I played around more with these services over the weekend. I added 2 TB Baidu to Yunio 2 TB, Tencent 10 TB and 360 Qihoo which I now have up to 41.44 TB of storage space and growing at about 150 GB a day.
Thankfully 360 Qihoo remains the fastest service for me. It uploads at a steady 20-25 Mbps and downloads at even faster rates than that typically.
I've uploaded about 36 GB (will upload 14 GB more tonight) to 360 and it's been rock solid using the PC app. It uses 10 upload streams when you have more than one file uploading in an attempt to max your available bandwidth. So I've used 36GB out of my 41,440 GB. With around 1000 comics uploaded so far, no issues. Also uploaded a few large 1G+ TV shows without errors/corruption.
You can play the prize wheel and earn more storage space. Every day you can spin the wheel twice (three times if you blog about it which I do to some chinese blog and have no idea what I'm saying on it.). Minimum you win is 50GB which you win three times giving you 150 GB every day. So 360 gives you 10 times the max free storage you get on Google every day just for the hell of it. Today though I won another 1 TB of space. You can win 10 TB and 100 TB as well on the rare occasion. I think the max TB you can have is 150 TB.
So what's the deal with all of these TBs? It's an insane amount. I did find out that you are limited to 700,000 files on 360 Qihoo so that is what will effectively limit what you can store. If you are uploading something like individual pictures, it would become a factor. But even 1-2 GB movie/tv files, it's unlikely you'll upload more than 350,000 to 700,000 of them.
One cool thing you can do with these services it stream movies. I found Lost Boys on someone's 360 movie drive. Selected it and moved it over to my network drive which enabled me to stream the movie. Picture quality was HD and playback was solid the entire movie. That's not always the case though with the servers being in china. Need more time to experiment with it.
With this massive amount of storage, there are massive collections out there. Most are Chinese and hard to figure out but some like iTunes ACC and FLAC collections are easy. with a couple clicks, you can transfer over a TB of flac music files to your own network disk. As soon as I finish uploading my comic collection, If I share it with another person that has a 360 Qihoo account, They could have my huge collection in seconds and be able to "stream" those comics to their iPad using the 360 Qihoo App for iphone or android and then open the file in Comic Zeal or Comic Glass, Goodreader, etc to read it. I could also make it a share group with multiple people having access or make it public with anyone having access. For example, I could make a VV comic group with a simple password placed in the comics forum to avoid mass downloads from the public. Doubtful Qihoo would shut it down as their main site has share links to masses of pirated material but it could happen if one of the comic companies figured out how to complain in Chinese I suppose so best to be a little conservative with the link.
I believe how Qihoo gets away with a lot of this storage is that when I start transferring files from someone elses drive, I'm most likely getting linked to the original file...but if that original file is deleted by the original owner, it wouldn't be deleted off the server as I had made a copy. In this way, 1000 people that grab the latest hot 1 GB movie from the server doesn't waste 1 TB of space. As soon as that file is modified, then another copy would be made. I'm speculating here but that's my guess but otherwise there's no way 1 TB of files gets transferred in seconds.
That's what I won today. 1 TB!
My current storage limit
With any of the 4 Chinese cloud storage services you're going to get at least 2 TB of storage which is assloads more than the American companies offer with 5 GB and 15 GB being the norm.
While I like 360 Qihoo the most over all, the 4 services each have some strengths. Baidu, for example, creates thumbs for your movies which makes them a little more pleasing to look at as you browse your files, especially since you can stream them. Yunzio lets you download files larger than 1 GB directly from the Web while Tencent allows you to upload large files directly from the web. Overall though, using a PC client is advisable with larger files. Baidu has a promotion going where you also spin some sort of slot thingy with minimum of 100 GB storage awarded. Install their app on your iphone/android and you get 5 more spins, taking you up to at least 2.6 TB of space right off the bat.
I get 400 GB of bandwidth a month from Cox for the "Ultimate" tier I pay 99/month for. I'm going to upload 100-200 GB of files a month to Qihoo, mostly comics and see how it goes. As a personal net drive, I'm highly impressed with its speed both uploading and downloading.
One thing I've gotten very familiar with is google and bing translate sites. Can cut and paste or translate most sites. What gets you are the buttons with words that can't be translated since they're images.
I was able to translate some of the 360 Qihoo language file:
- [Show]
Code: Select all
[text]
Text_Main_Dialog_Title = Craploads of Space 360 Qihoo
Text_Btn_Feedback = Problem feedback
Text_Btn_Net_Disk_Title = All Files
Text_Btn_Net_Group_Title = Share Groups
Text_Btn_Share_Title = Mysterious
Text_Btn_NetNote_Title = Recent
Text_Btn_Photo_View_Title = All the pictures
Text_Btn_Function_Title = Options
Text_Btn_Safebox_Title = Document safes
Text_Btn_FeedBack_Title = Problem feedback
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Accout_Setting = Account details
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Get_More_SpaceE = Upgrade space
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Invite_Other = Invite Other
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Exit = Exit(&E)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Logout = Logout
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Logout2 = Logout2(&A)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Daily_Task = Daily Task
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Modify_Password = Modify Password
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Show_Setting = Settings(&S)...
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Help = Help(&O)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Forum = Forum
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Privacy = Privacy
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Contact_Us = Contact Us(&F)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Show_Main = Show Main(&O)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Hide_Main = Hide Mail(&M)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Show_Suspension = Suspend(&X)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Hide_Suspension = Hide Suspend(&X)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Sync_Pause = Sync Pause
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Sync_Resume = Resume
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Sync_Show_Detail = Details(&D)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_History = History(&V)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Poweroff = Power Off(&T)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Home_Page = Home Page(&W)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Pause_Sync = Pause Sync(&P)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Resume_Sync = Resume Sync(&R)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Connect = Connect(&R)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_About_US = About Us(&A)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Login = Login...
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Lock = Lock(&L)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_UnLock = Unlock(&L)
Text_Main_Sub_Menu_Test_Speed = Test Speed(&C)
Text_NetDisk_Tree_MyDisk_Title = MyDisk
Text_NetDisk_Tree_Doc_Title = Doc
Text_NetDisk_Tree_Pic_Title = Pic
Text_NetDisk_Tree_Music_Title = Music
Text_NetDisk_Tree_Video_Title = Video
Text_NetDisk_Tree_Depot_Title = Depot
Text_NetDisk_Tree_Recycle_Title = Recycle
Text_NetDisk_Btn_More_Info_Title = More Info
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Object_Count = Object Count %s 项
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Selected_Object_Count = Selected Object Count %s 项
Text_NetDisk_Stc_File_Size = File Size:%s
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Modify_Time = Modify TIme:%s
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Sync_Time = Sync Time:%s
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Delete_Time = Delete Time:%s
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Version_Info = Version Info
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Not_Need_Sync_Info = Not Need Sync
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Remainder_File_Count = Remaining File Count %s 个文件需要传输
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Remainder_Time = Remaining Time:%s
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Sync_End_Info = Sync End
Text_NetDisk_Stc_Sync_End_Time = Sync End:%s
Text_NetDisk_Edit_Search = Search
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Open_Folder = Open Folder
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Add_Class = Add
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Delete_Class = Delete
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Rename_Class = Rename
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Add_Space = Add Space
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Change_Site= Change Site
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Sync_Option = Sync...
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Show_Deleted_Files = Show Deleted Files
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Hide_Deleted_Files = Hide Deleted Files
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Class_Attribute = Attribute
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Empty_Recycle = Recycle
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Show_List = Show List
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Show_Icon_48 = Show Icon 48
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Show_Icon_96 = Show Icon 96
Text_NetDisk_Sub_Menu_Show_Icon_256 = Show Icon 256
Text_NetDisk_Btn_Show_Type_Btn_Tip = Tip
TEXT_NETDISK_BTN_SHOW_TYPE_DROPDOWN_TIP = Tip
Text_Share_Sub_Menu_Open_Folder = Open
Text_Share_Sub_Menu_Disband_Sharing_Group = Dispand Group
Text_Share_Sub_Menu_InviteTo_Sharing_Group = Invite to Group
Text_Share_Sub_Menu_Leaving_Sharing_Group = Leave Group
Text_Share_Sub_Menu_KickOut_Member = Kick Member
Text_Share_Sub_Menu_Create_Sharing_Group = Create Group
Text_Share_Sub_Menu_Join_Sharing_Group = Join Group
Text_Sharing_Stc_Title = Title
Text_Sharing_Stc_Title_Info1 = 360360 sharing can easily cloud can help you and your friends or family to share your documents
Text_Sharing_Stc_Title_Info2 = Apply to Join Others
Text_Sharing_Stc_Title_Info3 = Start Collaboration and Share it.
Text_Sharing_Stc_Right_Question1 = Benefits of Sharing
Text_Sharing_Stc_Right_Answer1 = You can easily share files with friends.
Text_Sharing_Stc_Right_Question2 = What's group sharing?
Text_Sharing_Stc_Right_Answer2 = Group Members can share, Group Owners can modify.
Text_Setting_Stc_Title= Title
Text_Setting_Btn_OK = OK
Text_Setting_Btn_Cancel = Cancel
Text_Setting_Normal_Option_Title = Option
Text_Setting_Normal_Group_StartUp_Title = Group Title
Text_Setting_Normal_Chk_Auto_Startup = Auto Startup 360云盘 (推荐)
Text_Setting_Normal_Chk_Auto_Login = Auto Login
Text_Setting_Normal_Group_Other_Titile = Group Other Title
Text_Setting_Normal_Chk_Show_Tip_On_Synced = Show Tip on Sync
Text_Setting_Normal_Chk_Suspension_Show = Suspension
Text_Setting_Normal_Stc_Suspension_Alpha = Suspension Alpha
Text_Setting_Network_Option_Title = Option
Text_Setting_Network_Group_Trans_Titile = Group Trans Title
Text_Setting_Network_Chk_Trans_Not_Limit = Trans No Limit
Text_Setting_Network_Chk_Trans_Limit = Limit
Text_Setting_Network_Stc_Download_Limit = Download Limit
Text_Setting_Network_Stc_Upload_Limit = Upload Limit
Text_Setting_Network_Stc_Unit_Name = KB/s
Text_Setting_Other_Option_Title = Option
Text_Setting_Other_Group_Foder_Site_Titile = Group Folder Size
Text_Setting_Other_Stc_Folder_Site = Folder Size
TEXT_SETTING_OTHER_BTN_FOLDER_SITE = Folder Size...
Text_Setting_Safe_Option_Title = Safe
Text_Setting_Safe_Group_Lock_Titile = Safe Group Lock
Text_Setting_Safe_Stc_Lock_Info_Pre = Lock Info:
Text_Setting_Safe_Stc_Lock_Info_End = ←Lock Info end
Text_Setting_Safe_Stc_Lock_Info_Error = Lock Info Error
Text_Setting_Safe_Chk_Auto_Lock = Safe Auto Lock
Text_Setting_Safe_Btn_Auto_Lock = Safe Auto Lock
Text_Setting_Safe_Group_SSL_Titile = Safe Group SSL
Text_Setting_Safe_Chk_Encrypt_SSL = Encrypt SSL (安全性更高,但会降低速度)
Text_Setting_Safe_Btn_Encrypt_SSL_Detail = Encrypt Detail?
Text_Setting_Other_Group_User_Privacy_Titile = Group User Privacy
Text_Setting_Other_Chk_Clear_Cache_Alway = Clear Cache (退出时自动清除本地缓存文件)
Text_Setting_Other_Chk_Join_Us = Join Us“360用户体验改善计划”
Text_SyncOption_Stc_Title= SyncOption
Text_SyncOption_Stc_Select_NetDisk = Select Netdisk
Text_SyncOption_Stc_Select_Folder = Select Folder
Text_SyncOption_Chk_Not_Sync_Ext = Not Sync (用逗号分割)
Text_SyncOption_Btn_OK = OK
Text_SyncOption_Btn_Cancel = Cancel
Text_Histoty_Sub_Menu_Refresh = Refresh
Text_Histoty_Sub_Menu_Recent_Week = Week
Text_Histoty_Sub_Menu_Recent_Month = Month
Text_LoginDlg_Private = Private
Text_LoginDlg_Userule = Userule
Text_LoginDlg_Faq = Faq
Text_LoginDlg_About = About(&A)
Text_LoginChild_Register_Login = Register Login >>
Text_Login360Dlg_Forget_Pwd = Forgot Password
Text_Login360Dlg_Free_Register = Free Register >>
Text_Captchadlg_Change = Change
If you try out the service, you can replace the text in yiour language.ini file with that to see some english although there's still a ton of Chinese. Really though, after a little trial and error you'll be rolling along as fast as if you're using an english cloud side.
I wanted the extra 1 TB you get for installing the antivirus software (tip: don't do it on your actual PC) so installed it on a virtual box drive over windows 7 I had. While the PC client is tame for the cloud sharing, I wouldn't let the antivirus stuff anywhere near your PC. Best to skip that altogether unless you have a virtual OS you can spare.
Bandwidth speeds are getting faster, not slower so even if some of these services are slow now for you people on the east coast, it might be worth using an email address to grab some of them as the streaming options will be more useful in the future. English clients are in the works but I'm wondering if they cut back on the space before introducing them. I know Tencent at least is planning US servers and Yunio is owned by an American in China.
If nothing else, this is has been an eye opening adventure into China's top search companies and cloud storage providers.
Depending on your needs, one of these services might be useful to you. Right now, using the PC client, transferring files, both up/down is as fast for me using 360 Qihoo as any U.S. service except that I get 40,000 GB+ instead of 5-15GB of storage. It's definitely enough space to store large collections on. 10 GB individual file sizes also dwarf most U.S. service limits and would be useless anyway with the micro storage sizes. One 10GB file would take up 66% of your Google drive (shared with your email) and wouldn't even fit on drop box while it only takes up 0.04% of space or less over on 360. Still testing and playing around with these services.