Farewell to Android
Klout is FarmVille for grown-ups
Does Flash matter on mobile?
What is Twitter?If there is one thing the tech world loves, it's a good buzzword. At the moment, increasing chatter about new ideas such as Microsoft's Azure is focusing the spotlight on the latest candidate: cloud computing.
If you don't really know what it is, don't feel too bad. Even these experts interviewed at a recent industry event were a little, umm... hazy on the concept. So the question remains - what exactly is cloud computing?
Imagine a company that needs lots of computing resources - SuperTec Inc. At the back of their office, there is an airless closet full of blinking machines, known as the server room. Their tech guys probably guard it with their lives, threatening dire consequences for anyone who accidentally unplugs a machine or knocks a button out of place. For various reasons - space, complexity and cost being the most usual - the company decides to free themselves of this burden by transferring all of these resources to a online service. In other words, SuperTec Inc. will now do their computing in the cloud - basically a euphemism for the Internet - rather than basing it all in that dark room at the back of their office.
That's where the term cloud computing comes from. The main benefits are what we mentioned above - space, complexity and cost. SuperTec Inc. will no longer have to find room for all those computers, servers and technical gadgets. It is also cheaper: before, SuperTec Inc. had to pay the IT guys a monthly salary, cough up when they needed a new piece of equipment, and so on, regardless of how much work Bob and Dave actually did or how often the machine was going to be used. In the cloud, they will be only charged for what they use; cloud computing is essentially a 'pay as you go' service. It is also less complex for SuperTec Inc. because now, as end users, they no longer need to worry about the cables and routers behind the technology they use.
That's great for SuperTec Inc., you might be thinking, but what about me? Well, there's a good chance that you have already cloud computed, whether you were aware of it or not! Have you ever used Google Apps? Well, there you go! Google Apps is a perfect example of how cloud computing can be relevant to an individual, rather than a company. Let's say you want to draw up a spreadsheet detailing gifts from the family to your sister, who is getting married. You all want to get the happy couple something lovely, but you don't want to double up on gifts. You clearly need to collaborate with the rest of the family.
Before the advent of cloud computing, you would have to install a spreadsheet program, create the document, add your information, go online and email it to your Auntie Pat. Auntie Pat would then download the spreadsheet, install a program that could open it, modify it, upload it to her email account and send it to Uncle Jose, who in turn would... well, you get the picture. With 'cloudware' such as Google Docs, the whole operation is centralized - nobody needs to install programs, download/upload or email. It doesn't take a genius to work out that this makes everyday tasks cheaper, easier and quicker, which is why the up and coming area of cloud computing is awakening so much interest, from companies and individuals alike.
Of course, Google Docs isn't the only aspect to cloud computing for individuals, but it is a good example as it easily illustrates the whole basis of the concept - providing the service without the cost and effort of the infrastructure that creates it. Obviously there's more to cloud computing than spreadsheets, but it's more or less the idea. We haven't even touched on the philosophical argument to cloud computing - whether or not its a good idea. That, however, really is a complicated conversation, so we'll be saving it for another day!
[...] te ha servido de ayuda a lo mejor te interesa este artículo (en inglés) Cloud Computing for the Confused |en [...]
[...] Cloud computing for the confused (onsoftware.en.softonic.com) [...]
I wrote this in response to a Google Chrome OS article. Just replace the word Google with your favorite company. I am posting this writing to every site I can find concerning cloud computing. ======================= This is a technological trap to the nth degree. I see a endless myriad of problems with cloud computing that benefit nothing to anybody except hosts, hackers, terrorist, and the government. If you like the idea of cloud computing, then you like the idea of all your personal work and data in the hands of every google tech and even the company receptionist. Ones argument for cloud computing must be.. why worry about losing my work and identity, when I can just give it away. That copyright or patent request ain't gonna do ya much good after some enterprising google employee notices your million dollar idea and decides he'd rather not work for a living anymore cause it is now his million dollar idea and he has the patent to prove it. My data is on my system. For you to get it means you have to get past my firewall, install your malware, get past my encryptions, and hope I don't catch your program reporting back to you. Even then you only have access to what your malware is programmed to access. For you to get *ALL* my data in a cloud, all you have to do is hack my password. Duhhh. Also, if you like the idea of cloud computing, then you also like idea of working slower and slower. IP's are complaining that a small percentage of file sharers are hogging the majority of their bandwidth. Whats gonna happen when EVERYBODY becomes a 'file sharer' with every file they have? You also realize the video streamers are just getting started dontcha? And as it's been pointed out, what's going to happen when there's a outage? Your new high tech 'dumb terminal' is going to need a host ya know. And screw hacking your little pc. Hackers are gonna hack EVERYBODY in one shot! And what about that disgruntled google employee? Terrorists are now drooling at the prospect that we are consolidating all our resources into one handy target. In this age of identity theft, I CANNOT believe that somebody would trust ANY their info to be in one place (accept their home). Even a TRUSTED place (cause there is no such thing). Its unfathomable! What OS and processors do you think goggles runnin right now? Would that be the easily hackable combination of Windows on Intel? Just one hacker access into a major hosts password file and cloud computing will be gone forever. Along with that company. It WILL happen. Cloud computing will prove itself to be a 'company ender' and these companies are racing to beat each other to that end. Which they FULLY DESERVE for trying to pull such a stunt. Cloud computing has got to be the most irresponsable concepts ever put forth by ANY industry. It is a gigantic backwards step in the evolution of information security at a time when information security is almost non-existent. It is a inherently flawed concept that benefits NOBODY but hackers, terrorist, the government, and hosting companies (till they get hacked that is). Cloud computing will only be used by two groups of people.. people who believe tabloids, and full blown certifiable idiots.
Fantastic explanation of cloud computing! For another cloud option, I recommend you take a look at Microsoft Office Live Workspace. It offers you the ability to create, save, access, and share documents and files online for free. There is even a plug-in for MS Office that lets you save your files to your online Workspace directly from whichever Office program you are using. That way, it will automatically back up your file online, and you can simply access them from any other computer with internet access. You'll never have to worry about a malfunctioning USB drive again! Cheers, Kate MSFT Office Live Outreach http://www.smallbusiness.officelive.com http://www.facebook.com/officelive
[...] Cloud computing for the confused (onsoftware.en.softonic.com) [...]
[...] te ha servido de ayuda a lo mejor te interesa este artículo (en inglés) Cloud Computing for the Confused |en [...]