Evaluation of Digital Platforms
Storing knowledge in the form of digital data on the cloud and accessing it online’s never been easier. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to find the most well-suited option for personal use.
Cloud storage services
| Dropbox | Google Drive | OneDrive | iCloud Drive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum file size | Web: 20GB App: N/A | 5TB | 10GB | 15GB |
| Free storage | 2GB* | 15GB | 5GB | 5GB |
| Paid plans | £6.58/month for 1TB (annual) £7.99 / month (monthly) | $1.99/month for 100GB $9.99/month for 1TB | £1,99/month for 50GB £5,99/month for 1TB** | £0.79/month for 50GB £6.99/month for 1TB |
*Extra free storage can be earned.
**Includes Office 365.
Dropbox
Dropbox is the only service on this list unowned by one of the oft-mentioned three giants of the technological world and the service I currently use to store my digital data, including a backup of this logbook.
Google Drive
Google’s very own cloud storage, Google Drive integrates with Gmail and offers 15GB of free storage out of the box.
OneDrive
OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service, preinstalled on their latest Operating Systems. The service offers 5GB of free storage and integrates into Microsoft Office applications.
iCloud Drive
Apple’s cloud storage solution, iCloud Drive offers free 5GB of storage to iPhone and Mac users. I use this service to back up my phone data.
Note-taking applications
OneNote
Microsoft’s take on a note-taking application. Integrates into other Microsoft Office products.
Evernote
Evernote is a cross-platform, freemium app designed for note taking, organizing, and archiving. It is developed by the Evernote Corporation.
iCloud Notes (log-in required)
iPhone’s native note-taking application. This is the application that I rely on out of convenience, as I tend to use applications native to my smartphone’s Operating System.
Project management applications
Trello
Trello is a web-based project management application made by Trello Inc.
GitHub
A service perfect for storing projects and version control, GitHub also offers web hosting in the form of GitHub Pages. The websites you host on GitHub Pages can be of a personal or organizational nature, or about one of your projects hosted on GitHub. I will definitely look into using GitHub during group projects.
Blog applications
WordPress
WordPress is arguably the most popular choice of software when it comes to generating online blogs. However, it can be an arduous undertaking to find a free (and good!) web hosting service that supports WordPress, which is why I looked into other alternatives.
Jekyll
This is the route I chose for my logbook. The Digital Technologist is hosted on GitHub Pages where it is generated live through Jekyll thanks to their seamless integration. It is also possible to generate (and test) the site offline and to upload the files to your chosen web hosting service later. This process becomes mandatory if custom plugins are used, which is why I avoid using them, as I like having my website generated straight on the web.
Which of these applications do you use? Comment below!
