Google Drive for Linux

[saptech]

More than a year and a half ago, Google promised to bring its Google Drive to the Linux. Those who want to use the cloud-synchronized file system on the the open-source operating system, though, will have to keep on waiting.

In April 2012, when Google Drive launched, Google said, "The team is working on a sync client for Linux." In May 2013, the update was, "The team is still working on it." I asked for another update and got it Sunday: Google doesn't "have anything new to share at this time in terms of timing."

So Linux fans apparently can at least take heart that the project is still alive.

Google Drive for Linux? Patience, patience... | Internet & Media - CNET News

 

[titetanium]

What are you talking about? I've had it running on linux for a year already. Look up grive. It works.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I apparently forgot all about Google Drive! I uploaded something to it 2-1/2 years ago...and that was that. I must have used its browser interface, as I did just now, since it doesn't, and didn't, have a Linux app.

BTW, saptech, you might want to edit your OP to show that the text is quoted from that article. Right now it looks like you're the author of the comments!

 

[MoodyBlues]

What are you talking about?

He's talking about a native Linux app produced by Google for its Drive feature.

I've had it running on linux for a year already. Look up grive. It works.

Thanks for the info! That's good to know.

 

[saptech]

What are you talking about? I've had it running on linux for a year already. Look up grive. It works.

Yes, that's fine & dandy until Google decide to block it from accessing GD. Google are making plans now to stop third party vendors VOIP apps to stop working with Android.

The article is talking about a native Linux client as Moody mention. That is what most linux users would like.

 

[mikedt]

"...but it's a lot higher than Linux versions of Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Apple iTunes."

TBH I tend avoid proprietary software and services, especially where you have to pay a monthly free and it has to be on-line to use it. And if you do stop paying they'll delete your stuff, plus it's all in proprietary locked formats as well. As well as possible back-door govt. snooping. I do have iTunes as I was given a Macbook recently, but never use iTunes though, no need.

Grive very much a work in progress at the moment. One thing you have to run it from the terminal.

Yes, that's fine & dandy until Google decide to block it from accessing GD. Google are making plans now to stop third party vendors VOIP apps to stop working with Android.

Would that include things like Skype or WeChat? Because that would be serious if Google were to lock-down Android for their VOIP services only. I certainly can't see that happening with Android in China though any time soon. Services like Google Voice are United States only, so they can't do that elsewhere.

The article is talking about a native Linux client as Moody mention. That is what most linux users would like.

I don't use Google Drive myself, mainly because I have to VPN into the United States to access it. Not sure if that's Google geo-restricting it (copyright, MPAA, RIAA or DMCA issues?) or Beijing GFW censoring though. Also I wouldn't be too happy about the NSA, GCHQ etc, having full access to all my stuff, not unless I encrypted locally before uploading.

BTW ever read the Google ToS, for things like Drive, Docs, etc.

"When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content." :/

No thank you, I don't wish my private stuff to be published, publicly performed or publicly displayed. ...hmmm "All your base are belong to us." I think.

 

[saptech]

Services like Google Voice are United States only, so they can't do that elsewhere.

I guess it is referring to Google Voice and VOIP using third party apps to send/receive calls/text. I do remember when Gdrive was out before Google Drive and you could use Gdrive for storage purposes using gmail. They did stop it also.

I would prefer if Google would make a native client for linux, tbh.

 

[saptech]

BTW ever read the Google ToS, for things like Drive, Docs, etc.

"When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content." :/

No thank you, I don't wish my private stuff to be published, publicly performed or publicly displayed. ...hmmm "All your base are belong to us." I think.

That's true, who knows what any of the cloud companies are allowing. it would be best to encrypt any sensitive information if you're going to put it on the cloud. I don't.

This is one reason I'm working on having my own email server and can already use FTP or file server running on my own machine.

 

[codesplice]

On topic, I had mixed results with grive on my Arch install. I settled on using Google-Drive-ocamlfuse instead. That was handy as I added it to my startup script and then never had to directly touch it again.

Off topic, Google now encrypts content uploaded to Drive.

As for the Drive TOS, a lot of the permissions they require allow them to do things like back up your data, move it between servers in their cloud, change file format (but not content) to work with their storage system, etc. They're not truly seeking to take ownership of your files, and they absolutely will not publish or share them without your permission.