Ubuntu’s cloud storage service ‘Ubuntu One’ has matured nicely over the last few cycles, but it won’t be resting on its’ laurels; there are plenty more improvements and features set to come.
Courtesy of Shane Fagan, an ‘Ubuntu One’ developer who held a wonderful Ubuntu Open week session on the service, we learnt of some exciting new features planned for release over the next cycle or two…
Android Version of Ubuntu One file sync
No, you read correctly: an Android client for Ubuntu One file sync.
Likely to be moulded in the style of Dropbox’s Android offering, the mobile app should hopefully provide on-the-move access to your cloud files, and allow easy upload of pictures and videos from your phone directly to your Ubuntu One account.
New Windows build on the way
A newer, improved build of the Ubuntu One desktop application for Windows is ‘coming pretty soon’, according to Fagan.
The previous beta, which is still available for download, was described as a ‘rough start’, although the new version has been described as ‘more snappy’.
Ubuntu one contacts for Thunderbird
Back in March we wrote about Mike Conley, of Mozilla, and his work on bringing Ubuntu One Contact sync to the popular desktop e-mail application.
Work on this is still on going, but will prove to be an intrinsic string in the bow of Ubuntu One if, as rumour has it, Thunderbird is chosen as the default mail application for Ubuntu 11.04.
Quicklists and Lenses coming in Oneiric
Unity Quicklists for Ubuntu One are sorely missing so far – but they are on the way for Oneiric. As a wish, it would be nice if the Ubuntu One Unity launcher icon also had ‘drag and drop’ uploading capabilities – a la this neat tool for Imageshack.
Also tacked for creation is an ‘Ubuntu One’ lens for easily viewing your Ubuntu One files in Unity.
Ubuntu One Shotwell plugin
Rounding out the list is word of Shotwell gaining some Ubuntu One support for simple publishing and backup of your Shotwell image library to the cloud.
No word yet on whether this would, like dropbox allows, extend to the creation of viewable ‘web albums’.
And a cheeky sixth: even more potential
Being all optimistic I also think it’s worth mentioning the launch of the Ubuntu One developer ‘portal’ that provides information and help for users wishing to build 3rd party applications with Ubuntu One features.
Don’t forget…
Every user of Ubuntu is entitled to 2GB of free online storage space. This can be expanded by purchasing ’20-packs’ – each pack adding 20GB of extra space for $2.99/m or $29.99 for a year.
Ubuntu One Mobile is also available, providing on-the-go streaming of your music library directly to your phone.