to what apps show up there. and if there is anti-trust for that then why is there not anti-trust for all of the **** Apple does, like not letting you install software on your hardware outside of their control.

[karajorma]

if by 'all of the platforms except Android' I assume you mean IOS? if that is the case keep in mind that Apple holds the keys to what apps show up there. and if there is anti-trust for that then why is there not anti-trust for all of the **** Apple does, like not letting you install software on your hardware outside of their control.

Anti-trust refers to using a monopoly in one field to encourage unfair competition in another. Unless Apple are actually preventing you installing an alternative to iTunes, what are they doing that fits that description?

iPhone actually is the best supported non-android platform. An example of what I mean though is that for instance Google recently just dropped support for Blackberry almost across the board after not having updated their apps for around 3 years. iPhone is too big for them to ignore but when you drop support for a platform with 90 million users, it's pretty hard to claim that's cause you don't think anyone will want to use their gmail app.

[übermetroid]

Using GDrive.  Works pretty well.

Now I need to find a way to run Truecrypt with it.

[mjn.mixael]

if by 'all of the platforms except Android' I assume you mean IOS? if that is the case keep in mind that Apple holds the keys to what apps show up there. and if there is anti-trust for that then why is there not anti-trust for all of the **** Apple does, like not letting you install software on your hardware outside of their control.

Anti-trust refers to using a monopoly in one field to encourage unfair competition in another. Unless Apple are actually preventing you installing an alternative to iTunes, what are they doing that fits that description?

iPhone actually is the best supported non-android platform. An example of what I mean though is that for instance Google recently just dropped support for Blackberry almost across the board after not having updated their apps for around 3 years. iPhone is too big for them to ignore but when you drop support for a platform with 90 million users, it's pretty hard to claim that's cause you don't think anyone will want to use their gmail app.

Lemme guess, you have a Blackberry.

[karajorma]

Yep. Which is why I know how ****ty their Blackberry support is. But I've heard complaints from iPhone and Nokia users too. I'd probably hear them from Windows Phone users if I ever met one.

[MP-Ryan]

Using GDrive.  Works pretty well.

Now I need to find a way to run Truecrypt with it.

Use it for TrueCrypt backups (this is what I do).

You don't want to be mounting anything in trueCrypt that's actively and continuously synchronizing with a server.  Bad things happen.

[MP-Ryan]

[Rhetorical] question:  How many of you folks criticizing Google's business practices have a Facebook account?

[mjn.mixael]

Yep. Which is why I know how ****ty their Blackberry support is. But I've heard complaints from iPhone and Nokia users too. I'd probably hear them from Windows Phone users if I ever met one.

It's interesting that you have this perspective. Why aren't you complaining that you can't use iCloud on your Blackberry at all? Or any number of other Apple products.

[karajorma]

Let me guess, you're an Android user.

Why aren't you complaining that you can't use iCloud on your Blackberry at all? Or any number of other Apple products.

Cause this thread is about Google.



I've given Apple plenty of **** over the years. In what field do you feel Apple has a monopoly large enough to make their actions anti-trust though? iTunes is about the only thing even close to large enough and I don't use it. Google has a massive advantage in several markets, is attempting to shoulder in on others (Google+, Google Drive) and I'll be damned if I give up a multiplatform offering like Dropbox for a one which is much more limited.

Do I need to also point out that Dropbox has a Linux client too, unlike Google Drive? In know most techies don't seem to give a toss about multiplatform support on mobiles any more but I'd expect that fact to have raised somewhat of a stink.

[SypheDMar]

[Rhetorical] question:  How many of you folks criticizing Google's business practices have a Facebook account?

Truth be told, I do not have a Facebook account. I like Google, though.

The only thing in recent memory that Google did that made me sad was their support for the neutral net law, but that was awhile ago.

[S-99]

you mean them giving users targeted advertisements in exchange for a free service is a swindle? it's not like they're selling your identity to the russian mafia.

I was going beyond that. With all the money they make off of user data, i wonder why even the need for advertisements to use the service to help pay for it except to make it that much more annoying to use. With all that data on google drive they now get to keep, you'd think they'd give the users a little dignity and say "hey, no ads ever google drive users". And no, it's not a free service. All your stuff becomes there's automatically on google drive; that's the payment.

What google is getting in return by being able to claim all your stuff as their's is a hell of a deal for them (they get to make off with serious ****, while all you get is a little  storage and perhaps some "app" integration). It may be a nice service, but what you get in return for what they get to keep is why  google is swindling people.

Do we really need a russian mafia exaggeration in a day and age where personal information on the internet is and has been big money? It's not that they'll sell the data,...wait, yes they will. That's why they want your stuff on your google drive account so badly. They also want to retain your data for their purposes too, probably make better ads with all of the pictures for all the photos that just got branded with googles TOS, etc.

  I think google would sell your data to the horny obese lady mafia.

[Scourge of Ages]

But the ads are how Google makes all its money. That's the only thing they use your data for, to better-target the ads. If they did actually sell your personal data to anybody, and the fact got out (which would be pretty easy to figure out it happened), Google would go bankrupt. It's in their best interests to keep your secret stuff to themselves.

[S-99]

To better target the ads, and i wouldn't put it past them to use your data in ads. Stuff like your picture or something else. Or other purposes. It's still pretty awkward that they would lay claim to everything uploaded. They know they'll have access to a whole big lot of information of all kinds, not personal information derived from data kept on google drive.

They're not just interested in your personal details. They could find all of that out by probably having you fill out a survey or something.

[jr2]

They would most likely be concerned that you would purposefully throw off the results of said survey.

[Polpolion]

To better target the ads, and i wouldn't put it past them to use your data in ads. Stuff like your picture or something else. Or other purposes. It's still pretty awkward that they would lay claim to everything uploaded. They know they'll have access to a whole big lot of information of all kinds, not personal information derived from data kept on google drive.

They're not just interested in your personal details. They could find all of that out by probably having you fill out a survey or something.

If you have some sort of reliable piece of evidence suggesting that Google has interest in your personal data beyond that of advertising and the services provided you can either share it with us or stop posting. Tinfoil hatters are not on my, or I'm sure anyone else's, list of people to have a good discussion with. Alternatively, an equally valid continuation of this discussion would by why you don't want targeted advertisements or why these services aren't good.