Google Set To Meld Google Drive With Chrome OS

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Google Set To Meld Google Drive With Chrome OS

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday April 25, 2012 @05:54AM from the when-our-powers-combine dept.

MikeatWired writes "Google will tightly integrate its new Google Drive online storage service with an upcoming version of its Chrome OS operating system, says Sundar Pichai, who oversees development of the company's Chrome products as well as its Google Apps online services. Chrome OS is Google's effort to move all applications and data onto the web (and its Chrome browser), but the OS still hasn't mastered the art of moving files from place to place. By integrating Chrome OS with Google Drive — the online storage service Google introduced on Tuesday — the company seeks to correct this problem. 'With Chromebooks, [Google Drive] is even more powerful,' Pichai says, 'because it just starts working naturally. Your local drive is also Google Drive. This makes it really powerful because you just don't think about it.' Basically, Google Drive — a service that operates on the web — will perform as if it was the local file system. If you open the 'save file' dialog box on Chrome OS, for instance, the system will take you straight to Google Drive. 'We'll effectively integrate [Google] Drive into the native file system of Chrome OS,' says Scott Johnson, Google's Google Drive product manager. 'All the core OS functionality will use [Google] Drive as a place to store data — if that's what you opt in to.'"

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So they can own and track ALL your files? by recoiledsnake · 2012-04-25 05:56 · Score: 2, Insightful

From http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/how-far-do-google-drives-terms-go-in-owning-your-files/75228
Google Drive terms:

“Your Content in our Services: When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide licence to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes that we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content
Dropbox's and Skydrive's terms are more sane.

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This space for rent.
1. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by goombah99 · 2012-04-25 06:00 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  So if you write a manuscript for a movie on chrome OS then you are giving permission to google to make it into a movie if they want. Amazing.
  Does this mean you also can't store on your G-drive anything you don't have permission to reproduce. For example, if I am reviewing a manuscript an I place it on my Gdrive then I've given permission to Google to reproduce it. Yet I don't have that permission to grant.
  
  --
  Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
2. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by vlm · 2012-04-25 06:02 · Score: 2
  
  publicly perform, publicly display and distribute
  No amateur pr0n on GOOG drive, unless you're into the exhibitionist stuff too.
  I'm mystified why they'd have that in the terms, other than for pissing people off.
  
  --
  "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
3. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-25 06:03 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  They have to have those permissions for things like OCR and image search to work. If you really think their goal is to steal it, then I think you are a bit misinformed.
4. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by TechNY · 2012-04-25 06:09 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Please submit me all of your personal files, tax returns, pictures of ex girlfriends and open your webcam. This is so that I can program my OCR to work better. Promise!
5. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Danzigism · 2012-04-25 06:09 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Unless of course, it infringes upon your own intellectual copyright.
  
  --
  *plays the Apogee theme song music*
6. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Animats · 2012-04-25 06:09 · Score: 2
  
  Mod parent up. That is way, way out of line.
  Other remote file services aren't like that. If you use, say, iDrive, not only do they not claim such rights, their server doesn't even have your encryption key.
7. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-25 06:10 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  > They have to have those permissions for things like OCR and image search to work.
  If you think that's the only implication, then I think you're a bit naiive.
8. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Jeng · 2012-04-25 06:14 · Score: 2
  
  This sounds like a very very very bad idea, no way can it be as stupid as it sounds.
  This means that if I put anything that is copyrighted on the google drive I could then be prosecuted for distributing copyrighted material, and google would also be liable since they then claim license over the files I uploaded.
  
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  Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
9. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Enderandrew · 2012-04-25 06:14 · Score: 2
  
  This is one of the few sane comments and it is modded flamebait. Please mod parent up.
  
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  http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
10. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by TheSpoom · 2012-04-25 06:14 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  They try to back up in the next paragraph, but it's clear they still get full permission to do anything (emphasis added):
  
  The rights that you grant in this licence are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting and improving our Services, and to develop new ones. This licence continues even if you stop using our Services (for example, for a business listing that you have added to Google Maps).
  As a professional web developer, I'm staying far, far away. God help you if you ever upload source code to a product they like.
  
  --
  It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
  - E. Debs
11. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Joce640k · 2012-04-25 06:26 · Score: 2
  
  Because their standard license (which is what this is) also covers youtube, etc.
  
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  No sig today...
12. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by yincrash · 2012-04-25 06:47 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  The TOS is for all Google services. It limits itself with a clause that follows that the GP decided to omit.
  
  The rights that you grant in this licence are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting and improving our Services, and to develop new ones. This licence continues even if you stop using our Services (for example, for a business listing that you have added to Google Maps).”
  As well as this clause:
  
  Some of our Services allow you to submit content. You retain ownership of any intellectual property rights that you hold in that content. In short, what belongs to you stays yours.
  The performance clause is almost certainly for other services besides Google Drive like YouTube.
13. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by dontmakemethink · 2012-04-25 06:53 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Here's my terms:
  Terms Of Service notifications are completely meaningless from corporate entities with absolutely no substantial liability for violating them. Go piss up a rope.
  
  --
  
  War as we knew it was obsolete
  Nothing could beat complete denial
  - Emily Haines
14. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by icebraining · 2012-04-25 07:02 · Score: 2
  
  Not collaborated with the Chinese government, unlike Yahoo et all?
  
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  Dilbert RSS feed
15. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by SirGarlon · 2012-04-25 07:09 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  The performance clause is almost certainly for other services besides Google Drive like YouTube.
  
  I agree that's probably the intent, but the fact remains that Google Drive's terms of service allow them to publicly perform your data.
  That kind of suggests putting all 60+ of Google's services under a single TOS was perhaps over-simplifying and not the best idea.
  
  --
  [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
16. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by rtfa-troll · 2012-04-25 07:22 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Because their standard license (which is what this is) also covers youtube, etc.
  If Google goes bankrupt, then this license may end up being the only thing protecting your data. I don't think that they are doing this maliciously and I do think that if enough people protest that will fix it, but I don't think it should just be dismissed by saying "oh; they promised not to be evil". If you think Google can't go bankrupt, please remember that five years ago Microsoft also looked completely invulnerable. Almost nobody could imagine them not being dominant in personal computing. Things like iOS and Android turn up and suddenly they look like DEC dealing with the arrival of the Microprocessor. In ten years time the same could easily happen to Google.
  
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17. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Local+ID10T · 2012-04-25 07:36 · Score: 2
  
  Try scrolling down a bit...
  
  The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our Services, and to develop new ones.
  
  --
  "You want to know how to help your kids? Leave them the fuck alone." -George Carlin
18. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Local+ID10T · 2012-04-25 07:41 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Dropbox's and Skydrive's terms are more sane.
  Really? Read on...
  Skydrive:
  
  You understand that Microsoft may need, and you hereby grant Microsoft the right, to use, modify, adapt, reproduce, distribute, and display content posted on the service solely to the extent necessary to provide the service. ... In order to operate and provide the service, we collect certain information about you. As part of the service, we may also automatically upload information about your computer, your use of the service, and service performance. ... We may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications.
  Dropbox:
  
  We may need your permission to do things you ask us to do with your stuff, for example, hosting your files, or sharing them at your direction. This includes product features visible to you, for example, image thumbnails or document previews. It also includes design choices we make to technically administer our Services, for example, how we redundantly backup data to keep it safe. You give us the permissions we need to do those things solely to provide the Services. This permission also extends to trusted third parties we work with to provide the Services, for example Amazon, which provides our storage space.
  
  Google:
  
  Some of our Services allow you to submit content. You retain ownership of any intellectual property rights that you hold in that content. In short, what belongs to you stays yours.
  
  Things could be better worded all around... but that's what you get when lawyers get involved.
  
  --
  "You want to know how to help your kids? Leave them the fuck alone." -George Carlin
19. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by robot256 · 2012-04-25 08:05 · Score: 2
  
  What's your point? They can't infringe your rights because by using the service you gave them a license to use it however they want. If you didn't own the copyright or have the right to issue the license, then it will infringe upon the third party that owns the material, but never you, the user.
20. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by robot256 · 2012-04-25 08:10 · Score: 2
  
  "Developing new services" could just as well mean making something to search everyone's personal files on the public Internet. "Promoting services" could mean plastering your family photos on the side of a bus. Even if Google doesn't do any of that, there is nothing stopping them from selling/bankrupting and someone else using the data under the same license. OP is not trolling.
21. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by dave420 · 2012-04-25 09:35 · Score: 2
  
  You absolute muppet. They clearly state you retain all rights to your own intellectual property which you upload to Google. They can not take your code and use it. As a professional web developer, you can't read for shit.
22. Re:So they can own and track ALL your files? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-25 11:42 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Please submit me all of your personal files, tax returns, pictures of ex girlfriends and open your webcam. This is so that I can program my OCR to work better. Promise!
  You have no use for my data that benefits me, you have no track record of good behavior, and you have noting to lose by abusing the information I give you. None of those things are true of Google.
  Google has a long track record of taking good care of my data. Not perfect, but on balance much better than any other company I have dealt with. Never recording any data anywhere would be "safer", in the same way that never leaving my house would make it less likely that I would contract an illness. Google has a lot to lose by misusing my data. On balance, it makes sense to trust them.
Multi-device by vlm · 2012-04-25 05:59 · Score: 2

Stereotypical area of failure for networked home dirs is one user account can have more than one device.
I see it at home everyday with my AFS home directories and bizarre behavior when two machines logged in at the same time try to run awesome and firefox at the same time.
Not saying GOOG drive will/must fail this way, but I'm sure many GOOG-drive API using devs won't think of it and will find a way to fail, its the hardest problem not mentioned in the article.
On an optimistic note, I have a couple android devices now and they all live under the same google account perfectly.

--
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
1. Re:Multi-device by goombah99 · 2012-04-25 06:03 · Score: 2
  
  I had two computers running a mail program that synced with gmail. They each had scripts running that sorted the mail into folders slightly differently. I frequently would find 200 copies of the same message in the trash when I left both computers running.
  
  --
  Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
2. Re:Multi-device by kenaaker · 2012-04-25 06:41 · Score: 2
  
  I've got a similar setup at home. I've got my basic OpenAFS home directory as a starting point, but I finally got things to work fairly well by a combination of a KDEHOME that points to a machine local filesystem and symlinks out of the networked directory to the machine local filesystem.
  It seems like every release has another service that assumes every home directory is a local hard drive and everybody needs to run background services that can't properly share files in their home directories. (Like a "personal" copy of mysqld...)
Nice toy for teenagers... by dryriver · 2012-04-25 06:03 · Score: 4, Informative

I guess if you are in middle- or high-school, this could be a nice service for storing your homework and such. But if you are a business, or your files need to stay confidential for some other reason? I don't think Google Drive can be trusted with that kind of material. Even if it is encrypted or such. Just saying...

--
Why did the chicken cross the road? Because Elon Musk put an AI chip in its head.
1. Re:Nice toy for teenagers... by vlm · 2012-04-25 06:06 · Score: 2
  
  I guess if you are in middle- or high-school, this could be a nice service for storing your homework and such.
  Not really. You probably don't have the right to give GOOG permission to:
  "publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content"
  
  --
  "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
2. Re:Nice toy for teenagers... by Urza9814 · 2012-04-25 06:54 · Score: 2
  
  I guess if you are in middle- or high-school, this could be a nice service for storing your homework and such.
  Not really. You probably don't have the right to give GOOG permission to:
  "publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content"
  Why? I dunno about you, but I never signed any contracts while in middle- or high-school restricting what I can and cannot do with my homework. Maybe you can't distribute the problems themselves, as they're probably copyright (though you could argue fair use for educational purposes and such,) but otherwise there's no reason you couldn't.
  Hell, even in college I never signed such an agreement. Was asked to once and I refused, along with around a third of the class. SOP in those situations is to assign a different project that isn't free labor to some corporation. I know students who have sold their college (and, for that matter, highschool) projects with no problem.
constant connectivity? by OldGoatDJ · 2012-04-25 06:12 · Score: 2

What if you are not connected to the internet constantly? does this make your device worthless? How does one work 'offline'?
For completeness, iCloud's terms: by SirGarlon · 2012-04-25 06:12 · Score: 5, Interesting

For completeness, Apple iCloud's terms of service say:

Except for material we may license to you, Apple does not claim ownership of the materials and/or Content you submit or make available on the Service. However, by submitting or posting such Content on areas of the Service that are accessible by the public or other users with whom you consent to share such Content, you grant Apple a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content on the Service solely for the purpose for which such Content was submitted or made available, without any compensation or obligation to you.
Which sounds pretty reasonable. The problem comes earlier in the "agreement,"

Apple reserves the right to take steps Apple believes are reasonably necessary or appropriate to enforce and/or verify compliance with any part of this Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that Apple may, without liability to you, access, use, preserve and/or disclose your Account information and Content to law enforcement authorities, government officials, and/or a third party,

So the "agreement" grants Apple privileges to spy on your data and pass it along to any unspecified "third party" or their choice, if they feel like you might be doing something they dislike. I read it; I didn't sign it. I don't think anyone should.

--
[Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
Sorry your network connection was lost. by cpu6502 · 2012-04-25 06:22 · Score: 2

Your google laptop can't do anything..... not even access your files. This has happened just twice at home, but seems to happen a LOT at work and in hotels. I'd rather have local dh0: copies of my programs and files, so I can work while offline,

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It is powerful, you don't think about it by Schiphol · 2012-04-25 06:28 · Score: 4, Insightful

"This makes it really powerful because you just don't think about it". This is a pretty good summary of the way in which companies such as Google make their profit. These days, it is quite essential to "think about it".
Maybe with PGP by IwantToKeepAnon · 2012-04-25 08:40 · Score: 2

If there was a driver that would encrypt/decrypt the traffic en route then maybe I'd store stuff in the free version. Then I could share the key w/ my work PC or a co-worker or whoever I want to grant access to the files.
Google is brilliant at getting us to turn over information to them. If I store a file it is for MY use, not theirs. Especially if I have a paid account, then using the data to spam me w/ ads is even worse.

--
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." -- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
I wonder how... by hesaigo999ca · 2012-04-26 03:05 · Score: 2

I wonder how the google drive will be synched with the local drive, as the storage limit for cloud drive access, is definately smaller than the hdd we have on the computers we use today. I wonder how they will incorporate a sort of limit watcher to let you know even though you can save it locally , you have obtained your limit in your google drive account.