New community release improves file handling and collaboration across clouds
Lexington, MA – February 9, 2015 – The ownCloud community, developing the world’s most popular open source file sync and share software, today released ownCloud Server 8.0, speeding up sharing and collaboration in the cloud while maintaining control for data owners.
ownCloud Server 8.0 elevates Federated Cloud sharing to the next level—allowing users to share files with other ownCloud servers—and introduces additional notifications and user interface improvements to the sharing process. ownCloud Server 8.0 also introduces support for favorites and improved search functionality, enabling users to quickly and easily access important files without excessive navigation.
ownCloud Server 8.0 gives enthusiasts and technical users a free, secure and innovative way to sync and share data from the storage of their choice. With more than 2 million users worldwide, ownCloud installs easily on a web server, enabling anyone to host their own file sync and share software while using their own storage (and/or cloud storage if they choose), instead of relying on third parties with files stored outside of their control.
ownCloud Server 8.0 features include:
Federated Cloud Sharing
With ownCloud Server 8.0, the process for setting up server-to-server shared folders is now as easy as sharing a file with another ownCloud user. This allows federated instances of ownCloud to work together across servers, and if desired, across organizations to collaborate and get work done while control is maintained at the local ownCloud deployment.
Federated Cloud Sharing has been recently celebrated in the announcement of OpenCloudMesh, a joint international initiative under the umbrella of the GÉANT Association, which is built on ownCloud’s open Federated Cloud sharing application programming interface (API). OpenCloudMesh enables collaboration beyond the borders of individual clouds to create a globally interconnected mesh of research clouds — without sacrificing any advantages in privacy, control and security an on-premises cloud provides.
Favorites and Metadata Support
With ten thousand or more files found on a typical file sync and share account, users can now assign a favorite icon to files and folders and quickly locate, access and edit important content. Server favorites set a foundation for additional file and folder metadata in future releases of ownCloud yet remain on-premise for greater privacy and data security.
Optimized Search Interface
An updated search UI provides a simpler and easier user experience including enhanced result set reporting which speeds access to searched files. Additional search parameters, as well as general usability improvements, make it easier for users to find the files they need fast.
Additional enhancements in this release include web interface enhancements on both the user and admin interface. ownCloud has provided faster access to data and applications with simplified app installation and configuration to LDAP/AD improvements and sophisticated, yet simple, user management tools. Improvements to Documents and the provisioning API further ensure that users can collaborate across systems and files. The provisioning API, that had been limited to the Enterprise Edition, is now available to the community as an open source app, providing the same system administration benefits to the overall ownCloud community.
For Developers
Developers now have the ability to specify dependencies in info.xml, ensuring that the ownCloud app container can automatically resolve stated dependencies. For those just starting to develop with ownCloud, a new app tutorial and demo app will provide a proper foundation to build against the extensible ownCloud Server 8.0 platform.
ownCloud Server 8.0 is now available for download. Further details about the features in this release can be found on http://owncloud.org/eight.
About the ownCloud Community
ownCloud began at a community event in 2010, aiming to bring greater flexibility, access and security to data in the cloud. ownCloud enables universal access to files through the widely implemented WebDAV standard, providing a platform to easily view and sync contacts, calendars and bookmarks across devices while supporting sharing, viewing and editing via the web interface. Installation has minimal server requirements, doesn’t need special permissions and is quick. ownCloud is extendable via a simple, powerful API for applications. For more information, please visit: http://www.owncloud.org.