ZumoDrive
Encyclopedia
ZumoDrive is a cloud-based
file synchronization
and storage service
operated by Zecter, Inc. On December 22nd, 2010, Zecter announced its acquisition by Motorola Mobility. The service enables users to store and sync files online and between computers using their HybridCloud storage solution. ZumoDrive has a cross-platform client (Windows
, Mac
, Linux
, iOS, Android, and Palm webOS) that enables users to copy any file or folder into the ZumoDrive virtual disk that is then synced to the web and the users' other computers and handheld devices. Files in the ZumoDrive virtual disk may then be shared with other ZumoDrive users or accessed from the web. Users may also upload files manually through a web browser interface. A free ZumoDrive account offers 2 GB of storage, and users may upgrade to paid plans ranging from 10 GB to 500 GB for a monthly subscription fee. The ZumoDrive service is also integrated into Yahoo! Mail allowing users to send or receive any file on their ZumoDrive, and powers HP's recent CloudDrive technology, bundled on all new HP Mini
netbooks.
transfers with AES-256 encryption, and it supports revision history—by use of deltas or delta encoding
technology—so files deleted from the ZumoDrive virtual disk may be recovered from any of the synced computers. ZumoDrive's version control also helps users know the history of a file they may be currently working on, enabling more than one person to edit and re-post files without edit conflicts or loss of information. There is no limit to file size for files added via the ZumoDrive client. ZumoDrive uses Amazon's
S3
simple storage service to store files in the cloud.
The ZumoDrive service is a unique file sync and storage service in that content appears local to the filesystem and can be streamed from the cloud on demand. Users can stream music directly from ZumoDrive to iPhone, iPod Touch, Android and WebOS devices. The ZumoDrive service also offers intelligent "predictive caching" which allows copies of frequently used files to be stored locally so users can access these files when they don't have internet access. ZumoDrive allows users to selectively synchronize individual files, folders, or the entire virtual drive. Users can also link folders in place on their computers to their ZumoDrive, and these folders and all content will stay in sync across all devices. The ZumoDrive service allows storage-restricted devices (e.g., netbook
s, iPhone
s, WebOS and Android handsets), to have full access to the cloud, thereby making these devices appear to be as large as there is data available in the cloud.
based company Zecter, which was founded by David Zhao and Kevin West in 2007. Zhao is a former application developer for Amazon
while West is a former Microsoft
employee. The third founding member of the team is Vijay Mani, who is also a former Microsoft employee.
The company received seed funding from Y Combinator
, Tandem Entrepreneurs, and other seed and early-stage investors. An additional round of $1.5 million in funding has been secured as of late October 2009, led by Sherpalo Ventures, with Tandem Entrepreneurs and VeriFone CEO Douglas Bergeron
participating. Development for ZumoDrive began in 2008 and the product launched in January 2009.
On December 22nd, 2010, Zecter announced its acquisition by Motorola Mobility.
connection speeds can make streaming large files, such as movies to mobile and other remote devices difficult.
While ZumoDrive encrypts transport of all content with 256-bit SSL, and stores that content encrypted on Amazon S3 servers, that content is still accessible to ZumoDrive administrators.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
file synchronization
File synchronization
File synchronization in computing is the process of ensuring that computer files in two or more locations are updated via certain rules....
and storage service
File hosting service
A file hosting service, online file storage provider, or cyberlocker is an Internet hosting service specifically designed to host user files. Typically they allow HTTP and FTP access. Related services are content-displaying hosting services A file hosting service, online file storage provider, or...
operated by Zecter, Inc. On December 22nd, 2010, Zecter announced its acquisition by Motorola Mobility. The service enables users to store and sync files online and between computers using their HybridCloud storage solution. ZumoDrive has a cross-platform client (Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, iOS, Android, and Palm webOS) that enables users to copy any file or folder into the ZumoDrive virtual disk that is then synced to the web and the users' other computers and handheld devices. Files in the ZumoDrive virtual disk may then be shared with other ZumoDrive users or accessed from the web. Users may also upload files manually through a web browser interface. A free ZumoDrive account offers 2 GB of storage, and users may upgrade to paid plans ranging from 10 GB to 500 GB for a monthly subscription fee. The ZumoDrive service is also integrated into Yahoo! Mail allowing users to send or receive any file on their ZumoDrive, and powers HP's recent CloudDrive technology, bundled on all new HP Mini
HP Mini
HP Mini is a line of small notebooks, categorized as netbooks manufactured by Hewlett-Packard under the HP, HP Compaq and Compaq brands. They either contain the HP built Linux, Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 7 Operating systems. Like most netbooks, they aren't built with CD/DVD drives...
netbooks.
Functionality
While ZumoDrive functions as a file synchronization and storage service, it employs an approach that allows content in the cloud to appear local to the filesystem. ZumoDrive synchronization uses SSLTransport Layer Security
Transport Layer Security and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer , are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet...
transfers with AES-256 encryption, and it supports revision history—by use of deltas or delta encoding
Delta encoding
Delta encoding is a way of storing or transmitting data in the form of differences between sequential data rather than complete files; more generally this is known as data differencing...
technology—so files deleted from the ZumoDrive virtual disk may be recovered from any of the synced computers. ZumoDrive's version control also helps users know the history of a file they may be currently working on, enabling more than one person to edit and re-post files without edit conflicts or loss of information. There is no limit to file size for files added via the ZumoDrive client. ZumoDrive uses Amazon's
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
S3
Amazon S3
Amazon S3 is an online storage web service offered by Amazon Web Services. Amazon S3 provides storage through web services interfaces...
simple storage service to store files in the cloud.
The ZumoDrive service is a unique file sync and storage service in that content appears local to the filesystem and can be streamed from the cloud on demand. Users can stream music directly from ZumoDrive to iPhone, iPod Touch, Android and WebOS devices. The ZumoDrive service also offers intelligent "predictive caching" which allows copies of frequently used files to be stored locally so users can access these files when they don't have internet access. ZumoDrive allows users to selectively synchronize individual files, folders, or the entire virtual drive. Users can also link folders in place on their computers to their ZumoDrive, and these folders and all content will stay in sync across all devices. The ZumoDrive service allows storage-restricted devices (e.g., netbook
Netbook
Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...
s, iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
s, WebOS and Android handsets), to have full access to the cloud, thereby making these devices appear to be as large as there is data available in the cloud.
History
ZumoDrive was created by the Silicon ValleySilicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
based company Zecter, which was founded by David Zhao and Kevin West in 2007. Zhao is a former application developer for Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
while West is a former Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
employee. The third founding member of the team is Vijay Mani, who is also a former Microsoft employee.
The company received seed funding from Y Combinator
Y Combinator
Y Combinator is an American seed-stage startup funding firm, started in March 2005. Y Combinator provides seed money, advice, and connections at two 3-month programs per year...
, Tandem Entrepreneurs, and other seed and early-stage investors. An additional round of $1.5 million in funding has been secured as of late October 2009, led by Sherpalo Ventures, with Tandem Entrepreneurs and VeriFone CEO Douglas Bergeron
Douglas G. Bergeron
Douglas Bergeron is CEO of VeriFone, a software and telecommunications development company in the United States. He previously served in a variety of executive management positions at SunGard Data Systems Inc., including President of SunGard Futures Systems and Group CEO of SunGard Brokerage...
participating. Development for ZumoDrive began in 2008 and the product launched in January 2009.
On December 22nd, 2010, Zecter announced its acquisition by Motorola Mobility.
Criticism
Slow broadbandBroadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
connection speeds can make streaming large files, such as movies to mobile and other remote devices difficult.
While ZumoDrive encrypts transport of all content with 256-bit SSL, and stores that content encrypted on Amazon S3 servers, that content is still accessible to ZumoDrive administrators.
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See also
- List of online backup services
- Comparison of online backup services
- File synchronizationFile synchronizationFile synchronization in computing is the process of ensuring that computer files in two or more locations are updated via certain rules....
- File hosting serviceFile hosting serviceA file hosting service, online file storage provider, or cyberlocker is an Internet hosting service specifically designed to host user files. Typically they allow HTTP and FTP access. Related services are content-displaying hosting services A file hosting service, online file storage provider, or...
- Cloud computingCloud computingCloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....