The cloud is often referred to as the cool new technological application, when, in fact, Internet users have long been accustomed to many of the cloud’s exclusive features. Although the cloud is, in and of itself, nothing new, it is the key to continually spurring innovation, which explains the massive amount of excitement surrounding it. How has the cloud impacted your life thus far? And how will it changeRackspace your online habits in the future?
An End To Physical Storage
Chances are decent that even if you’re not reading this on your iPad, you probably have some type of mobile computing device within a few feet of you. Is that an iPhone in your pocket? I’m guessing so. Even though your iPad has anywhere from 16 to 64 GB of storage, you may quickly find yourself needing more if you download tons of apps and plan on watching “Game of” Thrones during your commute (800 MB each).
Luckily, your devices were all built to seamlessly integrate with the cloud. You may not have noticed it, but over the years, physical data storage has become less and less of a concern for both businesses and individuals. Files that, at one time, were exclusively stored on hard drives, are now shared and saved over online clouds that link up to our tablets, smartphones and computers. Rackspace Hosting is a perfect example. You can download their cloud app and access files from the office (or fro your latest vacation) anywhere in the world. If you can’t squeeze the first season of Lost onto your iPad, you can always store it in the cloud and access it through your Rackspace app.
Music Downloads
Remember the early days of the iPod, when all music had to be stored on the computer? While music backup is still relatively common, it has become less of an essential thanks to music applications developed for the iPhone. Apps such as Spotify make it possible for music lovers to access their favorite songs from just about anywhere, provided they have service or a decent Internet connection. Such innovations in music storage have been especially helpful for those with eclectic music tastes. In the past, these music lovers were forced to maintain vast storage systems for their huge music collections. Now, they can listen to new songs to their heart’s content without worrying about running out of space.
Mobile Games
Gamers are always at the forefront of new technology, and this has certainly been the case with cloud computing. While a number of new iPad and iPhone apps are used for more serious endeavors such as budgeting and academic research, a significant subset is left to gamers. While many people disparage the new ease of access to popular games, the cloud’s impact on gaming may suggest serious implications for the future of education and work. Already, the cloud is being used extensively to improve the lives of the physically and mentally disabled, making it easier for them to learn new concepts and complete the tasks necessary for daily living. A number of companies are also implementing gaming concepts in hopes of improving worker productivity.
Social Networking
Every time you post a new Facebook status or tweet an important message to your Twitter followers, you are, in fact, connected to the cloud. Social networking sites were some of the earliest pioneers of cloud technology, making it easy for users to store vast amounts of data online. The main difference between social networking cloud technology and more professional cloud applications lies in security issues. Users tend to be less proactive when it comes to social networking security, a problem that can be potentially dangerous.
The cloud really has been a game-changer in the workforce as well as for personal endeavors. Fully utilizing cloud technology can make life easier and a whole lot more fun!