Free online/cloud storage space for free

The fight for cloud space is going on for a few years. In this post will try to list out the free online storage space an individual can get.

Google Drive - 15GB - This includes all the file attachments in gmail, documents in google drive and the high resolution photos in google+.

Microsoft Skydrive - 7 GB - Intially they were giving 25 GB now its been reduced for new sign ups to 7GB.

Dropbox - 2 GB - (nothing much to explain :))

Amazon Cloud Drive - 5GB - Yes, the latest addition to online free space is amazon.

Apple iCloud - 5GB (optional) - This is optional because you cannot use this like google drive or dropbox. You can sync up docs from iwork, notes etc. So not included in my calculation.

So around 30 GB of free online storage space is available free of cost for individuals.
I agree managing documents across different vendors is another headache but this post is just an analysis on free online storage space and not a recommendation on which one to use :)

Lets which other big players are jumping into online storage and giving us more free storage.

Note: Most of them have offline access too which is more convenient than managing in browser alone.

iPhone photos to computer

I was talking to one of my friend and we ran into a conversation of how to transfer iPhone photos to computer. Here is a small post about it.

Now a days we all carry mobile phones with camera and taking/sharing more pictures in mobile phones. I carry an iPhone so I’m giving the steps to transfer iPhone photos to computer. We do not need iTunes or sync up for this.

Steps for Windows users:
Camera mode:
1) Connect iPhone to your computer using the charging/sync cable
2) Open “My Computer” in your windows computer 

3) iPhone will be displayed as “Digital Camera”
4) Double click and open it as a folder and subsequent folders until you see all the pictures taken in iPhone
5) Now you can cut/copy/remove the photos you like

Import mode:
First time users may not be able to see the pictures in that case follow the steps below:
1) Connect iPhone to your computer
2) Windows will prompt with the Auto play window
3) Click “Import pictures and videos”
4) Import pictures window will be displayed
5) Click Import settings to find out where the photos are going to be imported

If you are a first time user and do not want all the photos to be imported.
1) Follow the 4 steps in Import mode
2) Close the Import pictures window
3) Click Yes for cancel importing
4) Now follow the steps provided in Camera mode

Ask me your questions through comments, if you face any other issues while copying iPhone photos to computer.


If you want to know how to make your own ring tones for iPhone: Read here

Use Bing to book cheap tickets

Bing has a built-in price predictor powered by expedia which can be used to decide and buy your flight tickets cheap.

Whenever we want to check for cheap airfare, we use the Internet travel websites like Orbitz, Expedia etc., But we don't know when the prices go up or down. Making decision on buying or waiting for cheap ticket price is the tricky part.

The Price Predictor in Bing helps in resolving this issue, not 100% but to some extent.
Enter your From and To destination in Bing's flight search. In the results page look at the Price Predictor Tip. The predictor is so simple and more details can be found under the Details & Fare history.

You can set up your fare alert to get emails about the change in airfare.
 Nowadays I am using this to book my flight tickets for cheap price. It’s really helpful, try and feel the difference.

Speedup your computer by stopping unwanted startup programs

This is a simple way to speed your computer without any external or 3rd party softwares. Startup programs are (full or part) softwares that loads, when you start/boot your computer.

Whenever we install new softwares, most softwares by default add them to startup list. Some provide an option during installation, but we hardly notice that option (its either a checkbox or a quick msg display). After a period of time, this makes Windows start time to rise constantly.

Windows comes with a small utility called “msconfig”. Using msconfig you can deselect some unwanted startup programs. These may be your most used programs but you dont want them during startup.

Steps for Windows / Windows 7 user:
1) Click Start button
2) Type msconfig in the Search box 
     (Note: XP, 2000 and below - Type this in Run window)
3) Select the startup tab (picture below)
4) Uncheck the programs which you know and feel they are not necessary during startup
(Leave the processor and OS related softwares)
5) Click Apply and OK
6) Click Restart and you are done. (You can choose to restart later also)
7) Your computer will boot little faster than before