SugarSync file-syncing Video

SugarSync file-syncing Video Transcript

SugarSync?First Look June 12, 2008 HED: SugarSync file-syncing DEK: You want painless automatic syncing and remote access for your stuff? SugarSync's managers for Mac and PC prep your multimedia files for sharing among multiple computers, the Web, and select cell phones. ### Hi, I'm JD with CNET DL.com. This is a FL at SugarSync 1.14, a service that gives you options to remotely access your files, or to sync files fully between multiple computer hard drives. There's also a mobile phone component for remote access, but more on that later. There are a few key differences between SugarSync and other remote access and syncing programs, but the major one you should keep in mind is that SugarSync will let you get at the files on your Windows PC, MacBook Pro, and home computer from any of those three devices and from the Web. Push sync ### SugarSync's service is operationalized on PCs and Macs through the SugarSync Manager, and on Windows Mobile phones, BlackBerrys, and iPhones through platform-specific applications that are available for fee from CNET Download.com. ### During set-up, the SugarSync Manager lets you choose the folders and files that you want indexed on the Web. You'll assign each computer a name and associated icon to help you keep track of which files are where. At this point, you'll also have the option of choosing whether you want certain files lite-synched or fully-synced. This is where the service can get confusing. Lite- syncing a file is shorthand for backing it up on SugarSync and in essence, making that file remotely accessible on any of the computers or phones in your profile. Full-syncing, on the other hand, actually migrates the file onto your hard drive and syncs changes among all computers. This is really useful if you frequently work on one or more machines. ### Using the "Add/Edit Sync Folders" function, you'll be able to choose and customize the individual folders and files you'd like synced. Toggling between computer profiles using the buttons or drop-down menu lets you further access grayed-out files?which are lite-synched? for a temporary, one-time download. One thing you'll notice is that while you can browse the file tree, there is unfortunately no built-in search. ### See the icon for Magic Briefcase? This is a folder that's added onto the hard drive of every profiled computer in you're my Documents folder. Whichever file you drop into the briefcase from My Documents or from the SugarSync manager will sync to every other computer. WARNING: Magic Briefcase doesn't copy the file, it replaces the entire file location. This could cause a panic of disappeared files if you're easily forgetful. ### Now what about syncing on mobile phones? SugarSync Mobile is available for Windows Mobile 6 phones, BlackBerry, and for iPhone. In mobile form, it operates more as a photo-viewer than anything else. You'll be able to view and share photos from your computer. Pictures taken with your phone are also auto-synched and show up. It's not just camera-happy, though. Clicking up the File Vault still lets you download and send documents. ### Here's another note to the wise: SugarSync's syncing isn't retroactive. If you fully sync your Desktop, for example, to another PC, all the contents will be inserted onto the other PC's desktop. That means all the images and executables you may not want, and that goes for all syncing folders. Unsyncing will interrupt the updating of new files, but it won't suck out all the files you've brought over. You'll just have to do that messy deed by hand. ### Though the programs are free to download in full, SugarSync is a premium service. You'll get 10 gigabytes of storage free for 45 days, and after that, users will need to subscribe to a yearly or monthly storage plan. I'm JD and this has been SugarSync.