Cloud Music

Cloud Music: What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the term used to describe what is essentially an off-site computer network. Cloud storage providers provide data storage for any types of files, including music files. The cloud computing network connects to your device, be it a smart phone, laptop, desktop, tablet or any other device via the Internet.

What makes cloud computing so advantageous is that you are not limited to your personal network. You can access your files from any device connected to the Internet from anywhere you get Internet service. You do not have to take your files with you. You do not have to save them to your hard drive or your phone or your iPod or your iPad or anything else, except your could drive. You simply save your files to the cloud and access them whenever and wherever you want.

Cloud Music: The Record Store and Your Collection, In Your Pocket

Now that you understand the basics of cloud computing, let’s discuss cloud music. Cloud music is like having both the record store and your personal music collection with you wherever you go, as long as you bring your device with you.

You have access to both the store and your collection, which enables you to basically stream your cloud music files. You do not need to download or store them on your device to play them back. That is the genius of cloud music. In addition, cloud music providers such as Amazon, Apple and Google, give you access to their version of the record store, allowing you to buy songs, store them in your music cloud and listen to them any time you want. Most providers allow for a certain level of cloud music storage for free. Larger collections will require you to buy space on the servers. And you will have to pay for each song as well.

Cloud Music Players

Most, if not all, of the cloud music providers do require a cloud music player. A cloud music player is basically a software program (application or app) that connects to their interface and allows you to playback and purchase songs. The benefits of these players is that it allows you to catalog and organize your music. Otherwise you merely have a storage device with mp3 files that you play through and already installed player on your device. Nothing wrong with this, but if you want a fancy interface, you will need to use their cloud music player.

Can I Store Music I Already Have On My Cloud Music Player?

Most likely, yes. You do not need to recreate your music library. Most of the cloud music providers will allow you to upload your current catalog to the cloud drive and will avail them through the cloud music player. There may be an additional fee for the storage of songs you did not purchase through their interface. However, they automatically add songs you do purchase through them to your music cloud.

Cloud music is a great innovation, especially for those of us who have huge music libraries that we have to store on multiple external hard drives. Not only will the music library not fit on one hard drive, but it certainly will not fit on any one device for easy play back. We have to choose which music we want to take with us, and leave the rest behind, hoping we won’t be in the mood for it. Cloud music allows us to store our entire music library “in the cloud” so we can access it wherever we are, so long as we have a device. And a connection.