GMail Drive: Difference between revisions

GMail Drive
Initial release	2004
Type	File hosting service
Website	www.viksoe.dk/code/gmail.htm

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Latest revision as of 21:55, 11 January 2024

GMail Drive was a free third-party Windows Shell namespace extension ("add-on") for Google's Gmail. It allowed a user to access a virtual drive stored in a Gmail account by causing the contents of the Gmail account to appear as a new network share on the user's workstation. GMail Drive was not supported by Google.

In order to use GMail Drive, the user needed a Gmail e-mail account. The add-on enabled the user to use the standard Windows desktop file copy and paste commands to transfer files to and from the Gmail account as if it were a drive on the user's computer. Gmail Drive was based upon GmailFS, a file system developed by Richard Jones. GMail Drive was published in 2004 and functional as early as 2005 which predates Google's later implementation of Google Drive released on April 24, 2012. As of 2015, the official extension page declares the project dead.^[1]^{[additional citation(s) needed]}

Function

In order for GMail Drive to operate, the computer must be connected to the Internet and the user must have a Gmail account. A broadband connection is preferable, though not necessary, as all operations are done through Gmail and consequently over the Internet. GMail Drive uses the inbox of the Gmail account to store files and creates a virtual filesystem on top of the Gmail account, enabling the user to save and retrieve files stored on the Gmail account directly from inside Windows Explorer. GMail Drive adds a new virtual drive to the computer under the My Computer folder, where the user can create new folders, copy and drag-and-drop files to, but does not give an actual drive letter, such as C:, preventing its use in all console applications, and some older Windows applications.

When the user creates a new file using GMail Drive, it generates an e-mail and posts it to the Gmail account's inbox. The e-mail appears in the normal Inbox folder when using the normal Gmail interface, and the file is attached as an e-mail attachment. GMail Drive periodically checks the mail account (using the Gmail search function) to see if new files have arrived and to rebuild the virtual drive's directory structures.

Multiple computers can connect to one Gmail account thus allowing GMail Drive to act as a multi-user file server.

Consequently, restrictions on the Gmail service are also enforced when using GMail Drive. For example, files larger than 25 MB cannot be uploaded, as the maximum file size of Gmail attachments is 25 MB.^[2] In the past, Gmail also prevented users from transferring certain file types, such as an executable or ZIP archives that contain an executable within. Some users bypassed this restriction by renaming the file extension or by putting it into a RAR or 7z archive. This restriction has now been lifted. A GNU software package named PhpGmailDrive even makes it possible to link different Gmail accounts together, and with some manual changes you can have a Gmail Drive built out of several Gmail accounts.

Caveats

GMail Drive is an experimental package that depends on but is not provided by Google. Changes in Google's Gmail system may render GMail Drive temporarily or permanently inoperable.

The current GMail Drive does not support accounts that are hosted with Google Apps. The Gmail Program Policies do not explicitly ban GMail Drive, shell namespace extensions, or the use of Gmail storage space for files other than e-mail.^[3] Nonetheless, immoderate use of GMail Drive may trigger Google to temporarily suspend a Gmail account.^[4]

References

^ Viksoe, Bjarke. "viksoe.dk - GMail Drive shell extension". www.viksoe.dk.
^ "Gmail:Help Center - What's the maximum attachment size?". 2004-02-24. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
^ "Gmail Program Policies". 2004-06-28. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
^ "Gmail: Help Center - Why has my Gmail account been locked?". 2007-01-24. Retrieved 2007-02-26.

External links

GMail Drive Site or alternative link
(www.viksoe.dk cites Richard Jones' Linux version as original idea)
Gmail Terms of Use
PhpGmailDrive

[1] Viksoe, Bjarke. "viksoe.dk - GMail Drive shell extension". www.viksoe.dk.

[2] "Gmail:Help Center - What's the maximum attachment size?". 2004-02-24. Retrieved 2007-03-20.

[3] "Gmail Program Policies". 2004-06-28. Retrieved 2007-02-26.

[4] "Gmail: Help Center - Why has my Gmail account been locked?". 2007-01-24. Retrieved 2007-02-26.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{distinguish|Google Drive|Google driverless car}}
-[[Image:GMail Drive Logo.PNG|200px|right|GMail Drive Logo]]
+{{Orphan|date=March 2020}}
-'''GMail Drive''' is a free [[Namespace (computer science)|namespace]] extension ("add-on") for [[Microsoft Windows]]. It allows a user to access a virtual drive stored in a [[Gmail]] e-mail account by causing the contents of the Gmail account to appear as a new [[network share]] on the user's workstation. In order to use this add-on, a user needs a [[Gmail]] [[e-mail]] account. The add-on enables a user to use the normal [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] desktop file copy and paste commands to transfer files to and from the Gmail account as if it were a drive on the user's computer..
+{{Primary sources|date=October 2008}}
+{{Infobox software
+| title = GMail Drive
+| released = 2004
+| discontinued = yes
+| genre = File hosting service
+}}
+'''GMail Drive''' was a free [[Third-party software component|third-party]] [[Windows Shell namespace]] extension ("add-on") for [[Google]]'s [[Gmail]]. It allowed a user to access a virtual drive stored in a [[Gmail]] account by causing the contents of the Gmail account to appear as a new [[network share]] on the user's workstation. GMail Drive was not supported by Google.
+In order to use GMail Drive, the user needed a Gmail [[e-mail]] account. The add-on enabled the user to use the standard [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] desktop file [[Cut, copy, and paste|copy and paste]] commands to transfer files to and from the Gmail account as if it were a drive on the user's computer. Gmail Drive was based upon [[GmailFS]], a [[file system]] developed by Richard Jones. GMail Drive was published in 2004 and functional as early as 2005 which predates Google's later implementation of [[Google Drive]] released on April 24, 2012.  As of 2015, the official extension page declares the project dead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viksoe.dk/code/gmail.htm|title=viksoe.dk - GMail Drive shell extension|first=Bjarke|last=Viksoe|website=www.viksoe.dk}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=June 2021}}
 == Function ==
-[[Image:Gmaildrive.jpg|200px|right|GMail Drive in Windows XP]]
+<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Gmaildrive.jpg|200px|thumb|GMail Drive's integration with [[Windows Explorer]] in [[Windows XP]].{{deletable image-caption}}]] -->
+In order for GMail Drive to operate, the computer must be connected to the Internet and the user must have a Gmail account. A [[Broadband Internet access|broadband connection]] is preferable, though not necessary, as all operations are done through Gmail and consequently over the Internet. GMail Drive uses the inbox of the Gmail account to store files and creates a virtual filesystem on top of the Gmail account, enabling the user to save and retrieve files stored on the Gmail account directly from inside Windows Explorer. GMail Drive adds a new virtual drive to the computer under the My Computer folder, where the user can create new folders, copy and [[drag-and-drop]] files to, but does not give an actual drive letter, such as C:, preventing its use in all [[Win32 console|console]] applications, and some older Windows applications.
-GMail Drive uses the inbox of the users GMail account to store files. Consequently, restrictions on the GMail service are also enforced when using GMail. For example, [[users]] are not able to [[upload]] files greater than 10 [[Megabyte|MB]]. GMail also prevents users from transferring certain file types, such as an [[executable file|executable]] or [[zip]] archive. Some users overcome this [[restriction]] by renaming the file extension.
+When the user creates a new file using GMail Drive, it generates an e-mail and posts it to the Gmail account's inbox. The e-mail appears in the normal Inbox folder when using the normal Gmail interface, and the file is attached as an e-mail attachment. GMail Drive periodically checks the mail account (using the Gmail search function) to see if new files have arrived and to rebuild the virtual drive's directory structures.
 Multiple computers can connect to one Gmail account thus allowing GMail Drive to act as a multi-user file server.
+Consequently, restrictions on the Gmail service are also enforced when using GMail Drive. For example, files larger than 25 [[Megabyte|MB]] cannot be uploaded, as the maximum file size of Gmail attachments is 25 MB.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=8770 |title=Gmail:Help Center - What's the maximum attachment size? |date=2004-02-24 |accessdate=2007-03-20}}</ref> In the past, Gmail also prevented users from transferring certain file types, such as an [[executable file|executable]] or [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]] archives that contain an executable within. Some users bypassed this restriction by renaming the file extension or by putting it into a [[RAR (file format)|RAR]] or [[7z]] archive. This restriction has now been lifted. A GNU software package named [http://pgd.sourceforge.net PhpGmailDrive] even makes it possible to link different Gmail accounts together, and with some manual changes you can have a Gmail Drive built out of several Gmail accounts.
-For GMail Drive to operate, the user's computer must be connected to the Internet and must have access to Gmail. A broadband connection is preferable though not necessary. GMail Drive periodically checks the mail account (using the Gmail search function) to see if new files have arrived and to rebuild the virtual drive's directory structures.
 == Caveats ==
-'''GMail Drive''' is an [[experimental]] package not provided by Google. A change in the API may require GMail Drive to be changed to allow continued access to the drive.
+GMail Drive is an experimental package that depends on but is not provided by Google.  Changes in Google's Gmail system may render GMail Drive temporarily or permanently inoperable.
-Use of GMail Drive may violate the Gmail terms of service.
+The current GMail Drive does not support accounts that are hosted with [[Google Apps]].
+The Gmail Program Policies do not explicitly ban GMail Drive, shell namespace extensions, or the use of Gmail storage space for files other than e-mail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mail.google.com/mail/help/intl/en/program_policies.html |title=Gmail Program Policies |date=2004-06-28 |accessdate=2007-02-26}}</ref> Nonetheless, immoderate use of GMail Drive may trigger Google to temporarily suspend a Gmail account.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=43692 |title=Gmail: Help Center - Why has my Gmail account been locked? |date=2007-01-24 |accessdate=2007-02-26}}</ref>
+== References ==
-Doesn't provide proxy usage.
+{{reflist}}
-== See also ==
-*[[Gmail]]
-*[[Virtual drive]]
-*[[GmailFS]]
-*[[RoamDrive]]
-*[[PhpGmailDrive]] (PGD)
 == External links ==
-*[http://www.viksoe.dk/code/gmail.htm GMail Drive Site]
+*[http://www.viksoe.dk/code/gmail.htm GMail Drive Site] or [http://www.viksoe.dk/gmail/ alternative link]
+*(www.viksoe.dk cites [http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090707151753/http%3A//richard.jones.name/google%2Dhacks/gmail%2Dfilesystem/gmail%2Dfilesystem.html Richard Jones'] Linux version as ''original idea'')
-*[https://gmail.google.com/ Gmail]
-**[http://www.google.com/mail/help/terms_of_use.html Gmail Terms of Use]
+*[http://www.google.com/mail/help/terms_of_use.html Gmail Terms of Use]
-*[http://pgd.sourceforge.net PhpGmailDrive by Rahat Ayub]
+*[http://pgd.sourceforge.net/ PhpGmailDrive]
-*[http://gdisk.sourceforge.net gDisk - Equivalent of GMail Drive for Mac OS X]
-*[http://richard.jones.name/google-hacks/gmail-filesystem/gmail-filesystem.html GmailFS] - Equivalent of GMail Drive for GNU/Linux systems
-*[http://www.roamdrive.com/ RoamDrive] - Equivalent of GMail Drive which makes it possible to transfer from the files without the 10 MB limit. It also supports Hotmail accounts.
-{{Template:Gmail}} {{Google Inc.}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Gmail Drive}}
-[[Category:Network file systems]]
-[[Category:Windows software]]
-[[Category:Google]]
 [[Category:Gmail]]
+[[Category:Network file systems]]
+[[Category:Windows-only freeware]]
-[[es:GMail Drive]]
-[[fr:Gmail Drive]]
-[[nl:Gmail Drive]]
-[[ta:ஜிமெயில் ட்றைவ்]]
-[[zh:GMail Drive]]