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

IDrive Inc.
IndustryOnline Backup Software
PredecessorPro Softnet Corporation
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
Headquarters,
U.S.
ProductsIDrive
Websitewww.idrive.com

Overview

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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

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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 10 versions[14] 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.[citation needed]

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.[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 3 TB hard drive.[6][15]

Files on IDrive are stored using 256-bit AES encryption allowing for an optional user-defined key that must be shared with IDrive, but which IDrive claims will not be permanently stored on their servers.[9] IDrive also provides activity reports, backup status reports and shared file reports.

IDriveSync

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IDriveSync allows a user to synchronize files across different devices.[16][17]

IDrive Portable and IDrive Express

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IDrive Portable is a USB hard drive designed for local backup.[18] The hard drive has 3 terabytes of storage space and runs at 5,400 RPM.[18][19][15]

IDrive Lite

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IDrive Lite is a free application for iOS, BlackBerry and Android devices, which allows users to back up their contacts list online.[10][20] Users can also restore their backup contacts to different devices, even devices that have different operating systems.[10][21]

IDrive EVS

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In 2012, IDrive released IDrive EVS, a publicly available software development kit and API.[22] 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.[22]

IDrive Photos

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IDrive Photos is a subscription-based app for iOS and Android devices that allows users to back up photos from their phones.[23][24] By default, photos are saved in their original resolution in cloud storage.[25]

IDriveConnect - allowing users to access their Google Docs as if they were sitting in a regular folder on their computer.[12]

IDrive 360 - Endpoint cloud backup for enterprise, IT and Service providers

References

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  1. ^ a b Higginbotham, Stacey (July 30, 2013). "Best way to send your digital files to the cloud? The postal service". Gigadom. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Takahashi, Dean (July 30, 2013). "IDrive Express makes cloud computer backups a breeze". Venture Beat. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  3. ^ a b 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 July 18, 2013.
  5. ^ "Online Storage and Online Backup". Old web site. Archived from the original on September 28, 2003.
  6. ^ a b c JACKSON WEST (October 27, 2008). "IDrive Backs Up your Work Online, 2GB Free Storage". Life Hacker. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Lex Friedman (February 2, 2013). "Expo Notes: IDrive offers online backup and cloud-based syncing services". MacWorld. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  8. ^ Glenn Fleishman (November 7, 2009). "Online Backup Services". PC World. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "IDrive Online Backup". CNET. November 11, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  10. ^ a b c ROBIN WAUTERS (February 6, 2009). "Backup And Share Your iPhone Contacts For Free With IDrive Lite". Tech Crunch. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  11. ^ Charles P. Jefferies (September 14, 2010). "IDrive Online Backup Review". Notebook Review. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  12. ^ a b Billy Steele (April 4, 2012). "IDrive Connect offers Google Docs access via virtual folder on your Windows machine". Engadget. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  13. ^ Wauters, Robin (November 14, 2011). "Bootstrapped Company Behind iDrive, iBackup Is Fed Up With Patent Trolls". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  14. ^ "Rewind all your backed up files to an earlier version with IDrive®". www.idrive.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "IDrive Express". www.idrive.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  16. ^ Drew Robb (May 21, 2013). "FileSync and Share Buying Guide". Enterprise Storage Forum. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  17. ^ "IDriveSync". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  18. ^ a b "IDrive Portable". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  19. ^ Darren Murph (February 5, 2009). "IDrive Portable HDD backs your files up locally and online". Engadget. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  20. ^ "IDrive Lite". Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  21. ^ Kelly Clay (May 31, 2011). "IDrive Lite Backs Up and Restores iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry Contacts". Locker Gnome. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  22. ^ a b Robert Egert (April 16, 2012). "iDrive Releases Open API Platform". Programmable Web. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  23. ^ "IDrive Launches IDrive Photos – an Unlimited Easy to use Photo Storage app for iOS/Android". blog.idrive.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  24. ^ "13 Best Cloud Storage and File-Sharing Services for 2021". founderjar.com. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  25. ^ "Back up photos videos on your phone with unlimited storage and resolution for 10 a year". fox5sandiego.com. July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.