ownCloud

Cloud services have similar functionality to offer: upload files to the cloud, easily access them from anywhere, sync them across all your devices, share them with others. Since ownCloud is a cloud service, it can be used to access, sync and share data. The interesting thing about ownCloud is that it allows you to use your own cloud – your own server, your own hosting, your own storage. And the cool thing about ownCloud is that it is an open platform that can be modified and extended.

ownCloud is available as a server for Windows and Linux.
ownCloud is available as a desktop client for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
ownCloud is available as a mobile app for iOS and Android.
ownCloud can be integrated into an app.

The Quick Look video that accompanies this article shows you how to install the ownCloud desktop client on a Windows PC. When you run the ownCloud installer, a setup wizard will show up and guide you through the installation process. Once the installation process completes and you run the desktop client for the first time, a connection wizard will show up and help you connect to server, choose what to sync, specify where to store the local ownCloud folder, and select if you want to open ownCloud in your default web browser or open the local ownCloud folder.

While ownCloud is up and running, it sits quietly in the system tray. If you left click the system tray icon, the Settings panel shows up; from it you can pick what account to sync, view recent activity, access some general options, and access some network options. If you right click the icon, you will be presented with a menu that features the following entries: open ownCloud in browser, open ownCloud folder, percentage of used storage space, syncing info, recent changes, settings, help, sign out, quit.

ownCloud offers all the great functionality you would expect to get from a cloud service: upload files to the cloud so they are securely stored online; access all the files you uploaded to the cloud from anywhere in the world; manage all the files you uploaded to the cloud; share files with others. All this functionality is great. But, it must be mentioned that ownCloud is an open platform that can be modified and extended. You can tailor ownCloud to your specific needs, and that is awesome!

ownCloud is a great cloud service!