IDrive Inc.

IDrive Inc.
Industry Online Backup Software
Predecessor Pro Softnet Corporation
Founded 1995
Headquarters Calabasas, California
Products IDrive
Website www.idrive.com

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, iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android users.[1][2][3]

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 30 versions 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. This broad list of supported devices distinguishes them from some competitors.[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 1 TB hard drive.[6]

Files on IDrive are stored using 256-bit AES encryption allowing for an optional user-defined key that is not stored on any IDrive server.[9] IDrive also provides activity reports, backup status reports and shared file reports.

IDrive advertises 24 hours a day / 7 day technical support but it is somewhat of an exaggeration. They have telephone support Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm PST and online chat support at other times but the online live chat has been found to be offline for several hours at a time and the online live chat operators are unable to resolve all issues like the 12 hours a day / 5 days weekday support people can do.

IDriveSync

IDriveSync allows a user to synchronize files across different devices.[14][15]

IDrive Portable and IDrive Express

IDrive Portable is a USB hard drive designed for local backup.[16] The hard drive has 1 terabyte of storage space and runs at 5,400 RPM.[16][17]

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][18] Users can also restore their backup contacts to different devices, even devices that have different operating systems.[10][19]

IDrive EVS

In 2012, IDrive released IDrive EVS, publicly available software development kit and API.[20] 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.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 Higginbotham, Stacey (July 30, 2013). "Best way to send your digital files to the cloud? The postal service.". Gigadom. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Takahashi, Dean (July 30, 2013). "IDrive Express makes cloud computer backups a breeze". Venture Beat. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  3. 1 2 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.
  4. ↑ ROBIN WAUTERS (November 14, 2011). "Bootstrapped Company Behind iDrive iBackup Is Fed Up With Patent Trolls". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Online Storage and Online Backup". Old web site. Archived from the original on September 28, 2003.
  6. 1 2 3 JACKSON WEST (October 27, 2008). "IDrive Backs Up your Work Online, 2GB Free Storage". Life Hacker. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 Lex Friedman (February 2, 2013). "Expo Notes: IDrive offers online backup and cloud-based syncing services". MacWorld. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Glenn Fleishman (November 7, 2009). "Online Backup Services". PC World. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  9. 1 2 "IDrive Online Backup". CNET. November 11, 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 ROBIN WAUTERS (February 6, 2009). "Backup And Share Your iPhone Contacts For Free With IDrive Lite". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  11. ↑ Charles P. Jefferies (September 14, 2010). "IDrive Online Backup Review". Notebook Review. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  12. ↑ Billy Steele (April 4, 2012). "IDrive Connect offers Google Docs access via virtual folder on your Windows machine". Engadget. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  13. ↑ Wauters, Robin. "Bootstrapped Company Behind iDrive, iBackup Is Fed Up With Patent Trolls". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
  14. ↑ Drew Robb (May 21, 2013). "FileSync and Share Buying Guide". Enterprise Storage Forum. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "IDriveSync". PC Magazine. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  16. 1 2 "IDrive Portable". PC Magazine. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  17. ↑ Darren Murph (February 5, 2009). "IDrive Portable HDD backs your files up locally and online". Engadget. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "IDrive Lite". Google. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  19. ↑ Kelly Clay (May 31, 2011). "IDrive Lite Backs Up and Restores iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry Contacts". Locker Gnome. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  20. 1 2 Robert Egert (April 16, 2012). "iDrive Releases Open API Platform". Programmable Web. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
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