Compare Apple iCloud with Google Docs

Posted Date: 13-Jun-2011	Category: Internet & Browsers	Rating:
Author: Tony John	Member Level: Diamond	Points: 50

Apple recently announced it's new cloud based document management and document synchronization system called iCloud. In this article, I will compare the Apple iCloud and Google Docs.

Apple Inc recently announced their new cloud based file management and synchronization system called iCloud. Apple's iCloud lets you backup your files in the cloud (web) and synchronize between multiple devices. Your Apple devices like iPad and iPhone can automatically backup the files like photos, music, documents etc to the iCloud and synchronize with your other Apple devices. The backup and synchronization is a seamless process and automatic with no user intervention in most cases.

Google Docs - manage your documents in the cloud

Google Docs is a free service from Google which allow you to create, edit and manage various types of documents in the cloud. Google offers a fast, easy to use interface to manage your documents, organized under labels which are generally equivalent to folders.

Currently, Google Docs supports the following file types:

1. Documents
2. Spreadsheets
3. Presentations
4. Drawings

Drawings is a new addition to the Google Docs family.

Compare Apple iCloud with Google Docs

One of the significant difference between iCloud and Google Docs is, iCloud is meant only for Apple devices like iPhone and iPad. You will not be able to use iCloud as a general backup service from other computers. However, documents stored in iCloud can be viewed from any devices connected to internet.

Google Docs is a free document management service in the cloud. You can access iCloud from any computers, laptops, tablets or even from iPad and iPhone. The documents are stored in the cloud and can be accessed from anywhere in the web.

iCloud and Google Docs are free: Both iCloud and Google Docs offer free storage with some limitations. iCloud has a total limit of 5Gb per account. Paid purchases like Music, Apps, Books etc are stored in the iCloud, but are not counted towards your quota for space. If you need more space, you will be able to purchase additional space in the iCloud.

Google Docs is also free, but they have limits on the number of documents you can store and the length/content of each document.

Share your files: Google Docs provide a way for you to share your documents with other users. You have great flexibility in sharing and setting user rights when you share a document. You may make a document publicly available in the internet with view only access or allow selected people to edit.

Atleast at this stage, iCloud does not offer a way to share the documents with others.

Access via web, anywhere: Google Docs can be accessed through any supported web browsers and from any where in the world. At this time, iCloud will work natively only on Apple devices. For other devices like personal computers and laptops, you will need custom Apps to access the files in iCloud.

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