Wallet, keys, change… your desktop? This year, Dell Cloud Client Computing has changed the game in cloud computing with new compact solutions no larger than the palm of your hand. Project Ophelia, recently announced at CES, delivers users access to the cloud from any capable display in a compact device that easily fits in the back pocket of your favorite pair of jeans.
Just when we thought Project Ophelia couldn't pack any more punch, our PocketCloud family of apps will now come pre-loaded on Project Ophelia that will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress on February 25th. With over 4 million downloads to date, I believe Project Ophelia combined with PocketCloud will soon fill the pockets of millions more.
According to a recent Pew Research study among American adults, 61% own a laptop and 58% own a desktop. It’s obvious the majority of us still love our PCs for their functionality, but in today’s fast-paced world, there’s no doubt a pocket-sized solution comes in handy. With the power of PocketCloud loaded on Project Ophelia, users can access their desktops on a thumb-sized device. This will help prevent the phenomenon of carrying multiple devices around just to have access to all of your personal and corporate content. Favorite consumer apps like Angry Birds, Netflix, and Yelp can be used alongside secure corporate applications, software and files so users can easily transition from work to play from a single interface. Equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, there is no longer a need to carry a ton of cables and adapters. Project Ophelia syncs to a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and headset while connected to a capable HD display utilizing MHL connectivity for a productive computing environment.
Though a self-proclaimed early tech adopter, I do believe the proliferation of consumer devices and myriad data can reach a saturation point. As the old saying goes, sometimes less is more. Instead of traveling with a corporate laptop, personal tablet, and smartphone in tow, the simplicity of having all your digital content in your back pocket is a beautiful thing. Imagine the freedom of walking into a meeting without fear of a battery outage, machine malfunction, or infrastructure incompatibility, yet still be equipped with the resources you need.
Equally liberating, PocketCloud (check out the overview video here) is a low-risk solution for remote access to corporate and personal content, ideal in cases for data too sensitive to upload to a public cloud or licensed software applications. Instead, users can utilize their PCs as a personal cloud storage solution rather than entrust a third party. With PocketCloud Web and Explore, users can securely share their files with collaborators and create a single access point to content across devices and online cloud storage sites.
If you’re a multi-tasker like me, devices may be in peril of being misplaced, taking the content with it when it disappears. Ophelia and PocketCloud are also a useful solution for the easily distracted; in the event devices are lost, an IT Administrator would simply deny access to Ophelia using Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager, and the users’ PC and content remains unharmed.
Paired with PocketCloud, Ophelia delivers the power of the public, private and personal cloud in a device as portable and affordable as a wristwatch. I am excited at the huge impact I believe this small device will have on the future of cloud computing. Each innovative in their own right, Ophelia and PocketCloud together promise to be a major evolution in the way we work and play for years to come.