

ownCloud provides web-based access to synchronised files The ownCloud developers have released version 4 of the Community Edition of their open source synchronisation software. Major changes in ownCloud 4 include support for file versioning, allowing users to restore previous versions of a file or view a files history, and the addition of an integrated viewer for Open Document Format (ODF) documents.

Users can now upload files to ownCloud via their web browser using a new Drag & Drop feature. It is also now possible for users to share calendars synchronised with ownCloud with other users. Security has been improved through support for server-side file encryption; data transfer is still, as in previous versions, encrypted by using SSL connections. Experimental support for mounting external file systems such as those from Dropbox and Google Drive has also been added, allowing users to access their other files through ownCloud's interface.

ownCloud allows files and personal data, such as addresses and calendar entries, to be synchronised across multiple devices without having to entrust it to a third party provider such as Dropbox or Google. Data is accessed via dedicated clients (Windows, Linux) using the CalDAV and CardDAV protocols or via a web interface. An experimental client for Android is already available, with an iOS version currently in development.

Version 4.0.0 of ownCloud is available to download as an AGPL licensed Community Edition from the project's site; paid Business and Enterprise Editions that include technical support and additional features are also available. The software can be installed on a Linux server running the Apache web server, MySQL or SQLite databases and PHP version 5.3 or later. An online demo of ownCloud is also available.

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