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SugarSync Adding New Features – Shared Folders

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sugarsync_500x175While there are many file syncing applications out today, one that I have been using for my personal syncing needs is SugarSync.  Today, Sharpcast is announcing some feature upgrades that will be delivered to some users today and expanding over the next week to all users.  The primary new module is called Shared Folders, and it enables customers to easily collaborate on and share digital documents, music, photos and other files with friends, family and co-workers.

““Our customers have been enthusiastically asking for advanced sharing capabilities in SugarSync, and today we are very happy to deliver,” said Laura Yecies, chief executive officer at Sharpcast. ““Folder sharing is a natural extension to file syncing, remote access and cloud storage, especially with the proliferation of media files such as photos, music and videos that people like to pass along to friends and family. SugarSync now makes sharing easy.”

There are quite a few other items in the upgrade, to see those, check out the full press release and images after the break

3-screens_300dpi SAN MATEO, CALIF., January 23, 2009 — Sharpcast Inc. today launched SugarSync 1.5, the highly-anticipated new release of the award-winning SugarSync online file syncing, data storage, and sharing service. Customers will be upgraded to the new version in a phased rollout starting today and continuing through next week, or they may choose to update manually from the www.sugarsync.com Web site on Monday.

Now boasting a sophisticated feature module called Shared Folders, the new SugarSync dramatically improves a person’s ability to easily collaborate on and share digital documents, music, photos and other files with friends, family and co-workers.

““Our customers have been enthusiastically asking for advanced sharing capabilities in SugarSync, and today we are very happy to deliver,” said Laura Yecies, chief executive officer at Sharpcast. ““Folder sharing is a natural extension to file syncing, remote access and cloud storage, especially with the proliferation of media files such as photos, music and videos that people like to pass along to friends and family. SugarSync now makes sharing easy.”

3-screens_sharepix_300dpi At its core, SugarSync enables a person to synchronize the files and folders on their PC with other devices (such as laptops, netbooks, iPhones and more), back-up files to the Internet (otherwise known as cloud storage), and access them remotely through a Web browser from any PC. The new Shared Folder module allows a user to easily share entire folders with other users, collaborate on changes, and manage files versions. To get started, all it takes is a simple e-mail invitation containing a permalink.

Invited folder members can then either view the folder contents on the Web in a read-only mode or download the files. If the owner allows, members may edit a file using SugarSync’s convenient WebSync feature. Websync creates a desktop-like editing atmosphere within the Web environment, eliminating the need to manually download and upload edited versions. It also automatically re-syncs edited files back to the owner’s desktop, as well as the Shared Folder in real-time for all folder members to see.

SugarSync offers many granular settings to maintain control over the access, security, and privacy of shared folders and files. Settings include:

– Choice of View Only or Add/Edit

– Optional access code to protect folder privacy and security even if the link becomes public

– The ability to change and modify recipient access, viewing and security settings, even after a folder has previously been shared

– Version control and rollback

– Main user interface view of folders shared with others (““Owned by Me”) and those others have shared with the user (““Shared with Me”).

““Shared Folders is particularly relevant for group project collaboration or workshare scenarios,” said Domingo Mihovilovic, vice president of engineering at Sharpcast. ““The days of mass e-mailing version after version of redlined edits are over. FTP is no longer necessary for sharing and editing large graphics files. The idea of using the Internet for real-time collaboration and sharing has finally become a reality.”

Other Enhancements in SugarSync 1.5:

Upload Status View:

SugarSync now shows up-to-date status information on all computers for files/folders being uploaded to the cloud. This is a key feature for people who upload large, multi-gigabit files or folders that may take several hours to upload. The new information shows the user that a file is in the process of being uploaded from another synced device, assuring them that the transfer is taking place, and preventing users from prematurely stopping an upload in progress.

Date/Time Formats:

Previously, all date/time stamps in SugarSync were in Pacific Time. Now, users around the world will have their date/time stamps reflect local time.

UI for Hidden Files:

SugarSync now backs up Windows Hidden Files and shows them in SugarSync Manager.

Simplified Navigation in SugarSync Manager:

SugarSync now allows a user to more easily access the Magic Briefcase, Web Archive and other frequently used folders in the main user interface without having to navigate through individual PCs/devices.

All Primary SugarSync 1.5 Features:

Automatic Cloud Backup: Backs up files, photos and more to the Internet automatically and instantly, with many granular settings to customize it to your needs.

File and Folder Sync: Keep files in sync across all devices: desktops, laptops, netbooks, smartphones, iPhones and more — PC or Mac.

Remote Access. View and share files anywhere. Access files from any web browser or mobile phone — even when the home computer is offline. Access files across all your computers —choose which files get synced and which are available on-demand.

Mobile Access: View and share files located on any synced computers in a smartphone browser. Dedicated iPhone and Windows Mobile applications are also available.

Send Large Files: Send files of any size, to anyone, from anywhere. Share files from any computer or mobile phone. There are no size limits and it’s much easier than FTP. Great for sending home videos and large presentations.

NEW Shared Folders: Share and collaborate on entire folders of documents, media files (IE music, movies, photos etc), and any other files with friends, family, and co-workers.

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About Sharpcast:

Sharpcast is the leading pioneer in online data back-up/storage, synchronization and file sharing. With its flagship SugarSync service, Sharpcast helps people easily  manage computer files and media such as photos and videos, and ensure that everything is accessible and available anytime, anywhere from any device (desktops, laptops, mobile devices or even securely through the Internet from any PC). The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in San Mateo, California. For more information please visit: www.sugarsync.com.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Joe Trippet

    01/23/2009 at 1:04 pm

    I’m a SugarSync and Tablet PC user (Lenovo X200 and X61). SugarSync has some pretty significant issues for mobile users, which I hope are resolved in the new version.

    If you’re synchronizing anything over a few gigs of files, SugarSync creates an enormous database that eats up gigabytes of hard drive space.

    When you start the application, it goes through a scanning process that thrashes the hard drive for, in my case, 10-20 minutes. When you’re mobile, this isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a battery drain.

    I’ve measured battery drain with SugarSync running and without, and there is a 5-10% decrease in battery life when it’s on.

    I wouldn’t expect them to mention this in a press release, but I do hope that they fixed these issues. SugarSync is convenient but I’m really considering evaluating other products because of these issues.

  2. robdam1001

    01/23/2009 at 8:47 pm

    Joe, I don’t experience this issue. Are you syncing a FILE that is GB in size or folders? I sync over 30GB worth of folders perfectly.

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