Sharpcast’s SugarSync, an application that synchronizes data across desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, and even televisions, is rolling out a a few features designed to make the service more interactive and social. The idea behind SugarSync is that it allows you to back-up any kind of digital file, including videos, spreadsheets, photos and documents, in the cloud and access it from virtually anywhere via a variety of devices. You can read our reviews of SugarSync here and here.
Syncing is becoming a popular technology trend as people split up their digital lives across devices and the Web and are looking to the cloud to enable this across devices. Apple offers syncing through its MobileMe service. There is also competition from Windows Live Mesh from Microsoft, which won a Crunchie for best technology innovation earlier this year. Startups Dropbox and Mozy also provide popular syncing services in the cloud.
SugarSync is stepping up to the plate by trying to add more interactive features. The service has improved folder sharing, letting users share files with anyone in their Gmail, Hotmail, AOL or Yahoo Mail contact lists. Users will also be able to directly upload photos stored in SugarSync to Facebook, with functionality for additional social networks to be rolled out in the near future.
SugarSync is also trying to get users to promote the services by increasing the size of their accounts for free if the user refers someone to open a new account. Users can refer others automatically by sharing a SugarSync folder with them or by sending an invitation through Facebook or Twitter. SugarSync offers and free and paid service, with prices ranging from $25 to $250 a year depending on storage size. SugarSync is also enhanced the interface of its free mobile applications for Blackberry, Apple iPhone, and iPod Touch.
SugarSync, which raised funding earlier this year, doesn’t release data on how many users the service has but did tell us that since its launch, more than 1 billion files have been backed up and synced to SugarSync, with 550 terabytes of total data backed up and synced in SugarSync’s cloud. If SugarSync continue to add useful features, like the ability to publish files to social networks and making mobile applications more user-friendly, the site could seriously compete with, and maybe surpass, the big guys, like Apple, and the innovative startups.
All these “syncing” sites seems to be just chasing Orb.com
I think we won’t see that many people using this kind of service. I might be underestimating people’s willingness to have their own data on “someone else”s servers, but I would not feel confortable having my personal data “in the cloud”. Sharing is a different thing, but I assume this service is targeting hosting, not sharing of data.
nothing compares to dropbox.
Dropbox just works. I forget I use it because it stays out of the way. And it’s works on Ubuntu.
I need to try Dropbox.
SugarSync would have been great if it, you know, actually synced reliably. I have Syncplicity right now, but it always seems to get stuck on hidden files.
Dropbox is great. Except that it doesn’t allow you to use your own private keys for encryption.
In other words, in current state, all my documents are accessible to Dropbox employees.
Except for supporting Linux (< 1% market share) Dropbox is a small subset of what SugarSync does. Any folder syncing, iPhone, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Facebook integration, etc.
I’m sure all companies are trying to make a good product. I didn’t mean to steal any thunder; I’m curious about SugarSync’s features.
I’ve been an Orb user for a few years now, but it hasn’t gotten much usage from me in months. iPhone support is sketchy at best IMO. I didn’t buy the full version simply because the free version showed me what didn’t work.
I am a fan of Dropbox though. I’ve used it for a few months now with no issues at all. Corporate users have questioned whether or not their data is encrypted/secure on Dropbox, but other than that, the people I’ve referred have liked the service.
Right ….! nothing compares to dropbox.
I love Dropbox, but they need to support multiple folders. The other “killer” one of these sync companies (Syncplicity, SugarSync, Dropbox) could do is to embed the client on a NAS device – that would be truly differentiating. Sugar has essentially just added the social features found on Syncplicity – so I imagine that Dropbox will add them, etc. Switching cost is pretty low between them, so it’s great for all of us.
I think its about time that Sugarsync realized that they need to build a native linux client. One of the reasons competition like Dropbox has done so well is because of their appeal to the “geek” crowd who in turn spread the word-of-mouth like wildfire. There is a great opportunity here with the advent of things like netbooks that use watered-down linux distros. Sugarsync needs to tap this if they are to stay ahead of the game.
I just read in another forum from someone who works at Sharpcast that they are planning a Linux solution for SugarSync. Currently, I am using Sugarsync, but am planning on trying other solutions, as well, to determine what works best for me (just so nobody thinks this is a plug for SugarSync – which it isn’t).
i prefer memeo autosync to dropbox because it’s the easiest way to sync files, even with a portable device. all the changes I make are automatically updated in my sync folders and remembered until the next time i connect my device–piece of cake.
I’ve used iDisk, sugarsync and dropbox. (haven’t tried syncplicity, but may look into it)
I want to like Dropbox more – it’s more elegant, but for keeping multiple computers in sync, I’ve actually started paying for the 10GB on sugarsync because it actually maps directories, so everything is seamless in whatever folder location I want it.
iDisk (which is painfully slow to upload/sync for me) and Dropbox (which is really nice and fast) require that you put those files in a separate designated folder (i.e. your iDisk drive or Dropbox folder), and that’s kind of a pain when you have the option to just map directories and then not worry about it.
Besides the actual syncing, for my work, I wish either dropbox or sugarsync had an upload/download location where someone can upload files to you *without* being a member of any sort. iDisk/MobileMe has this, so I can just send some not so tech-savvy client a link, and they can upload a file to my iDisk. (with dropbox/sugarsync you can share folders with people who sign up for the service, but that’s not really something i want to try to coordinate or administer)
So if someone could have the simplicity/speed of Dropbox, the directory mapping of Sugarsync and the non-member upload/download of iDisk, that would be great. Does Live Mesh do all three? Simplicity? Anyone else?
With Live Mesh you can manage the directory structure. For my usage (~1GB) Mesh is fast enough. Mesh also syncs my files across multiple of my machines and the cloud. Pretty much like dropbox. Not sure if you can send a link to your share for users that don’t have mesh accounts.
what happened to the old mgmt team @ sharpcast? seems like things have changed quite a bit.
I use the free service of Syncplicity and its simply great!!! Though never had the situation where I had to retrieve data (hope it works if ever my server crashes)…
We are going to see a lot more of this as the online backup industry grows. It makes sense to allow more syncing and sharing from cloud backups. Why run syncing software, backup software and then have to manually upload the files we want to share to our favorite social media sites.
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I am very surprised that you did not mention Syncplicity in your article. I understand that you cannot list all competitors of SugarSync in your post but as Syncplicity is their main contender it really deserves a mention. Mozy does not sync, it just creates an online backup of your files and Dropbox can only sync dedicated folders which means it is much less easy to use for keeping your own computers in sync.
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