IDrive Inc.
IDrive Inc. is a technology company that specializes in data backup applications.[1][2][3] Its flagship product is IDrive, an online backup service available to Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android users.[1][2][3]
Industry | Online Backup Software |
---|---|
Predecessor | Pro Softnet Corporation |
Founded | 1995 |
Headquarters | , U.S. |
Products | IDrive |
Website | www |
Overview
Pro Softnet Corporation was founded in 1995 and is based in Calabasas, California, within Los Angeles County.[4]
Pro Softnet Corporation's initial product was called IBackup, but it acquired the idrive.com domain name from defunct company I-drive around mid-2003.[5]
IDrive products were mentioned by Lifehacker, Macworld, PC World, CNET, Tech Crunch, Notebook Review, PC Magazine and Engadget.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Pro Softnet Corporation has been plagued by patent infringement lawsuits and has spoken out publicly about how they are a drain on the company's resources. [13]
Products
IDrive is an automated backup application that runs on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. Once installed, users select folders and files to be backed up at user-specified times. IDrive offers incremental and compressed backups so users only upload modified portions of a backup file, and files may also be updated in real time with a continuous backup option. Users have the ability to limit bandwidth usage during the backup process.[6] The previous 10 versions[14] of a file are automatically retained and IDrive does not automatically delete backup data, even if backup files are deleted on the user's computer.[7] Users can share their files through email, social media sites including Facebook and Twitter, and via a mobile phone application for Android, iPhone and Windows Phone.
IDrive allows a user to back up data from all compatible devices to a single account. The iDrive application runs natively on Windows, OSX, as well as on several models of NAS devices made by Synology, QNap, and Netgear.[7]
IDrive provides multiple data retrieval options. Backup files can be accessed remotely from any Internet browser or with IDrive's client software. If a user wants access to all backup files, IDrive can ship all backup files on a 3 TB hard drive.[6][15]
Files on IDrive are stored using 256-bit AES encryption allowing for an optional user-defined key that must be shared with IDrive, but which IDrive claims will not be permanently stored on their servers.[9] IDrive also provides activity reports, backup status reports and shared file reports.
IDrive Portable and IDrive Express
IDrive Portable is a USB hard drive designed for local backup.[18] The hard drive has 3 terabyte of storage space and runs at 5,400 RPM.[18][19][15]
IDrive Lite
IDrive Lite is a free application for iOS, BlackBerry and Android devices, which allows users to back up their contacts list online.[10][20] Users can also restore their backup contacts to different devices, even devices that have different operating systems.[10][21]
IDrive EVS
In 2012, IDrive released IDrive EVS, publicly available software development kit and API.[22] The kit, which includes built-in encryption and a command-line API, allows users to create applications for use with IDrive's cloud storage services.[22]
IDriveConnect - allowing users to access their Google Docs as if they were sitting in a regular folder on their computer.[12]
References
- Higginbotham, Stacey (July 30, 2013). "Best way to send your digital files to the cloud? The postal service". Gigadom. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- Takahashi, Dean (July 30, 2013). "IDrive Express makes cloud computer backups a breeze". Venture Beat. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- Lardinois, Federick (July 30, 2013). "Backup Service IDrive Now Ships 1TB Hard Disks To Users Who Want To Back Up Large Amounts Of Data". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ROBIN WAUTERS (November 14, 2011). "Bootstrapped Company Behind iDrive iBackup Is Fed Up With Patent Trolls". Tech Crunch. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- "Online Storage and Online Backup". Old web site. Archived from the original on September 28, 2003.
- JACKSON WEST (October 27, 2008). "IDrive Backs Up your Work Online, 2GB Free Storage". Life Hacker. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- Lex Friedman (February 2, 2013). "Expo Notes: IDrive offers online backup and cloud-based syncing services". MacWorld. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- Glenn Fleishman (November 7, 2009). "Online Backup Services". PC World. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- "IDrive Online Backup". CNET. November 11, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- ROBIN WAUTERS (February 6, 2009). "Backup And Share Your iPhone Contacts For Free With IDrive Lite". Tech Crunch. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- Charles P. Jefferies (September 14, 2010). "IDrive Online Backup Review". Notebook Review. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- Billy Steele (April 4, 2012). "IDrive Connect offers Google Docs access via virtual folder on your Windows machine". Engadget. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- Wauters, Robin. "Bootstrapped Company Behind iDrive, iBackup Is Fed Up With Patent Trolls". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- "Rewind all your backed up files to an earlier version with IDriveĀ®". www.idrive.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- "IDrive Express". www.idrive.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- Drew Robb (May 21, 2013). "FileSync and Share Buying Guide". Enterprise Storage Forum. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- "IDriveSync". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- "IDrive Portable". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- Darren Murph (February 5, 2009). "IDrive Portable HDD backs your files up locally and online". Engadget. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- "IDrive Lite". Google. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- Kelly Clay (May 31, 2011). "IDrive Lite Backs Up and Restores iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry Contacts". Locker Gnome. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
- Robert Egert (April 16, 2012). "iDrive Releases Open API Platform". Programmable Web. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.