Online File Storage and Synchronization - A SugarSync Review

In today's world, the ability to access your files fromSugarSync's Web Archive is a place you can store
multiple locations is an absolute must. Unfortunately thisfiles without synchronizing them to other computers.
tends to involve relying on CD's and flashdrives, or byThis a great tool for backing up files that you don't
constantly emailing yourself attachments.need to synchronize, just you know their safe.
Wouldn't it be helpful if there were a way to*SugarSync Review - The Desktop Client*
automatically synchronize your files?The desktop application offers pretty much all the
Enter SugarSync.functionality of the web client. When you first open the
With SugarSync, its easy to keep your files backed upprogram you'll see a list of the files on the computer
and syncronized between computers, even if you'reyou are currently viewing, as well as a list to the left
working on two completely separate networks.containing icons for your Magic Briefcase, Web
**SugarSync Review**Archive, etc.
Setup is really simple. Once you create an account onButtons for your photo gallery, online account and
the SugarSync website, you can downoad themore are also included. You can also easily send and
desktop application to whatever computers you need.share files, so the only time you'd really need to work
After that, just choose the files to synchronize anddirectly with the online interface is when you were
you're good to go.away from your personal computer.
After that, your're pretty much up and running.Hitting the "Manage Synced Folders" button gives you
Depending on your needs, you can set each individualthe opportunity to set up which folders you want to
folder to either simply backup online, or synchronizesync from this computer, and what specific folders
with other computers.they should each be synced to on each of the other
Once you add a file to SugarSync, it is uploaded tocomputers. If a folder is added to SugarSync but not
your secure account. From there you can access yourconnected to another computer, the contents are
data from anywhere you have internet access - evenbeing backed up in real time, but not affecting any
without installing SugarSync! SugarSync's web basedother hard drives. The entire interface is extremely
interface makes it easy to download and share any ofuser friendly, but if organizing different folders is more
your files, wherever you are.work than you are interested in, you can always just
As a SugarSync member, you can share your foldersuse the Magic Briefcase as described earlier.
with anyone you like by inviting them to sign up for a*SugarSync For BlackBerry*
free account. The files you share can be set as eitherI love this part - because it really makes all of your files
"editable" or "read only," depending on what youras mobile as you are. SugarSync offers several
needs are for that particular folder.mobile clients including support for iPhone, BlackBerry,
Whenever a document is edited on one of theAndroid, Windows Mobile devices, and Symbian - in
computers or devices connected to your account,addition to the ability to access your online account
SugarSync uploads the new version to your onlinefrom pretty much any web enabled phone.
account, and then destributes it to the other computersSugarSync's mobile apps let you do pretty much
as soon as the have an internet connection (or righteverything you could want. Accessing computers and
away if they are already online.online files is a breeze, simply navigate to and select
Lets run through a quick overview of the onlinethe file you need and SugarSync will download it to
interface, the desktop client and (my personal favorite)your phone and cache it for use.
the BlackBerry application. This SugarSync review willIf you have the right software, you can edit files from
go over each one.your phone (usinge "Docs-To-Go" to edit an MS Word
and The Desktop Client**document on a BlackBerry for example). Once you
*SugarSync Review - The Online Interface*finish editing a file, SugarSync notes the change and
On your dashboard, you can see all of the computersasks if it should be uploaded.
connected to your account, as well as how muchYou can easily upload any files from your BlackBerry,
more space you have available and other stats.the only problem here is that there isn't an option to
The files on each of the computers on your accountupload multiple files into a que - each file must be
can be accessed by selecting the computer from theselected individually. This makes uploading, let's say an
list on the left. Once you find the file(s) you're lookingphoto or two that you want to share really quickly a
for, they can easily be moved, copied, downloaded orbreeze, but beyond that you will probably want to wait
shared.to transfer the files to your computer and upload them
SugarSync's online system also makes it easy to sendfrom there.
your files to anyone you need. Simply specify the emailOne of the real benefits of the mobile application is
address you want to send the folder to, andthat if you know in advance that you want the pictures
SugarSync will email out a link (valid for 21 days) soyou are taking uploaded, you can fire up the application
your file can be downloaded by whoever you send itand select "Take photo," which will launch your
to.BlackBerry's native camera application and upload any
Sending that one link to your SugarSync folder is a lotpictures you take from there (please note, only photos
easier than attaching a couple dozen photos or files totaken from within the SugarSync app are automatically
a string of emails to your mom.uploaded) to you Mobile Photos folder, which is
In addition to your synced computers, you also havesynchronized across all of your computers.
the option to select your "Magic Briefcase," your MobileViewing images from your device is equally simple.
Photos and your Web Archive.Each picture is downloaded and and cached to your
The Magic Briefcase is basically a folder thatphone, and you can scroll through the pictures in a
SugarSync creates on all of your computers that isparticular folder one at a time. Each picture also has a
always kept synchronized. It's a nice, simple tool for"High Res" option in case you need to view in greater
users who don't want to take the time to manuallydetail.
select folders to sync... all they need to do is drop themSugarSync is also capable of streaming music to your
into the Briefcase and they are good to go.phone as well, so if you synchronize your iTunes
One important thing to keep in mind is that droppinglibrary, you'll be able to access it anywhere, without
files into the Magic Briefcase actually moves themnecessarily having to keep it all on your phone at once.
from thier original location - it does not create a newSugarSync offers several different price options
copy.depending on how much storage you need. Each plan
The Mobile Photos section is pretty self explanatory...includes a 30 day free trial, which is plenty of time to
these are the pictures that you have taken from yourget comfortable with it before making any final
mobile phone, which we'll discuss a little more later on indecisions.
our SugarSync review.