Vodafone abandons its pay-TV plans
In a fairly predictable move, Vodafone has said it’s all but deserted plans to launch a pay-TV service in the UK. The company has barely touched on its televisual ambitions since announcing in spring 2015 that it expected to have something ready before the end of that year. As The Telegraph reports, the project was beset by development delays and difficulty hashing out a deal to carry BT’s sports channels. Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao said that although the pay-TV service was now at a stage where it could be launched “within weeks,” the company has decided to put its plans on indefinite hiatus.
While Vodafone has offered pay-TV services in other European countries it operates in for many years, it now seems unlikely that it’ll ever join the UK’s not-so-exclusive quad-play club. For one, it’s probably best not to enter a crowded market when your latest quarterly financial report (published yesterday) shows an overall decline in revenue, core mobile business included. Vodafone also knows all too well the effects of being late to the party. Since fully returning to the home broadband racket in October 2015, the company has only managed to get 129,000 households on its books, which amounts to a tiny market share compared to established providers like Sky, Virgin Media, BT and TalkTalk.
Take that list above, add in EE, and you’re looking at all the UK providers in the quad-play club. Membership has grown significantly over the past few years, with all now offering the full monty of TV, broadband, mobile and landline services. Not only can a customer get everything they need from one provider, but they have less incentive to shop around as they are typically treated to attractive discounts upon pledging their exclusive loyalty. By design, competition is getting tougher (or easier if you’re the one locking people into quad-play packages).
You don’t really need to be a CEO, then, to conclude that if you’re struggling to sign up broadband customers, launching a pay-TV service will be just as much of an uphill battle — let alone trying to convert quad-players onto a different all-in-one package.
Update: Slightly less definitive statement from Vodafone: “Our focus in the UK is on broadband, where we’re seeing good growth, driven by our industry leading decision to scrap line rental. We will look at launching TV in the UK when we deem it necessary and commercially appropriate.”
Via: Digital TV Europe
Source: The Telegraph, Vodafone
The best USB microphone
By Kevin Purdy and Lauren Dragan
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.
After 75 hours of research, interviews, and making audio professionals and regular humans listen to voice samples from 25 different USB microphones, we’ve decided for the third year in a row that the Yeti by Blue makes your voice sound the best with the least hassle. If you’re an enthusiast, you might be able to get better results by putting time into a different, likely more expensive microphone, and more elaborate equipment (see our USB audio interfaces guide), but the Yeti puts the fewest hurdles between you and an ear-pleasing sound.
Do you need a USB microphone?
USB microphones are made for easy, plug-and-play use. They include an internal preamp and analog-to-digital converter that takes the incoming signal (your voice, for example), amplifies it, and converts it to a digital stream, ready to send over a USB cable to your computer or iPad for recording. That all means you don’t need any additional gear to start recording. These microphones are most useful for podcasters, musicians looking to share homemade productions online, YouTube enthusiasts (also known as vloggers), and anyone wanting to do much better recording than their laptop’s built-in microphone will allow without having to spend a lot of time learning how to set up professional microphones, mixers, and interfaces.
If you do want to delve more deeply into recording your voice or musical instruments and want more options, we have a guide for that, too. A USB audio interface will offer even better sound quality overall than a USB mic, and pick up more nuances in both vocals and acoustic instruments.
How we picked and tested
The microphones we tested for the most recent update to this guide. Front row: Blue Raspberry. Middle row, from left: Samson Meteor, Shure MV5, Shure MV51. Top row, from left: Audio-Technica ATR2500-USB, Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica ATR2005USB. Photo: Nick Guy
A USB mic worth its price should capture the whole range of the human voice—with all its pitches, tones, timbres, quirks, and flaws—and make it sound as good as it can. Ideally, you could upload your recording without any fine-tuning as a podcast and have it sound good in someone else’s headphones.
Because a USB mic exists between built-in recording and the expandable, expensive world of studio-level microphones, the price should be in that middle range, too. The same goes for its features: options for those who want to fiddle, but not a half-dozen switches and knobs that require adjustment for every single new recording situation. A crucial feature is a zero-latency headphone jack for hearing exactly what you sound like without any distracting delay. Also important is in-mic gain control. Read our full guide to learn why these features are so important.
Our original research in this category began in 2013, with reading reviews and compiling lists of contenders and interviewing recording professionals. From there, we tested the top-rated and most recommended microphones each year for three years. We conducted a blind listening test of samples from each of the finalists. You can listen to samples here.
Our pick: The easiest way to sound good
Of all the microphones we tested, the Blue Yeti makes it easiest to sound good on a podcast, livestream, video call, or most any other kind of recording. Photo: Nick Guy
If you want to plug a microphone into your computer or iPad and quickly sound clear and engaging whether recorded or live, we recommend the Yeti by Blue. It provided the most reliably well-rounded, natural sound of all the mics we tested―whether on Windows or Mac, in professional studios or in a small square office. It was often the highest rated in our three different tests, and when it wasn’t, it still ranked among the best. It offers live headphone monitoring and gain control, two key features for any recording setup (other mics lacked these or made using them too complicated). It is more stable on its stand than most microphones we tested, and feels far more solidly constructed and durable.
The Yeti costs $20 to $50 more than most desktop-size USB microphones, but many people may not need to spend a dime more to be ready for a podcast, YouTube show, or amateur voice recording once they’ve purchased it. At most, people may want to pay a few bucks for a universal pop filter for the Yeti. Otherwise, you get a setup that sounds much better over a video call, and which audio producers are more than happy to work with. From our experience recording samples with dozens of different USB microphones, we can attest that the Yeti is one of the easiest mics to get plugged in and sounding decent without much knob-twiddling or software-slider-sliding.
Our panel called the Yeti’s sound “rich” and “rounded” with “decent presence” in our 2013 tests. In 2015, it won over three of our four expert panelists, producing what one called “the most personal connection to the [speaker] out of all the mics.” In 2016, one expert said the Yeti’s bass response was “perfectly balanced with mids and treble,” with a very slight frequency peak that “makes (the) voice clearer while retaining most of the natural character.” For more on the features that set the Yeti apart, see our full guide.
The smaller but still great-sounding runner-up
The Shure MV5 sounds great and is a bit smaller than the Yeti, which is a trade-off. It takes up less desk space, but you have to find a way to get it in front of your mouth. Photo: Nick Guy
If desk or storage space is at a premium, if you often move your mic between spaces, or if you want to save a few dollars and start small, the Shure MV5 scored well with our panelists in voice recording quality—some even ranked it better overall than the Yeti. The trade-off is that the MV5 is not as sturdy, stable, or tall as the Yeti, making you work to set it up at the proper height for recording. But the MV5 has just enough recording features—a direct-monitoring headphone jack, impressive automatic gain control, and really helpful travel tools, including micro-USB and MFi-certified Lightning connections—to make it a solid pick for people who value a smaller size and portability over future-friendly capabilities.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
Note from The Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.
‘RunGunJumpGun’ is currently free for Twitch Prime members
If you’re a fan of the weirdly fantastic indie game RunGunJumpGun, you’ll be excited to hear that Amazon is offering a free download of the PC version for a limited time. The only catch is you need to have a Twitch Prime account, which you can access at no extra cost if you already have an Amazon Prime membership. Otherwise there’s an option to sign up for a 30-day trial. Developed by ThirtyThree Games, RunGunJumpGun is like Super Mario on steroids, featuring dark colorful worlds and quirky characters. You only have until this Sunday, February 5th, to grab it for free from Twitch Prime so you better move fast.
Source: Twitch
Apple’s $200 education bundle includes apps like Final Cut Pro X
Companies usually give college students, teachers, faculty and staff some solid discounts on both hardware and software. Today, Apple is doing just that with a new audio and video education bundle. The software pack offers Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro X, Motion 5, Compressor 4 and MainStage 3 for $200. For reference, that’s the price you would typically pay for Logic Pro X and Final Cut Pro X will set you back $300.
The bundle is available for both K-12 and higher education institutions so computer labs and classrooms can use pro-level software as learning tools. Now that you can add tracks to a Logic Pro X files on GarageBand for iOS, it’s easy to use Apple’s suite of A/V apps as part of a complete workflow. Of course, this new bundle also means instructors can start out with the simpler GarageBand apps before moving into more advance production software. If you’re interested in taking advantage of the deal, the bundle is available now from the Apple website.
Source: Apple
RadiTo podcast app sidesteps Iran’s censorship
Fighting censorship has become an active part of life in the future we live in. To help combat it in Iran, the RadiTo app offers programming from the BBC, Iran’s Radio Farda and Radio Zamaneh from Amsterdam. As Wired reports, it’s available on Android and is “uniquely suited to the conditions of the country’s internet.” Meaning, it apparently works on slow data networks, shows can be downloaded for offline listening and programming is in a variety of under-served dialects.
It won’t just be a source for news, either. RadiTo will also offer channels devoted to verboten topics like pre-marital sex, separatist groups and Iranian mysticism. This could prove short-lived given Iran’s draconian censorship rules, but it sounds like the developers have a few workarounds. Naturally, they involve proxies and rely on the encrypted nature of the Google Play Store and (perhaps troublingly) messaging app Telegram.
In the future, the Berkeley, California-based developers hope to let anyone make their own channel to distribute podcasts. What’s more, the team from IranCubator has plans for releasing an app focused on women’s issues that’ll include features like period tracking and info about marriage rights and divorce.
Via: Wired
Source: Google Play
Tim Cook to Receive Honorary Degree From University of Glasgow
Apple CEO Tim Cook will receive an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow on February 8 at 6:00 p.m. local time, as spotted by 9to5Mac. Following the ceremony, there will be a “Fireside Chat” and Q&A session.
Tim Cook is the CEO of Apple. As CEO, he has led the introduction of innovative new products and services including iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch. He is leading a companywide effort to use 100 percent renewable energy at all Apple facilities, has encouraged his co-workers to give to charitable organisations in their community and started a generous program at Apple to match employee donations.
In 2015, he ranked #1 on Fortune’s World’s Greatest Leaders list, and received both the Ripple of Hope award from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights and the Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign. Apple has ranked #1 on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for the past nine years, including each year Mr. Cook has been CEO. Before being named CEO in 2011, Mr. Cook was Apple’s chief operating officer, responsible for all the company’s worldwide sales and operations.
The free sold-out event is open to staff and students of the University of Glasgow only. The ceremony will take place at Bute Hall on the university’s campus. More details are available on ticketing website Eventbrite.
Yesterday, Cook was named the recipient of the Newseum 2017 Free Expression Award in the Free Speech category.
Tags: Tim Cook, United Kingdom
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Apple Releases $200 Pro Apps Bundle for Education Customers
Apple today introduced a Pro Apps Bundle for Education that includes Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro X, Motion 5, Compressor 4, and MainStage 3 for $199.99. The software bundle is available for teachers, faculty, staff, and students at universities, colleges, and K-12 schools in the United States, as reported by The Loop.
The total cost of Final Cut Pro X ($299.99), Logic Pro X ($199.99), Motion 5 ($49.99), Compressor 4 ($49.99), and MainStage 3 ($29.99) is usually $629.95, so the bundle offers educational customers over $400 in savings. The bundle must be purchased through the Apple Store for Education.
After purchasing the bundle, education customers will receive an email with codes to redeem the apps on the Mac App Store. Apple says codes are usually delivered within one business day, but may occasionally take longer.
Final Cut Pro X is Apple’s professional video editing software, while Logic Pro X is its professional audio workstation for advanced music production. Motion 5, Compressor 4, and MainStage 3 are companion tools for creating 3D animations and effects, customizing output settings, building set lists, and more.
Discuss this article in our forums
Tackle Super Bowl LI with these super apps
It’s the Super Bowl — by no means does the ritualistic event need any introduction. Before you begin to stuff yourself with nachos and guacamole on Sunday, check out these apps to amplify your experience for the big game.
More: Go big and go home with one of these huge 4K TVs for Super Bowl LI
Super Bowl LI Houston – Fan Mobile Pass
The Fan Mobile Pass is a companion app that provides Super Bowl fans with maps, schedules, and more for Super Bowl events and the game day in Houston. There’s curated content, such as photos and videos, and you can enter giveaways and sweepstakes to win prizes. Register once on your computer or mobile device, and you’ll receive your QR code, enabling you to scan into activities and events. All the up to date photos and videos will show up on your personalized landing page, and you’ll be able to share them on your social media. You can use this app at the NFL Experience Driven by Genesis, Super Bowl Live, Super Bowl Opening Night Fueled by Gatorade, and GameDay Fan Plaza (Super Bowl LI ticketholders only).
Available on:
iOS Android
Clippit
Sporting events are all about the highlights. Those are the moments that people will be talking about and GIFing for months after the fact. Clippit is your tool for taking the most talked about moments and making them shareable. The app captures up to 30 seconds of live footage and turns it into a shareable clip that you send over social media in just a few taps.
Available on:
iOS Android
NFL Mobile
Maybe you’re stuck in a cab or at work, late for a Super Bowl party. If you’re a Verizon customer, don’t fret, as you can always watch the game live through the NFL Mobile app. If you’re not on the Verizon bandwagon, the app still lets you watch highlights, read stories, and up-to-the-minute scoring. You can also track league and team leader statistics from major categories and browse the NFL Shop store, should you want to pick up some memorabilia.
Available on:
iOS Android
Ibotta
When you’re doing your shopping before the Super Bowl, picking all the necessities to entertain fans with a hunger for snacks as strong as their one for football, make sure to take this shopping app with you. Not only will you earn rewards and money back when you make your purchases, but you’ll also see some special offers specifically related to the big game.
Available on:
iOS Android
Gamblino
Place your bets on a variety of topics in Gamblino, and share them with your friends. A recent update to this gambling app allows users to easily set up sports pools, with more than 75 props to choose from, ranging from the coin flip result to whether there will be a safety. Just choose your prop and send it to your friends for them to join, and voila, you have your own private sports pool.
Available on:
iOS Android
Odds
Big game, big bets. There is always money on the line in the Super Bowl, on just about everything from the coin toss to the final score. Even if you don’t have money riding on the game, the insights provided for gamblers can give you an interesting look at the game. Plus you can see win probability, which Packers fans will tell you means nothing—even when it’s at 99 percent with 5 minutes remaining.
Available on:
iOS Android
Thuuz
When there are over 100 million people watching the same thing at the same time, you can feel like you’re being left out if you aren’t up on what’s happening. Thuuz is your loophole to catching the good moments without watching the whole game. It’ll alert you to the big plays and you can spend the rest of the game watching the Puppy Bowl.
Available on:
iOS Android
10 free online storage services to claim your space in the cloud
It’s so easy to generate a mountain of digital files nowadays. We take more photos than ever, shoot hours of video, and love to share. Cloud storage provides convenient access wherever we may be, like a digital filing cabinet, and it’s also great for collaborating on projects and provides a simple way of sharing files with selected family, friends, or business contacts. But it can also cost a pretty penny.
Below are our favorite cloud storage apps for iOS and Android, and some tips on how to avoid paying for cloud storage at all.
Organize your files into groups, and use different services
Most cloud storage services offer you a limited amount of free space, in the hopes that you’ll upgrade when you run out and sign up to a subscription package. If you’re willing to do a little organizing, then there’s really no need to pay anything at all. Start by breaking your files down into groups. Split your photos and videos, organize by date, or pick a single service for your media. Also, keep your documents grouped together, separate all your work-related files, and so on. Once you have your groups, take a look at how much space you need and create separate free cloud storage accounts for each category.
More: 5 handy tips to find the best deals on apps
We’ve rounded up the best free cloud storage apps. All of these options can also be accessed from your desktop or laptop through an app or your web browser.
NOTE: These figures are correct at the time of publishing, but the cloud storage space is competitive and limits and offers frequently change.
Most commonly used: Dropbox
Dropbox is easy to use, very reliable, and one of the oldest players in cloud storage. There are few restrictions on what you can upload, and you can share folders with other Dropbox users or send links to allow people to access your files. You can also create public folders if you wish. You can access previous versions of files for up to 30 days, and there’s a desktop client and the option to log in anywhere through your browser. You can get up to 1TB of storage with Dropbox Pro which costs $9.99 per month.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Best option for photo backup: Google Drive
The 15GB you get from Google spans Gmail, Google + Photos, and Google Drive. However, there are lots of exceptions that don’t count towards your limit, for example, photos smaller than 2,048 x 2,048 pixels and videos shorter than 15 minutes uploaded through your Google Photos app don’t count. You’ll also find that Google documents you create within Drive don’t count. You can access Google Drive through a client or your web browser. Deleted files go into your trash or bin and they stay there until you either permanently delete them or restore them.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Best option for Windows users: OneDrive
Microsoft’s OneDrive used to be called SkyDrive and it comes pre-installed on Windows 10. You can access your files through a client or your web browser. You can also create public folders and deleted files go into the recycle bin for 30 days, so you can restore them during that period. Plans range from 5GB of storage for free to 5TB of storage for $99.99 per year. If you subscribe, you can use all the Microsoft Office apps with real-time notifications on edits for collaborations, and it’s easy to configure the mobile app to automatically backup things like photos.
Download now for:
Android iOS
If you use Amazon, try: Amazon Drive
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, then you get 5GB for free with Amazon Drive and free unlimited storage for photos. You can share files easily via URL. Deleted files go into your deleted items list and can be restored unless they are deleted permanently. Amazon also offers an Unlimited Storage plan with a free three-month trial, after which you’ll be asked to pay $60 per year.
Download now for:
Android iOS
For multi-device file access: Box
You can easily share files with links or create collaborative folders with Box, which also allows for shared workspaces with tasks and comments, and 10GB of free storage. Files have a version history so you can revert easily if required. Deleted files go into the trash and can be restored for up to 30 days.
Download now for:
Android iOS
For small iPhone/iPad backups: Apple iCloud
You may as well use this if you own an eligible Apple device, but it has a lot of limitations. It’s no good for sharing or collaboration, so just use it to back up personal files. If you have an iPhone or iPad then it can automatically back up photos via your Photo Stream for the last 30 days. All iOS users have 5GB of free storage with the option to purchase more from Apple. If you don’t see the iCloud Drive icon on your home screen, open the App Store, and search for iCloud Drive.
Keep private files private: SpiderOak
This is a good option for personal files that you want to keep private. Your data is fully encrypted and can only be unlocked with your password, which SpiderOak doesn’t store. The zero-knowledge privacy policy ensures that even staff physically accessing the storage servers can’t see your files. There are no file size limits and you can recover deleted files. There is a 21-day trial that gives you 250GB of storage. After the trial, you have options from $5 per month for 100GB to $12 per month for 1TB.
Download now for:
Android iOS
A little more free encrypted storage: Tresorit
This service also boasts client-side encryption, secure data transfer, and a zero-knowledge policy on passwords. Sensitive photos or videos and private documents will be safe and sound. It also has secure sharing with folders or encrypted links and 7 days of activity history. There’s a free 14 day trial period, and after that individual users can opt for a Premium package that offers 100GB of encrypted storage, or a Solo package that offers 1TB of encrypted storage.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Lots of free storage, and encryption: Mega
Mega is a secure cloud storage option, with private encryption keys, that gives you a healthy 50GB of free storage. It allows you to share with contacts, and even see their updates in real time. Be careful if you lose your password, though, because not even Mega will be able to reset it, and you will lose access to your files. If you need more storage, plans start with Pro Lite, which gives you 200GB of storage for $5 per month, and go up to Pro III subscription which gives you 4TB of storage, and 8TB of bandwidth for $30 per month.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Auto Uploads, and unlimited devices per account: IDrive
IDrive is certainly a one-stop solution for all your backup needs. It has desktop, web, and mobile apps. It will backup and restore your contacts, photos, calendars, and even your health data. It even supports Facebook and Instagram backup. You can share files and folders, and you can also choose to have automatic backups turned on. Like any good secured service, the encryption key is private, so that only you have access to your data. The free plan gives you 5GB of storage, while the IDrive personal plan gives you 1TB priced at $52.12 for the first year.
Download now for:
Android iOS
10 free online storage services to claim your space in the cloud
It’s so easy to generate a mountain of digital files nowadays. We take more photos than ever, shoot hours of video, and love to share. Cloud storage provides convenient access wherever we may be, like a digital filing cabinet, and it’s also great for collaborating on projects and provides a simple way of sharing files with selected family, friends, or business contacts. But it can also cost a pretty penny.
Below are our favorite cloud storage apps for iOS and Android, and some tips on how to avoid paying for cloud storage at all.
Organize your files into groups, and use different services
Most cloud storage services offer you a limited amount of free space, in the hopes that you’ll upgrade when you run out and sign up to a subscription package. If you’re willing to do a little organizing, then there’s really no need to pay anything at all. Start by breaking your files down into groups. Split your photos and videos, organize by date, or pick a single service for your media. Also, keep your documents grouped together, separate all your work-related files, and so on. Once you have your groups, take a look at how much space you need and create separate free cloud storage accounts for each category.
More: 5 handy tips to find the best deals on apps
We’ve rounded up the best free cloud storage apps. All of these options can also be accessed from your desktop or laptop through an app or your web browser.
NOTE: These figures are correct at the time of publishing, but the cloud storage space is competitive and limits and offers frequently change.
Most commonly used: Dropbox
Dropbox is easy to use, very reliable, and one of the oldest players in cloud storage. There are few restrictions on what you can upload, and you can share folders with other Dropbox users or send links to allow people to access your files. You can also create public folders if you wish. You can access previous versions of files for up to 30 days, and there’s a desktop client and the option to log in anywhere through your browser. You can get up to 1TB of storage with Dropbox Pro which costs $9.99 per month.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Best option for photo backup: Google Drive
The 15GB you get from Google spans Gmail, Google + Photos, and Google Drive. However, there are lots of exceptions that don’t count towards your limit, for example, photos smaller than 2,048 x 2,048 pixels and videos shorter than 15 minutes uploaded through your Google Photos app don’t count. You’ll also find that Google documents you create within Drive don’t count. You can access Google Drive through a client or your web browser. Deleted files go into your trash or bin and they stay there until you either permanently delete them or restore them.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Best option for Windows users: OneDrive
Microsoft’s OneDrive used to be called SkyDrive and it comes pre-installed on Windows 10. You can access your files through a client or your web browser. You can also create public folders and deleted files go into the recycle bin for 30 days, so you can restore them during that period. Plans range from 5GB of storage for free to 5TB of storage for $99.99 per year. If you subscribe, you can use all the Microsoft Office apps with real-time notifications on edits for collaborations, and it’s easy to configure the mobile app to automatically backup things like photos.
Download now for:
Android iOS
If you use Amazon, try: Amazon Drive
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, then you get 5GB for free with Amazon Drive and free unlimited storage for photos. You can share files easily via URL. Deleted files go into your deleted items list and can be restored unless they are deleted permanently. Amazon also offers an Unlimited Storage plan with a free three-month trial, after which you’ll be asked to pay $60 per year.
Download now for:
Android iOS
For multi-device file access: Box
You can easily share files with links or create collaborative folders with Box, which also allows for shared workspaces with tasks and comments, and 10GB of free storage. Files have a version history so you can revert easily if required. Deleted files go into the trash and can be restored for up to 30 days.
Download now for:
Android iOS
For small iPhone/iPad backups: Apple iCloud
You may as well use this if you own an eligible Apple device, but it has a lot of limitations. It’s no good for sharing or collaboration, so just use it to back up personal files. If you have an iPhone or iPad then it can automatically back up photos via your Photo Stream for the last 30 days. All iOS users have 5GB of free storage with the option to purchase more from Apple. If you don’t see the iCloud Drive icon on your home screen, open the App Store, and search for iCloud Drive.
Keep private files private: SpiderOak
This is a good option for personal files that you want to keep private. Your data is fully encrypted and can only be unlocked with your password, which SpiderOak doesn’t store. The zero-knowledge privacy policy ensures that even staff physically accessing the storage servers can’t see your files. There are no file size limits and you can recover deleted files. There is a 21-day trial that gives you 250GB of storage. After the trial, you have options from $5 per month for 100GB to $12 per month for 1TB.
Download now for:
Android iOS
A little more free encrypted storage: Tresorit
This service also boasts client-side encryption, secure data transfer, and a zero-knowledge policy on passwords. Sensitive photos or videos and private documents will be safe and sound. It also has secure sharing with folders or encrypted links and 7 days of activity history. There’s a free 14 day trial period, and after that individual users can opt for a Premium package that offers 100GB of encrypted storage, or a Solo package that offers 1TB of encrypted storage.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Lots of free storage, and encryption: Mega
Mega is a secure cloud storage option, with private encryption keys, that gives you a healthy 50GB of free storage. It allows you to share with contacts, and even see their updates in real time. Be careful if you lose your password, though, because not even Mega will be able to reset it, and you will lose access to your files. If you need more storage, plans start with Pro Lite, which gives you 200GB of storage for $5 per month, and go up to Pro III subscription which gives you 4TB of storage, and 8TB of bandwidth for $30 per month.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Auto Uploads, and unlimited devices per account: IDrive
IDrive is certainly a one-stop solution for all your backup needs. It has desktop, web, and mobile apps. It will backup and restore your contacts, photos, calendars, and even your health data. It even supports Facebook and Instagram backup. You can share files and folders, and you can also choose to have automatic backups turned on. Like any good secured service, the encryption key is private, so that only you have access to your data. The free plan gives you 5GB of storage, while the IDrive personal plan gives you 1TB priced at $52.12 for the first year.
Download now for:
Android iOS
AIVAnet 