Announcing Windows Live FolderShare Beta Refresh for PC-to-PC Sync


Posted by Brandon LeBlanc on Monday, March 10, 2008 9:39 AM 28 Comments
I use about 2-3 different PCs throughout the week for work - including my laptop when I travel away from the office. In doing this - I have files scattered on multiple PCs. I'll go to one PC and find I need a file from another PC. So to make sure all my PCs are in-sync with all the important files I need and use - I use Windows Live FolderShare. Windows Live FolderShare is a service that lets users sign-in to set up Libraries that consist of folders on multiple PCs. These Libraries are synced using the Windows Live FolderShare client that sits on each PC. Users can have multiple Libraries setup as well as Shared Libraries with friends.

Today, the FolderShare Team is shipping a Beta Refresh of both the Windows Live FolderShare website and client that offers some great improvements to the Windows Live FolderShare service at http://www.foldershare.com/. Those improvements include:

  • Improved usability with the Windows Live FolderShare website - UI aligns with other Windows Live services.
  • Updated Windows Live FolderShare Client.
  • Back-end improvements.
  • Full Windows Vista support with updated Windows Live FolderShare Client.

Today's Beta Refresh supports Windows Live FolderShare's already supported countries and regions: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.

If you are already a Windows Live FolderShare Beta user - it is recommended you upgrade to today's new beta client. Your account information, folders, device, and settings should migrate over just fine. Users who don't upgrade to the new Windows Live FolderShare client Beta should expect to be asked to upgrade in the near future.

I thought I'd do a quick over view of my experience with the new Windows Live FolderShare website.

Windows Live FolderShare Beta: Login

To login to the new Windows Live FolderShare site - I logged in with the same credentials I did with the previous Windows Live FolderShare site. You account remains exactly the same despite the awesome new site.

Windows Live FolderShare Beta: Library Management

After logging in, I was able to view all my Libraries and PCs configured with the Windows Live FolderShare client. Here I can create and manage Libraries (both shared and private). I'll get to the remote access stuff here in a second but essentially this is where I can see which of my PCs (running the Windows Live FolderShare client) are online. I can also use remote access to access files on the PCs that are online.

Windows Live FolderShare Beta: Library

I was able to click on one of my Libraries I have set up and see the sync status. You'll see here my "Microsoft_Work_Docs" Library. I have 37 of 37 files synced between two PCs with another PC offline (this is my laptop).This is a Library I have set up that syncs up all my blog posts I write. I write my posts in Word or Windows Live Writer and save them to a specific folder on my PC which is then synced with Windows Live FolderShare and my other PCs. I sometimes write posts on my laptop when I'm out traveling but want to come back to them later on one of my desktop PCs at home. The Library makes sure all my drafts for blog posts are all synced on all my PCs.

As mentioned above, PCs that are shown as online under "Remote access" allow me (via the Windows Live FolderShare website) to access files and folders remotely. This is an absolutely wonderful feature. Here I am accessing my Dell XPS 420 desktop PC.

Windows Live FolderShare Beta: Remote Access

I can access the specific storage devices I have on my XPS 420 (darddrives and removable media like external harddrives and USB sticks) or pre-determined folders.

NOTE: The pre-determined folders are folders under which ever user account Windows Live FolderShare is running under.

If I click on the "Photos" folder, I can view all my photos.

Windows Live FolderShare Beta: Remote Access of System Files

I can pick and choose any file - in this case any photo - and download them to the PC I am using to access the Windows Live FolderShare site at that time. This works for music, videos, or any other files stored in specific folders.

Beyond the Windows Live FolderShare website - we have the updated beta client. The Windows Live FolderShare client sits on the taskbar in Windows Vista and runs in the background. By clicking on the Windows Live FolderShare client icon on the taskbar, I can view all the Libraries I am syncing on my PC.

Windows Live FolderShare Beta Client in taskbar

I can also use the client to quick go to the Windows Live FolderShare website to set up new Libraries. It's very easy to set up new Libraries and they show up almost immediately. You can also view the Activity of the files being synced to your PC as well through the Windows Live FolderShare client.

Windows Live FolderShare Beta Client: Activity

Windows Live FolderShare is an amazing way to sync your files with multiple PCs and access your files remotely. It really saves a lot of time from bouncing between multiple PCs. Thanks to Windows Live FolderShare, all I have to do is sit at any of my PCs and I have all my important files I need.

To get started with today's Windows Live FolderShare Beta refresh - just head on over to http://www.foldershare.com/!

UPDATE: The kinks are still being worked out after migrating to the new Windows Live FolderShare. If you are having a problem downloading the client installer - you can download it directly here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=111309

MAR 10
 

Posted by Techy News » Announcing Windows Live FolderShare Beta Refresh for PC-to-PC Sync

PingBack from http://www.artofbam.com/wordpress/2008/03/10/announcing-windows-live-foldershare-beta-refresh-for-pc-to-pc-sync/
MAR 10
 

Posted by dovella

THX Doctor Brandon THX Microsoft :D :D

MAR 10
 

Posted by freitasm

The main question is: was the 10,000 file limit per sync pair removed?
MAR 10
 

Posted by dovella

Brandon Brandon Brandon

Why we have given this service to Apple ???????

they damage to we insults and always help them to we?
MAR 10
 

Posted by jpfieber

Still can't run it on a destination that has files locked for use. It pops up a message to retry or exit. Not very friendly, and for some like me, still unusable.
MAR 10
 

Posted by Spencer

The download links only go to a generic MS site.
MAR 10
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

Spencer, seems they are still ironing things out. I edited the above post to include a direct link to the client installer.

You can download the client here:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=111309

freitasm, the 10,000 file limit per sync limitation was not removed during this release.

jpfieber, submitting your feedback to the FolderShare Team.

- Brandon
MAR 10
 

Posted by Spencer

Thanks Brandon!  Much appreciated.

-Spencer
MAR 10
 

Posted by coreburn

When using the remote access function I should be able to view a detailed list of files & folders. Who actually uses the "large icon" view?? Why would anyone want to view a large list of files as icons? If you upgrade a product, why not make it better instead of worse? There's no use for the large icon view in Windows, and definitely no use for it in FolderShare. Stop trying to make things pretty, make them useful. I want to see whole filenames, file types, and file sizes. The old version wasn't perfect, but it was better than a bunch of giant icons with no file sizes or anything...

Oh and where'd search go? Oh that must have been useful so it must have been removed... Great thanks again for making things worse MS... Foldershare was a great piece of software, why go and screw it up???
MAR 10
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

coreburn, I actually have to disagree with you on "large icon" view. I use it and like it especially in the case of FolderShare. But yes they should allow you to change views. Remember - this is just another beta release. The FolderShare Team is taking in feedback to make the service even better in upcoming releases.

- Brandon
MAR 10
 

Posted by Chaves

MAR 11
 

Posted by SteveBallmer

Glad to see you using it! Spread the word, this software is waaaay behind the adoption curve that we set for it. Good work. Remember what I told you! Shhhhh
MAR 11
 

Posted by chakkaradeep

Can this be integrated with each user's Windows Live SkyDrive? - That would be great addition and filling a small gap to Windows Live SkyDrive!
MAR 11
 

Posted by gcoupe

Can this service be used to keep the message stores of Windows Live Mail clients on two different PCs in sync?

I'd like to be able to use WLM from both my dekstop and laptop and have both message stores kept transparently in sync without any further action on my part. I use WLM as a POP client to my ISP's mail service; I do not use Hotmail.

Thanks.
MAR 11
 

Posted by anuj1692

i installed windows vista sp1 but it has hanging problem so pls tell me wat is the reason behind it and wat is the solution of it........?

pls needful help asap
MAR 11
 

Posted by Channel 10

MAR 12
 

Posted by redredred

In is necessary that I specify that only certain types of files get synced. I want to sync only my *.java files, for example, for they are interspersed in my development environment with all sorts of other files that screw up my development tools if they get shared around. Can we have this feature, please?
MAR 12
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

redredred, great suggestion! I will direct it to the Windows Live FolderShare Team!

- Brandon
MAR 12
 

Posted by redredred

Thanks for taking the suggestion Brandon. I have some more, if it helps.

1. How about being able to turn off "Remote Access" while leaving on "Shared Libraries" and "Personal Libraries". I don't really like having my whole machine one password away from being accessible to the world.

...or...

2. How about being able to control which Folder(s) is/are visible from "Remote Access". I'd feel a little more comfortable about it if I could control where I start the remotely accessible tree.
MAR 12
 

Posted by saladbar1

Back to my mac "cough cough"
MAR 13
 

Posted by newscientist2000

Cool will have to install this when I reinstall Windows on my dual boot XP Vista machine, its getting kinda slow, probably because I install to much stuff and its 4+ years old and doesnt have much ram, and I'm waiting for some RMA'd ram to get back from Corsair.  Then I'll have 1GB finally on my machine, cant wait!
MAR 13
 

Posted by windows vista ultimate user254

hey brandon about the languages and vista sp1 i got some question and please answer them

1: i only got the spanish and english of its language packs and english version of windows will i get windows vista sp1.

2: when is sp1 due its march 13

3:what with ultimate pc

4:and thank you for windows live foldershare i got 3 computers and i really need it....
MAR 15
 

Posted by ChrisDenman45

WOW - thank you thank you thank you! What can I say! I have been waiting for AGES for an "official" folder synchronization solution that doesn't rely on some awful FTP server... and it's all free! You know what else this means? I can synchronize my IE favourites!

*Spins around in circles on chair with glee*
MAR 16
 

Posted by michal64

i have this installed on 2 computers, vista sp1 ult. works fine on one, crashes on the other every time, uninstall/reinstall didnt change anything.

MAR 16
 

Posted by vista56rocks

Foldershare...Foldershare... I don't recall remembering that. I'll have to do my reasearch I guess...

I wonder if it's (it refering to FolderShare) enhanced in Vista as my Home Premuim here is so ready to go to Ultimate because of the lack of enhanced Vista software. Even though Ultimate Extras have a soon to be negligible amount of Ultimate Extra's, I don't care. Sorry for going on a tangent here.
MAR 16
 

Posted by vista56rocks

Never-mind. As it says in the article "Windows Live FolderShare is a service that lets users sign-in to set up Libraries that consist of folders on multiple PCs". I found the answer to my question
MAR 25
 

Posted by sputuk

I'd like to echo the comments from redredred.

I'm an IT support proffesional and became aware of this excellent seeming product/service from a user who was already using it.

I was initially excited by the prospect of being able to recomend a useful tool for staff who often work on multiple machines.

On further investigation however, I was disapointed to find the horrendous security hole this product punches by allowing remote access to all client files behind a single password - and that password is neither enforced to be strong nor even linked to an existing passport account.

If this product could tie in with remote authentication protocols to allow companies to enforce the security policies, then I could see this being adopted in various industries.

Until then, I couldn't even recomend this product for home use without the ability to disable this "share everything" behaviour.

It looks promising, but certainly needs more work before I'll be recomending it to anyone I'm afraid.  I do look forward to it being fully integrated into Windows/Live with improved security option however.
APR 10
 

Posted by MatthewG

Good news sputuk, you can disable this behavior.  On the machine that you want to disallow remote file access, follow these steps:

1.  In the notification area on the taskbar, click the FolderShare beta icon, point to More, and then click Settings.

2.  Click the Transfers tab, and then clear the Allow web downloads from this computer check box.

3.  Click OK

That computer's client files can no longer be accessed from the web.
Anonymous comments are disabled
© Copyright 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.