Let’s assume for the moment that you are like many tens of millions of Mac users who give information to Google. OK, that’s not quite right. You’re not really sharing files and data to Google, but you use Google’s free services which store your files and data.
Remember, Google loves looking at your digital underwear and other undergarments, so don’t be surprised if the company learns something about you and throws a contextual advertisement your way. If you’re becoming a bit paranoid, and these days that’s not a bad attitude to have, how do you get your files and data back from Google?
Download The Cloud
CloudPull is for those Mac users who have, 1) second thoughts about Google’s ability to store your files and data without scanning everything to see what it can find, 2) a need to backup whatever has been uploaded to Google’s services; you know, just in case, or, 3) chills because the Spidey paranoia sense is acting up.
Whatever the reason, CloudPull is aptly named (although I’m fond of ‘Google Flush’) because it pulls all of whatever you’ve put onto Google’s various and sundry services and lets you bring them home. How’s it work? Just like a good Mac app citizen. Log into your Google account, select what you want to bring home, and CloudPull does the rest.
Here’s an example of what CloudPull sees. Google Gmail messages can be downloaded an imported into Mac Mail.
Even better, using CloudPull as a backup means you get files in standard file formats which work perfectly (mostly) on your Mac. Gmail goes into Mail as mailboxes. Google Contacts go into the Mac’s Contacts app. Likewise, Google’s Calendars are imported into Mac Calendar.
What about Docs and the various documents you’ve saved on your Google account. CloudPull pulls those,too, lets you view files in Quick Look, and basic document files, spreadsheets, and presentation files can be opened on your Mac in Microsoft Office or even in Apple’s own Pages, Keynote, or Numbers, respectively.
Files stored on Google drive can be downloaded and backed up to your Mac, too. From within CloudPull files can be restored to your Mac by a simple drag and drop. It’s that easy.
I can’t say much that’s negative about CLoudPull. It’s an essential Mac backup and retrieval utility for anyone who’s heavily invested in Google’s apps but doesn’t want to be. What I’d like to see is a nit, but it would be handy– how about a backup for Yahoo! Mail? See? A nitpicky nit.
