Laptop Mag Verdict
Featuring gobs of storage and remote access, Microsoft’s free file sync program is a good choice for the multi-PC user.
Pros
- +
Free
- +
Lots of storage space
- +
Remote access
- +
Mac and PC compatible
- +
Ability to sync photos to Windows Live Photo Gallery
Cons
- —
Lacks file versioning
- —
No Linux support
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Microsoft’s Windows Live suite offers users a variety of fun tools for blogging, instant messaging, and editing photos and video, but one of the most useful features across the board is Windows Live Sync (formerly known as Windows Live FolderShare). This cloud-based syncing application lets you access important files located on any Mac or PC on which you have the software installed, eliminating the need for USB keys or e-mailing files to yourself. We’re fans of the near-unlimited storage space and very cool remote access feature, but the lack of file revisions and Linux support keeps it from overthrowing rivals like Dropbox.
Installation, Pricing, and Capacity
Installing Windows Live Sync onto a Gateway P-7808u FX notebook was a simple affair. After downloading the application and signing in with our Windows Live ID, we selected the folders on the laptop that we wanted to sync. Unlike Dropbox, we weren’t presented with various price and capacity options, as Microsoft hasn’t implemented the traditional file restraints. You can sync up to 20 folders with a maximum of 20,000 files each (each file has a 4GB cap), which means you can conceivably sync 1562.5 terabytes—far more data than Dropbox’s 100GB maximum capacity.
As Windows Live Sync is tightly woven into Windows’ file structure, files that exist in the various folders (My Documents, My Music, My Photos) are synced with a single click; you don’t have to move them to a dedicated folder (as Dropbox requires). The benefit is that you don’t have to migrate files to a new folder, but the drawback is that files aren’t as centralized as Dropbox.
File Sync and Remote Backup
We were able to access files stored on one notebook from an Acer Aspire One by simply repeating the installation process. A 4.97GB folder of mixed media that was dropped into the My Pictures folder synced in 9 hours and 49 minutes, which was slightly swifter than Dropbox’s 9 hours and 53 minutes. We also had no problem accessing documents and photos from a Mac mini (though we had to manually associate OS X’s folders with Windows, which only took a few seconds), but Linux users may be disappointed that the Penguin has been slighted. If you’re a Windows Photo Gallery user, you can use Live Sync to sync photos and video across your computers.
As with Dropbox, clicking the icon in the taskbar opened a small menu that presented us with the option to visit Windows Live Sync’s Web site, where we were able to manage folders, grant permissions, and view the other computers that had the software installed. Selecting More allowed us, from our home, to access the remote access feature (note that this is off by default). This let us poke around a Dell desktop back in the office, on which we had installed Windows Live Sync. We selected the PC from the list of synced computers at sync.live.com, clicked Browse, and then selected either a folder or drive. By clicking the C drive, we were able to download a 114MB video clip from our office PC’s desktop in 4 minutes and 51 seconds, which was on a par with Dropbox’s 4:59 transfer time for the same file.
Some Drawbacks
Windows Live Sync lacks one of Dropbox’s better features: file revisions. If you need to return to a previous version of a file, there’s no method to do so. In addition, Windows Live Sync isn’t quite as streamlined; for example, the taskbar menu has a separate listing for each folder. That’s the direct opposite of Dropbox, which syncs everything dropped into its dedicated folder (creating subfolders for documents and photos is optional).
Verdict
There’s a lot to like in Windows Live Sync. The remote access feature is one that may appeal to the business set more than any other, and is one that we’d love to see implemented into Dropbox. The lack of Linux support and file revisions may be a dealbreaker for some, but the large amount of free storage makes this service quite a compelling option.
| Company Website | www.foldershare.com |
| Disk Space | 2.79MB |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac |
| Required Processor | 800-MHz or higher (Windows XP); 1-GHz or higher (Windows Vista and Windows 7) |
| Required RAM | 128MB (Windows XP); 512MB (Windows Vista and Windows 7) |
| Software Required OS: | Mac OS X (10.5 or higher), Windows XP with SP2 (32-bit edition only), Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit), and Windows Server 2008 |
| Software Type | Utilities |
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Jeffrey is a writer at Laptop Mag. His coverage includes chiefly laptop reviews, and he’s tried some of the top brands out there, including Acer, Lenovo, MSI, Dell, and Sony. Outside of digging into laptop performance and features, Jeffrey covers things like peripherals and software.
file-sync
cloud-sync
microsoft
A file synchronization service by Microsoft, syncing files between devices and granting access from anywhere, integrated with cloud storage services like OneDrive.
What is Windows Live — Sync?
Windows Live — Sync, originally called Windows Live Folders, is a file hosting, sharing and synchronization service created by Microsoft. It is designed to help users synchronize files and folders between multiple devices, access them remotely from any web browser, and collaborate with others.
Some key features of Windows Live Sync include:
- Sync folders across devices like computers, phones and tablets
- Store files in the cloud on OneDrive for secure backup and remote access
- Share files with friends, family and coworkers for collaboration
- Real-time sync to keep all devices up-to-date automatically
- Version history and file restore options to roll back unwanted changes
- Mobile apps for Android, iOS and Windows Phone
Overall, Windows Live Sync provides seamless file synchronization and cloud capabilities to help consumers and small business teams collaborate across a variety of devices. It offers more storage and functionality than some competitors like Dropbox or Google Drive. An Office 365 subscription can further extend its capabilities through full integration with OneDrive document storage.
Windows Live — Sync Features
Features
- File syncing between devices
- Cloud storage integration
- Access files anywhere
- Share files and folders
Pros
Easy to set up and use
Syncs files automatically
Integrates with OneDrive
Free to use
Cons
Limited customization options
No version history
Only works with Windows devices
Discontinued in 2017
Official Links
The Best Windows Live — Sync Alternatives
Top
Backup & Sync
and
File Synchronization
and other similar apps like Windows Live — Sync
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Windows Live Mesh
|
Windows Live Mesh |
|
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Final release |
2011 (15.4.3555.0308 Win, 15.4.5726.23 Mac) |
| Operating system | Windows (XP and later) and Mac OS X (Intel Only) |
| Type | File sharing |
| Website | Archived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index) |
Windows Live Mesh (formerly known as Windows Live FolderShare, Live Mesh, and Windows Live Sync) is a discontinued free-to-use Internet-based file synchronization application by Microsoft designed to allow files and folders between two or more computers to be in sync with each other on Windows (Vista and later) and Mac OS X (v. 10.5 Leopard and later, Intel processors only) computers or the Web via SkyDrive.[1] Windows Live Mesh also enabled remote desktop access via the Internet.
Windows Live Mesh was part of the Windows Live Essentials 2011 suite of software. However this application was replaced by SkyDrive for Windows application in Windows Essentials 2012 and later OneDrive in Windows 8/8.1/10. Microsoft announced on December 13, 2012, that Windows Live Mesh would be discontinued on February 13, 2013.[2]
Features of Windows Live Mesh include:
- Ability to sync up to 200 folders with 100,000 files each (each file up to 40 GB)[3] for PC-to-PC synchronization
- Ability to sync up to 5 GB of files to «SkyDrive synced storage» in the cloud
- Remote Desktop access via Windows Live Mesh and the Windows Live Devices web service
- PC-to-PC synchronisation of application settings for applications such as:
- Windows Internet Explorer — synchronisation of favorites and recently typed URLs between computers
- Microsoft Office — synchronisation of dictionaries, Outlook email signatures, styles and templates between computers
FolderShare and Windows Live Sync
[edit]
The original Windows Live FolderShare logo
Windows Live Sync «Wave 3» logo
Microsoft bought FolderShare from ByteTaxi Inc. on November 3, 2005, and subsequently made it a part of their Windows Live range of services.[4]
On March 10, 2008, Microsoft released its first user visible update to the then Windows Live FolderShare. This comprised a rewrite of the FolderShare website and an updated Windows Live FolderShare client. Support for discussion groups and Remote Desktop Search was also removed in the update. The new client had some user interface and branding updates and contained several bug fixes — including official support for Windows Vista and discontinued support for Windows 2000.
Since its rebrand as Windows Live FolderShare, the client and service had undergone extensive platform changes, switching from the original LAMP which it was originally built on when acquired, to the Windows Server platform. In the Windows Live Essentials «Wave 3» release, Windows Live FolderShare was again rebranded as Windows Live Sync. New UI improvements were also announced to be part of the «Wave 3» release, integrating it with other Windows Live services. New features of the then Windows Live Sync «Wave 3» compared to FolderShare included increased limit of sync folders, integration with Windows Live ID, integration with Recycle Bin, unicode support, support for Mac OS X, and integration with Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Toolbar to sync photo albums and favorites between PCs.[5] Windows Live Sync Wave 3 was released on December 11, 2008,[6] and an update of Windows Live Sync for Mac was released on November 2, 2009, to add support for Mac OS X 10.6.[7]
Microsoft released the Live Mesh technology preview on April 23, 2008, a data synchronization system that allowed files, folders and other data to be shared and synchronized across multiple personal devices and up to 5 GB on the web.[8] Live Mesh was based on FeedSync technologies to convey the changes made in each device so that the changes can be synchronized across all devices and the cloud.[9] The information about devices and folders participating in a synchronization relationship was not stored locally but at the service-end.[10]
The Live Mesh software, called Mesh Operating Environment (MOE),[11] was available for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X, as well as Windows Mobile 6.[12] It could be used to create and manage the synchronization relationships between devices and data. Live Mesh also included a cloud storage component, called Live Desktop, which was an online storage service that allows synchronized folders to be accessible via a website.[8] Live Mesh also provided a remote desktop software called Live Mesh Remote Desktop that could be used to remotely connect to and manage any of the devices in a synchronization relationship.[11] Live Mesh Remote Desktop allowed users to control their devices from the Live Mesh application, as well as from any other internet connected PC.
Live Mesh also included a developer component, which consisted of a set of protocols and Application Programming Interfaces (API) known as Live Framework (which was also briefly known as MeshFX).[13] It was a REST-based API for accessing the Live Mesh services over HTTP. Microsoft had also provided APIs for managed code (including .NET Framework and Microsoft Silverlight) as well as for Win32 and JavaScript via a developer Software Development Kit (SDK).[13] Unlike the Mesh Operating Environment (MOE), which was limited to sharing folders, the Live Framework APIs could be used to share any data item between devices that recognize the data.[10] The API encapsulated the data into a Mesh Object—the native synchronization unit of Live Mesh—which was then tracked for changes and synchronized. A Mesh Object consisted of a collection of Data Feeds, which could be represented in Atom, RSS, JSON or Plain Old XML formats. The data entries within these feeds were synchronized via the FeedSync protocol. The MOE software also created Mesh Objects for each Live Mesh folder in order for them to be synchronized.[10] However, the Live Framework APIs were discontinued on September 8, 2010, with the aim of being integrated into Windows Live Messenger Connect in the «Wave 4» release.[14] Live Mesh beta was officially discontinued on March 31, 2011.[15]
Windows Live Mesh 2011
[edit]
A beta version Windows Live Sync «Wave 4» was released on June 24, 2010. This new version, while initially branded Windows Live Sync, was the first version which was built using both FolderShare and Live Mesh technologies. Compared to the «Wave 3» version of Windows Live Sync, the new version featured increased limit of sync folders and files, ability to sync up to 2 GB of files to the cloud on Windows Live SkyDrive synced storage, addition of Live Mesh’s remote desktop access via Windows Live Devices, and ability to sync application settings for Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office. This new version of Windows Live Sync was also designed to be completely separate from both the previous versions of Windows Live Sync and Live Mesh, and as such any previous synchronisation relationships were not retained when being upgraded from Windows Live Sync «Wave 3» and Live Mesh. The previous Windows Live Sync «Wave 3» website, and the Live Mesh Desktop, was also replaced by the new Windows Live Devices service in the «Wave 4» release.
The beta was subsequently updated on August 17, 2010, and on August 29, 2010, the service was officially rebranded as Windows Live Mesh, and its cloud-based SkyDrive synced storage was increased to 5 GB, as was the case for the previous Live Mesh service. The new version also allows users to sync hidden files, view a list of missing files that are awaiting to be synchronised, and various performance improvements.[16] The final version of Windows Live Mesh 2011 (Wave 4) was released on September 30, 2010, as part of Windows Live Essentials 2011.
Microsoft announced on February 20, 2012, that Windows Live Mesh is set to be superseded by a new SkyDrive desktop application, where the cloud storage portion for the application will utilize the full 7 GB SkyDrive storage (or more if the user has purchased additional storage), rather than the limited 5 GB «SkyDrive synced storage» in the current version of Windows Live Mesh. However, the new SkyDrive desktop application will not support direct PC-to-PC synchronization, and must utilize the SkyDrive cloud storage for synchronization between two or more devices.[17][18] On August 7, 2012, Microsoft released Windows Essentials 2012, where it was announced that Windows Live Mesh would be removed and replaced by the SkyDrive for Windows desktop application if a user upgrades from Windows Live Essentials 2011.[19]
The Remote Desktop feature from Live Mesh, which allowed users to access the remote computer from the web browser, is not transferred to Skydrive. Users are directed to use Remote Desktop from a Windows computer instead.
Windows Live Mesh was discontinued on February 13, 2013, and some of the functionality is replaced by SkyDrive.[2]
On January 27, 2014, Microsoft announced the rebranding of SkyDrive to «OneDrive».[20]
- ^ «Live Sync 2011: Improved! With Less Storage!». LiveSide. 2010-06-03. Archived from the original on 2010-06-06. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
- ^ a b Kornfield, David (13 December 2012). «Update on Windows Live Mesh». Inside Skydrive. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ «Windows Live Sync beta blends the best of Sync and Mesh». Microsoft. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
We also increased key sync limits, with support for more sync folders, many more files in each folder, and the ability to synchronize files as large as 40GB now.
- ^ «FolderShare — File Transfer & Remote File Access». Foldershare. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
- ^ «FolderShare team blog: Windows Live Sync replacing FolderShare: What you need to know». FolderShare. 2008-11-19. Archived from the original on December 26, 2009.
- ^ LeBranc, Brandon. «The Windows Blog: Windows Live Sync to replace Windows Live FolderShare». Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008.
- ^ «Windows Live Sync Team Blog: Windows Live Sync: now on Snow Leopard». Windows Live Sync Team Blog. Microsoft. Archived from the original on December 26, 2009.
- ^ a b «Live Mesh: it’s everything we told you about (and a lot more)». LiveSide. 2008-04-23. Archived from the original on 2008-04-24.
- ^ «Ray Ozzie on Live Mesh: «There’s almost nothing there»«. LiveSide. 2008-04-23. Archived from the original on 2008-05-02.
- ^ a b c Mike Zintel (2008-04-22). «Live Mesh: Live Mesh as a platform». Live Mesh. Microsoft. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ a b Mary Jo Foley (2008-04-22). «Ten things to know about Microsoft’s Live Mesh». ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
- ^ «Service update: Beta and required client upgrade». Live Mesh. Microsoft. 2008-10-30.
- ^ a b «Web 2.0: Microsoft Makes Big Bet For ‘Software Plus Services’ With Live Mesh». InformationWeek. 2008-04-23. Archived from the original on 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ «Live Framework CTP to shut down September 8th». LiveSide. August 21, 2009. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009.
- ^ «Windows Live Mesh and Devices Help Center». Live. Microsoft. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012.
On March 31, 2011, the Live Mesh beta software will stop working, and www.mesh.com will be shut down. After March 31, you won’t be able to access any files stored online in your Live Desktop or connect to your PCs remotely using the Live Mesh software. Microsoft will not be able to help you retrieve any files you have stored online after this date. Your files will also stop syncing between your computers and your Live Mesh online storage.
- ^ «Windows Live Sync to be named Windows Live Mesh». Inside Windows Live. Microsoft. Archived from the original on August 29, 2010.
- ^ «Connecting your apps, files, PCs and devices to the cloud with SkyDrive and Windows 8». Building Windows 8. Microsoft. 2012-02-20.
- ^ «No PC to PC sync in new SkyDrive». LiveSide. 23 February 2012.
- ^ Foley, Mary Jo. «Microsoft Live Mesh users: Read the Windows Essentials 2012 fine print». ZDNet. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- ^ Paul, Ian (January 27, 2014). «Microsoft renames SkyDrive to OneDrive». PC World. IDG. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- Official website (Archive)
Сайт http://sync.live.com/
Зачем это надо? Приведу цитаты с сайта, так будет проще и понятнее:
Возможность работать с последними версиями файлов вне зависимости от используемого компьютера.
Установите программу на свой компьютер. Синхронизируйте файлы и обменивайтесь ими с друзьями.
Получайте удаленный доступ к компьютерам. Дополнительные сведения…
Короче, это сервис для синхронизации папок между компьютерами, своими или друзей.
Доступ к папкам есть через сайт. Т.е. установив программу, получаете доступ к своему компьютеру, если он в сети.
Сайт сайт выглядит так:
Настройки программ так:
Есть возможность синхронизироваться сразу же или по запросу (вы видите псевдафайлы).
Многие спрашивают меня, а Live Mesh и Live Sync это одно и тоже?
Нет! Это разные сервисы и задачи разные решают… Раньше был сервис Foldershare, он теперь Live Sync. Теперь он поддерживает LiveID (полноценный Live-сервис).
Live Mesh это будущее 🙂 он позволяет объединить все устройства и работать с файлами независимо от устройства.
Live Sync – просто синхронизация, с возможность скачать файл со своих компьютеров, если они онлайн.
Как организовать синхронизацию:
- Создать личную папку
- Выбрать компьютер
- Выбрать папку и синхронизацию:
- Всё готова:
Как получить доступ к своим компьютерам:
- Выбрать компьютер:
- Выбрать папку:
- Скачать файл:
Всё очень просто 🙂
Возможности синхронизации с чужим компьютером:
- Создать общую папку:
- Выбираем компьютер:
- Выбираем папку или создаём:
- Добавляем пользователя и назначаем ему права:
- Отправляем приглашение:
- Получаем приглашение и принимаем его:
- Теперь всё доступно на сайте:
- Добавляем компьютер для папки, которую вам предоставил другой пользователь:
Всё как и раньше.
- Выбираем тип синхронизации:
- Готово:
Возможность выбора папок в программе выглядит выглядит так:
Активность так:
Всё очень просто 🙂
Пользуйтесь на здоровье!!!