A cheat sheet on cloud operating systems. Cloud OS without Russian interface support

Cloud systems are systems located on the Internet, and your data and software are stored and run on a remote server, and applications are used more as services than individual programs. You can run a virtual application or OS inside your browser which saves your session and data. It's like traveling with your own computer without internals.

https://music.ykt.ru/music/17681

With a cloud OS (also known as Web OS), you can do your office work, prepare projects, and so on. The process is very similar to working on your own computer without the Internet. The essence of the idea is that everything is stored on the Internet, and you can always access your information!

ZeroPC offers you 1GB of free storage space, and allows you to connect to various cloud storage services including Box, DropBox, Google Drive, SkyDrive, SugarSync and 4Shared so you can access your paperwork. ZeroPC is also available on Android, iPhone and iPad, giving you the ability to enjoy the service on the go.

For photo enthusiasts, this tool is a great photo manager that allows you to link photo and video services like Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, PhotoBucket, Picasa and Recood. In addition, it also has native instant messaging applications, a text editor, and productivity tools for working with documents and spreadsheets.

Jolicloud brings you Joli OS, which you can download and install on your system (even if it's 10 years old!), or use it through your browser. Joli OS offers you a complete cloud experience - you can store and use your favorite apps anytime, anywhere. Jolicloud has over 15,000 web applications that you can access using this system.

You can integrate your DropBox and Google Drive accounts with Jolicloud. The system also offers you a version of Jolicloud Me where you can manage your life online. Jolicloud Me currently supports integration with Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Picasa, Tumblr and Twitter.

Glide OS is a great choice if you need to collaborate on a group project. The Glide team is offering you 30GB of free storage space and you can add up to 6 users to your account. The OS may not be the most attractive in appearance, but it is very convenient. It is equipped with additional features like an email inbox and profiles, as well as standard tools like a calendar, notes, a text editor, a presentation tool, and so on.

Glide also brings you the ability to sync with Windows, Mac OS and Linux so you can easily sync files between Glide HD (you can call it Glide Hard Disk) and your local storage. It also has browser extensions and a mobile version.

SilveOS is a cloud OS developed with Silverlight. You can run it in any browser on a device that has Silverlight installed. There are many built-in applications that allow you to write messages, listen to music, take notes and even play Solitaire. You can also install Silverlight applications from the web on SilveOS.

However, you're not presented with any storage here, so it's not the best cloud OS for the long term. But this is a very handy tool if you often have to work with other people's computers.

iSpaces only has the basic features that let you do your job. For example, Browse, file manager, office suite (Zoho office) and so on. Here you can use 3 work surfaces from the taskbar. The OS gives you the ability to keep your work environment clean, and you can easily access any work surface.

You can work with files from Box and DropBox using the file manager. iSpaces has a very simple environment that allows you to access Box and DropBox files in the same window, and you can move files from one space to another by simply dragging and dropping them. The changes will be reflected in the respective accounts in your cloud storage.

Although Cloudo is still in beta, the OS is already quite interesting and designed to be run using a browser. It is equipped with applications for working with mail, calendar, audio player, RSS reader, contact manager, text editor, search. The OS is equipped with a good interface through which you can run commands, install applications, play music, and so on.

This OS allows you to quickly and conveniently perform multiple tasks. It also offers you an application manager through which you can install new applications directly on Cloudo.

xOS doesn't offer many design options, but this OS does offer you a great collection of apps for personal use. It has a web browser, file manager, text editor, notepad, calendar, Paint, email client, and Canvas Rider (a bicycle game).

ZimDesk is a cloud operating system filled with various applications and features. Here you can set your own wallpapers, use office applications, a contact manager, an RSS reader, a calendar, an email client, an FTP client, a downloader and a file manager, and so on.

Another great cloud OS that offers you basic applications including Radio, calendar, file manager, bookmark manager, note manager, email client and so on. You can add web applications. It also has support for instant messaging between users.

It has been developed since 2005, the first version was published in 2007. The only webOS we have reviewed that supports Drag&Drop.Received the 2007 Best Web Operating System award from Softpedia.The interface is reminiscent of KDE, very high-quality animation (For example, when resizing windows, the icons move funny inside the window).

Cloud operating systems are unique in their kind, and allow you to have all your documents, projects, music, personal files, photos and videos with you and access them from any place and device where there is Internet access. Now you can travel and not drag your personal heavy laptop around. Working with a cloud OS, all you need is an Internet connection and a browser (from a PC) or a client (on a tablet, phone).

Mood: Will go

Music: Charlie Parra

Overview of cloud operating systems

Greetings, dear readers!!!
The worldwide interactive network Internet has made an impressive contribution to expanding the boundaries of communication. Technologies are developing so rapidly that users do not have time to study and apply them in their lives.

The computing needs of modern hardware are also growing, but the trends emerging in the field of IT level the significance of this fact for direct users.

The next step in the victorious march of globalization and integration processes was made by software developers, gradually introducing the so-called cloud storage of information into our lives.

And having become quite widespread, cloud storages began to evolve to cloud services for remote information processing and, it seems, have grown to full-fledged cloud operating systems.

Cloud operating systems are not much different in terms of how they are used. All the same familiar functions, the same familiar windows, folders and files. The only difference is that all resource-intensive operations are performed not by the computing means of your computer, but by the servers of the company that provides access to the cloud service. Even programs can reside outside of your hard drive.

In other words, the user's computer must be as productive as it is necessary for full-fledged work on the Internet.

All other tasks will be performed on a much more powerful server. That is, the user deals only with the web interface, with the help of which he gives commands to the cloud server, and then receives the finished result.

The most important thing for full-fledged work in the cloud operating system environment is the availability of access to the global Internet via a stable high-speed channel with wide bandwidth.

In addition, in addition to placing all computing capabilities outside of your computer, all the results of their work can also be stored on the server without littering your hard drive with unnecessary information.

The introduction of cloud operating systems will smooth out the performance differences between powerful desktop workstations, laptops, tablets, and even handheld gadgets. The speed of information processing will depend solely on the bandwidth of the channel through which data will be exchanged between the virtual operating system and the server.

To date, there are already several virtual operating systems, thanks to which you can personally "feel" this most promising direction in software development. Most of the systems presented in our review are not yet full-fledged operating systems, but only add-ons to a stationary OS, and therefore do not require you to change the software environment, but will allow you to get acquainted with the advantages of such a promising approach and evaluate the convenience and stability of systems that we all need to use. sooner or later you have to move.

Perhaps the oldest of the cloud systems, eyeOS, was the first to be included in our review. It is an open-source virtual OS add-on. To date, the OS has sixty-seven applications, the list of which is easy to expand by creating new ones using the eyeOS Toolkit. The OS is remarkably integrated with all kinds of mobile gadgets.

The possibility of working on joint projects has been introduced. In addition, technically, this eyeOS operating system can also be placed on personal servers, due to which the problem of ensuring privacy and data safety automatically disappears.

iCloud is a workspace and a set of all kinds of applications for all occasions, as well as access to cloud storage.

This operating system boasts the implementation of a powerful system for synchronizing mobile devices with an iCloud drive. That is, the system can be used both as a network storage, and directly as a full-fledged virtual OS.

Immediately after registering on the service, you would have access to 3 GB of virtual space. If such a meager volume by modern standards was not enough for you, you could increase it to 25 GB for only $50 or up to 100 GB for $100 per year. But something happened that could not happen. Apple became interested in this wonderful system and subsequently bought it for $4.5 million. So, all the delights of this OS have sunk into oblivion and are no longer available. That is, they are available, but not to everyone, but only to owners of Apple products.

This cloud operating system compares favorably with the rest by having its own CMS or Content Management System, thanks to which you can easily create and administer a site that is visible to search engines.

It is even possible to deploy a Database Management System activity. Open source is distributed free of charge, and therefore the OS itself is absolutely free. The system prompts the user to master the simplest CornelioSCRIPT language, thanks to which, using the CorneliOS application framework add-on, it becomes possible to create applications by hand.

A Swiss startup called Cloudo is not much different from other cloud systems.

For the full operation of the system, a browser that supports Canvas elements is required. These include current versions of Chrome, Safari and Firefox. The system offers quite a standard stuffing, but stands out against the background of other virtual operating systems with its stunning graphical interface. The disadvantages include the catastrophic lack of applications written for this software environment.

The unusual name of this very famous virtual OS is short for "Global Hosted Operating System", a system hosted on servers owned by Amazon.com. True, to date, registration of private users is not carried out.

The company exclusively sells licenses to large network companies, as well as providers. It is worth noting that the promotion and financing of the system is carried out by a venture fund called Benchmark Capital, among whose achievements the creation and promotion of the eBay online auction should be especially noted.

This is truly an extraordinary cloud system. Its software environment is entirely based on Adobe Flash technology. In addition, the user is provided with free GDrive cloud storage with a record volume of 30 GB.

If desired, for only $ 50, its volume can be expanded up to 250 GB. Cloud OS has the widest possibilities for synchronization with most mobile platforms. For happy iPad owners, the service even provides a separate website. In addition, cloud developer GlideOS offers clients for almost all popular desktop operating systems.

This is perhaps one of the easiest cloud operating systems to use. The software environment is replete with many useful applications. Also, the user is given the opportunity to open access to their files to other users. The main disadvantage of this system is the lack of support for the Great Russian language.

ZeroPC provides the user with only 1 GB of cloud storage. But the system compensates for such a small volume by providing the ability to connect any other cloud storage from an impressive list of supported virtual disks.

There are versions for Android and iOS, thanks to which you can literally work with the virtual service on the go. ZeroPC is a great tool for amateur photographers, as it allows you to easily link together most of the most famous photo and video services. In addition, the virtual system is equipped with a small package of built-in applications, mainly office applications.

This cloud operating system is based on Silverlight technology, so you can run it using any browser, but only if Silverlight is installed on the system.

The system has a good set of built-in applications mainly for multimedia purposes. Also, the software environment is compatible with Silverlight applications that can be found on the Internet. The disadvantages of the system include the fact that the user is not provided with any virtual space for data placement.

iSpaces is a very functionally simple virtual operating system. The developer offered only the most basic tools for work, mostly of an office nature. The user is invited to use 3 desktops in his work. The system is easily integrated with DropBox and Box file storages.

This cloud system is not replete with GUI customization options, but the user gets at his disposal such an extensive ammunition package of built-in applications for any field of activity and recreation that it is quite difficult to find a task for which there would not be a suitable tool in the xOS arsenal.

ZimDesk is just as well-functioning an operating system as its predecessor. True, unlike it, ZimDesk boasts ample opportunities for customizing the graphical interface to your personal taste. The package of built-in applications is really very impressive. The capabilities of the OS are enough to satisfy most of the computer needs of a modern person.

More recently, Joli OS officially had a different name - Jolicloud. This is perhaps one of the most successful cloud operating systems. This virtual system is based on the Ubuntu distribution.

The key feature of this software product is that it can be used not only in its full capacity, but also as an Internet application, as well as an application for Chrome OS. And in the future there will be versions for the Apple AppStore and Google Play.

Finally, we got to the favorite of our review, to the most interesting representative of the family of cloud operating systems to date. Yes, Google Chrome OS is indeed the most successful example today.

This operating system presents itself as a rather ascetic graphical interface, which is, in fact, a Google Chrome browser window. In other words, from an aesthetic point of view, to put it mildly, nothing particularly outstanding. The OS turned out to be as light as possible, surprisingly nimble, stable and functional.

The requirements for the computing resources of the computer on which it can be installed are negligible. The only requirement is a wide Internet channel.

The system is based on the Linux kernel, but in its zeal to make the system as light and optimized as possible, Google carried out a general cleaning, after which there was almost nothing left in the system that reminds of its origin.

One of the undeniable advantages of the system is its lightning-fast download speed. In addition, many Google services, such as the Google Docs repository, for example, provide the system with all the necessary components for full operation. Well, the number of applications will allow you to cope with the task of any complexity in almost any field of activity. And since the Google Chrome OS cloud operating system is based on the Chromium OS project, and its source code is open, custom builds created by enthusiasts are starting to appear, which you can try personally if you wish.

Many more worthy representatives of the family of cloud operating systems have not been included in our rather big review, however, the selected instances give a general idea.

Summing up, I would like to advise you not to try right now to finally and irrevocably choose a cloud OS for yourself. This area of ​​software is still gaining momentum, the samples presented have many shortcomings, and the peak of popularity of this type of OS has not yet arrived.

Therefore, it would be wise to wait a little more with the final choice, in the meantime experimenting with existing instances. In addition, we have a mythical one on the way, which should also be completely cloudy.

That's all for now and until new interesting meetings.

Cloud systems are systems located on the Internet, and your data and software are stored and run on a remote server, and applications are used more as services than individual programs. You can run a virtual application or OS inside your browser which saves your session and data. It's like traveling with your own computer without internals.

With a cloud OS (also known as Web OS), you can do your office work, prepare projects, and so on. The process is very similar to working on your own computer without the Internet. The essence of the idea is that everything is stored on the Internet, and you can always access your information!

Do you want to try the cloud OS? We want to offer you several cloud operating systems to choose from, and absolutely free!

ZeroPC gives you 1GB of free storage space and allows you to connect to various cloud storage services including Box, Google Drive, SkyDrive, SugarSync and 4Shared so you can access your paperwork. ZeroPC is also available on Android, iPhone and iPad, giving you the ability to enjoy the service on the go.

For photo enthusiasts, this tool is a great photo manager that allows you to link photo and video services like Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, PhotoBucket, Picasa and Recood. In addition, it also has native instant messaging applications, a text editor, and productivity tools for working with documents and spreadsheets.

Jolicloud brings you Joli OS, which you can download and install on your system (even if it's 10 years old!), or use it through your browser. Joli OS offers you a complete cloud experience - you can store and use your favorite apps anytime, anywhere. Jolicloud has over 15,000 web applications that you can access using this system.

You can integrate your DropBox and Google Drive accounts with Jolicloud. The system also offers you a version of Jolicloud Me where you can manage your life online. Jolicloud Me currently supports integration with Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Picasa, Tumblr and Twitter.

Glide OS is a great choice if you need to collaborate on a group project. The Glide team is offering you 30GB of free storage space and you can add up to 6 users to your account. The OS may not be the most attractive in appearance, but it is very convenient. It comes with advanced features like an email inbox and profiles, as well as standard tools like a calendar, notes, text editor, presentation tool, and so on.

Glide also brings you the ability to sync with Windows, Mac OS and Linux so you can easily sync files between Glide HD (you can call it Glide Hard Disk) and your local storage. It also has browser extensions and a mobile version.

SilveOS is a cloud OS developed with Silverlight. You can run it in any browser on a device that has Silverlight installed. There are many built-in applications that allow you to write messages, listen to music, take notes and even play Solitaire. You can also install Silverlight applications from the web on SilveOS.

However, you're not presented with any storage here, so it's not the best cloud OS for the long term. But this is a very handy tool if you often have to work with other people's computers.

iSpaces only has the basic features that let you do your job. For example, Browse, file manager, office suite (Zoho office) and so on. Here you can use 3 work surfaces from the taskbar. The OS gives you the ability to keep your work environment clean, and you can easily access any work surface.

You can work with files from Box and DropBox using the file manager. iSpaces has a very simple environment that allows you to access Box and DropBox files in the same window, and you can move files from one space to another by simply dragging and dropping them. The changes will be reflected in the respective accounts in your cloud storage.

Although Cloudo is still in beta, the OS is already quite interesting and designed to be run using a browser. It is equipped with applications for working with mail, calendar, audio player, RSS reader, contact manager, text editor, search. The OS is equipped with a good interface through which you can run commands, install applications, play music, and so on.

This OS allows you to quickly and conveniently perform multiple tasks. It also offers you an application manager through which you can install new applications directly on Cloudo.

xOS doesn't offer many design options, but this OS does offer you a great collection of apps for personal use. It has a web browser, file manager, text editor, notepad, calendar, Paint, email client, and Canvas Rider (a bicycle game).

ZimDesk is a cloud operating system filled with various applications and features. Here you can set your own wallpapers, use office applications, a contact manager, an RSS reader, a calendar, an email client, an FTP client, a downloader and a file manager, and so on.

Another great cloud OS that offers you basic applications including Radio, calendar, file manager, bookmark manager, note manager, email client and so on. You can add web applications. It also has support for instant messaging between users.

Cloud operating systems are unique in their kind, and allow you to have all your documents, projects, music, personal files, photos and videos with you and access them from any place and device where there is Internet access. Now you can travel and not drag your personal heavy laptop around. With a cloud OS, all you need is an internet connection.

Glide OS: Easy Sync

Glide OS is a highly functional webtop that can be recommended for everyday use. True, this service is made using Adobe Flash technology, and this imposes a number of restrictions. In particular, the site will not be displayed on smartphones and tablets if their browsers do not support this technology. However, the developers have prepared a separate HTML version for mobile devices, which, although somewhat reduced in functionality, allows you to use the main features. There are also extensions for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari browsers, with which you can use many of the functions of the service without accessing the site itself. The resource offers three display modes: desktop, Glide HD and portal. In desktop mode, icons of available applications are displayed on the desktop (fifteen in total): a text editor, photo editor, calendar, multimedia player, email client and others - there is even a website builder. Unfortunately, most of the built-in utilities open in a separate browser tab, and in full screen mode, and only a few open as windows. Glide HD mode is designed to manage files that are distributed here in separate containers: documents, calendars, blogs, etc. Files can be downloaded, uploaded, deleted and edited. Uploading new documents can take place both through the browser and using the special utility Glide One, available for Windows, Mac OS and Linux. It works like Dropbox and automatically syncs files on your local computer with Glide OS cloud storage. Users are initially allocated for free a solid amount of available space - 30 GB. Subsequently, it can be increased to 250 GB for only $4.95 (about 160 rubles) per month.

AstraNOS: for Mac OS lovers

AstraNOS is a less feature-packed cloud PC than the other services reviewed, but may appeal to Mac OS fans. Its interface is a bit similar to the interface of this operating system, although in an extremely simplified form. The resource is non-commercial, to use it you will need to go through an extremely simple registration. It is based on HTML + JavaScript and loads pretty fast. As in Mac OS, there are images of star systems as a screen saver on the desktop, and a ribbon with application icons is used to launch programs, which smoothly increase when you hover over the cursor. There is also an alternative way to launch programs - using the sidebar that pops up when you click the arrow in the lower left corner. Among the applications there are tools for working with the Internet - a browser, a chat, an email client, an RSS reader, as well as games - Tetris, chess, asteroids, etc. It's nice that the creators of the resource have not forgotten about the practical side, that is, programs for office work. The service has an almost complete set of utilities for everyday activities: a text editor, a calendar, a calculator, sticky notes and a photo viewer. All applications are extremely simple, but they perform their functions well. At the same time, any interaction with files on the local computer or other web services is not provided, except through the internal browser. Even chat involves communication only within your own Astra network. The service has a Storage application for storing user files, but for some reason it does not work yet. The AstraNOS settings allow you to change the desktop wallpaper, install additional utilities, and perform some other actions.

Joli OS: a complete set of services

Joli OS is a successful French start-up offering both a desktop operating system and its web-based variant. The first stable version was released in July 2010 as a competitor to Google's Chrome OS, a web-based OS for netbooks. Joli OS is also based on the Linux kernel and, being undemanding to computer resources, runs successfully on machines more than a decade old. Like the system from Google, its interface is based on HTML 5 technology, but it is possible to work with files on your hard drive. In addition to the desktop version, Joli OS is presented as an application for iPad and Android, as well as an extension for Google Chrome. However, we are more interested in an online service called Jolicloud, which can be used to synchronize files between devices with Joli OS, and independently. To sign in, you need to register or use your Facebook account. Once logged in, you will see a set of popular web services (Dropbox, Facebook, YouTube, etc.) > There are 16 resources in total that you can connect to at any time. Conveniently, you do not need to enter account passwords for this - just allow them to use your account, for example, from Dropbox. Once connected, you can access your content from these services: view photos on Instagram, videos on YouTube, listen to music from SoundCloud, read the Readabilty feed, etc. You can also view documents from Dropbox, SkyDrive and Google Drive. Unfortunately, you cannot perform any active actions, that is, change, delete or upload new files, here. There is an Applications section - a desktop from which you can open bookmarks with popular sites. These bookmarks are made in the form of familiar icons, and you can add them from the catalog or create them yourself.

SilveOS: in the tradition of Microsoft

SilveOS imitates the Windows operating system as accurately as possible in the browser, using Microsoft technologies in its work. The service is made on the Silverlight engine - an alternative to Adobe Flash from Microsoft, and to display it, you need to install the appropriate player. You can log in as a guest or by registering. Sound scheme, desktop interface, start button, icons, gadgets - everything resembles Windows 7, only with some limitations: for example, the right mouse button does not work, you cannot drag and select objects with a frame, etc. However, if you decide to play a trick above your buddies and open the site in full screen mode, they may not realize that they have the wrong desktop in front of them.

The set of applications in SilveOS is not too large, but it has everything you need: Explorer, browser, media player, notepad, graphics editor, RSS reader, calculator, maps, and in the latter program Bing Maps is taken as the basis, and the player supports only a few formats: MP3, MP4 and native Windows Media. The system also has games (chess, Solitaire and others), as well as YouTube, Twitter and Flickr clients. The possibility of additional installation of programs is provided - however, very few of them are available in the service.

Working with files in SilveOS is not very convenient. You can open them from your computer in the appropriate applications, but there is no option to save them back. However, you still have the opportunity to print the created documents. It is also worth noting that the service has a mobile application for Windows Phone, which allows owners of devices based on this OS to use the "cloud" desktop Windows on a smartphone.

The undoubted trend of recent years is the ever-accelerating “maturing” of online applications. Started as amusing experiments, web applications in many areas already compete on equal terms with conventional programs, and in some places (mail, office, communication) they win. It can be assumed that very soon we will not need an operating system in the current understanding of this concept at all, in any case, Google is already selling its Chromebooks with might and main, in which the browser plays the role of the OS. However, if you cannot imagine life without an operating system, then you can take it with you to the clouds. This opportunity is provided by the ZeroPC service, which skillfully built in the clouds almost an analogue of Windows XP.

is an online service designed to integrate the functions of a wide variety of web applications into one convenient user interface. In other words, this is a real online operating system in which Internet services play the role of programs, and your network data storages act as a hard drive.

To start using the service, you must create an account or sign in with your Google, Facebook or Twitter account. After that, you immediately find yourself in a familiar windows-like shell, where there is a Desktop with shortcuts and folders, the Recycle Bin, the Taskbar and even the familiar Start button - everything is in its place. Now you need to connect your existing accounts in popular network services, for which we launch Account manager. Currently ZeroPC can work with Facebook, Twitter, Google, Box.net, Dropbox, Evernote, Flickr, Instagram, Picasa, SkyDrive, SugarSync. As you can see, the list is representative and the creators promise to expand it.

The total disk space of all connected services forms a single ZeroPC hard disk, in which data from individual services will be neatly arranged into the appropriate folders. By launching a local file manager, you can manipulate them in the same way as you are used to doing it in Explorer, that is, delete, copy, move between folders, and so on.

Many types of files can be viewed using built-in utilities. So to view images in ZeroPC has its own Picture Viewer, and for listening to music and video - respectively Audio and video player. Google Docs is responsible for working with documents, texts and PDF and, of course, it does it perfectly. At the same time, just like in a conventional system, here you can work with several files at the same time, regardless of where they are stored. For example, in the screenshot below, I have a document from Google Docs open, a picture from Dropbox, and music from SugarSync is playing at the same time.

In addition to the ability to manage and edit files, Zero has excellent tools for searching the data stored in your cloud storage and analyzing its fullness. To search, you can use the field in the taskbar or in the file manager. But in order to evaluate all your “cloud wealth” at a glance, there is a special Cloud Dashboard program. It will be able to show you not only how much space you have in total and on each service separately, but also give a detailed breakdown of the amount of stored content.

In addition to the programs mentioned above, ZeroPC has its own messenger for messaging on popular networks, a simple text editor, an email client, and even a web browser. It's fun to run a virtual browser inside a real one, but it works pretty fast, has a nice multi-tab interface, and generally looks quite decent.

As part of a short review, it will not be possible to describe all the features of this interesting service, so I suggest experimenting with customizing the interface, adding third-party web applications and paid features. Undoubtedly, it is an interesting and promising project, the development of which I personally will definitely follow. The presence of a single command center to manage all the disparate data stored in various cloud services in conjunction with the familiar, proven Windows interface for years can be in demand today. And the skill of the programmers who built a fast, convenient and in some places even beautiful system only by means of web technologies is worthy of real admiration. Bravo!