BitTorrent Inc. has released a new application that allows users to securely sync folders to multiple devices using the BitTorrent protocol. The free application has no storage limits and can serve both as a public backup system and a shared drive. BitTorrent Sync is especially efficient for groups who need to share many large files over the Internet.

The latest release form BitTorrent Inc. is an exciting and innovative application that provides users with the ability to synchronize their folders to a wide range of devices, simply by implementing the BitTorrent protocol. What are the benefits of this new application? Well, for one there are no limitations when it comes to storage – which gives users the multiple benefits of using Sync for shared drive purposes and as a public backup system. Essentially, this means that users with the desire and the need to share files across various devices have access to a practical, speedy and reliable form of distribution.

If this sounds a tad familiar though, that’s because it is. BitTorrent is using similar technology to that of certain cloud services like Dropbox, iCloud, and Skydrive. The difference, however, is pretty clear. This is simply that there isn’t any third-party that has access to the files that are being shared, the storage is effectively unlimited and transfer services are rapid. It’s about time that BitTorrent introduced a productive way to backup and synchronise files across various devices – as BitTorrent have never really enjoyed this kind of service until now.

Sync implements a peer-to-peer platform. This means that users of the program will rely on each other for the sharing of their files, as opposed to any centralized infrastructure. This will add to the already rapidly growing peer-to-peer market that has dominated the Internet. Statistically, peer-to-peer transfers take up over 40% of the data being transferred across the net. With the cost effectiveness of this platform, more and more content owners and distributors are taking advantage of it – meaning its market domination is only likely to grow.

Legal issues surrounding peer-to-peer transfer are complicated, as the files being transferred will often make reference to copyrighted content – this means that the implemented peer-to-peer platform is often said to be synonymous to piracy. BitTorrent has established a completely decentralized network with the intention of transferring files in an effective and practical way – which raises problems in relation to existing laws within the market. The law has raised issues in terms of the liability of the BitTorrent protocol. Regardless, the amount of users making use of peer-to-peer sharing networks continues to grow.

Related Posts:

• Keep key files and folders in sync with Beyond Compare
• Get access to all of your files on all of your computing devices with Dropbox
• Remember things big and small from your everyday life with Evernote
• Manage all the contents of your mobile devices and mobile phones with Mobile Master
• Backup your profile games with GameSave Manager

The Cloud.  If you don’t have a piece of it, you’re behind the times and you may be in a serious predicament.  Getting your own private piece of the cloud is so important that I co-wrote and edited an important piece on it for Information Week last summer. The gist of the article was alternatives for what I consider to be one of the absolute BEST online backup and file access tool on the internet today, and really the application and service to copy or beat – Dropbox. It’s a multiplatform tool; and again, it’s a must have.

Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, documents, and videos anywhere. This means that any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all of your connected computers, phones as well as the Dropbox website. You’ll never be without the data you need, as long as you have an internet connection.

Dropbox makes sharing files easy.  You can invite your friends, family and teammates to any folder in your Dropbox, and it’ll be as if the data was saved right to their computers. You can send people links to specific files in your Dropbox if sharing an entire folder isn’t appropriate. This makes Dropbox perfect for team projects, sharing party photos with friends, or any number of file sharing needs.

If your computer has any kind of meltdown, and you lose EVERYTHING, don’t worry. Dropbox has you covered.  You can use Dropbox to restore all the data from your backup folders in a snap. It’s perfect for hard drive upgrades and computer rebuilds.

read full review | download Dropbox

Related Posts:

• SugarSync – there’s no place safer than the cloud!
• Backup your profile games with GameSave Manager
• BitTorrent and Sync
• Keep your Windows Registry clean and optimized with Registry First Aid
• Backs up any type of document with easy to use AutoSave Essential

We’re in the information age now. Everything gets around faster and the number of sources and amount of information we need to remember can get overwhelming. Now, for those who own an iPad, let me suggest you a great note-taking application that combines handwriting, typing, audio and video recording. The application is called NoteLedge and it’s developed by Kdan Mobile.

NoteLedge lets you easily jot down your thoughts many ways. There is a full set of a scribble pen, highlighter and eraser for you to sketch down anything that flashes through your mind. NoteLedge also allows you to record multiple audio and video files and place them literally anywhere you like within the notes. As for innovation, there is a patented feature, “Navigator”, a tool that let’s you crop selected contents the way you want and paste them anywhere within the notes.

Download NoteLedge for iPad

Related Posts:

• Make your own TV set with Boxee
• Format Factory, the complete media converter
• CyberLink Media Suite – All You Need to Enrich Your Digital Life
• Convert several video files at the same time with GOM Video Converter
• Find tons of free multimedia content with Audials One

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about mobile devices and ecosystems and the companies that make and distribute them. Let’s take a quick moment and figure out what you should actually buy.

As complicated as this might seem, it isn’t really complicated at all.  We’ll get to specific goodies, next time, but I wanted to take a few moments to talk about how to determine exactly WHAT to buy, given that investing in an ecosystem largely takes you down a specific road, given that you’re likely going to want to mix and match your data on your devices.

What does this mean?

Simply put, if you start a document on your computer, at some point, you may want to shoot it to yourself via email or upload it to your choice of cloud storage (like Dropbox, Windows Live Mesh. iCloud or Amazon Cloud Drive to name a few) so that you can edit it on your laptop or tablet when you get home.  Maybe you stumble upon a bit of brilliance on the way home from work (or where ever you might be) and you stop to take a moment to jot down a few notes in it on your smartphone. A fully functioning, adopted (on your part) ecosystem allows you to do this with your data and your devices. For everything to function this way, its all gotta be connected somehow.

So, again, what should you get?  Here are my recommendations on how to figure this out.

Mac Users
This is probably the biggest no brainer of the bunch; but its not as open as other platforms.

• Apple Ecosystem: Stick to the Apple ecosystem and iTunes, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The desktop tools all have iOS components and partners, and the data you create on your Mac is designed to enable you to work on all of Apple’s devices. You’d be amazed how elegant and simple it is; but then again, you’re stuck there, and you have to want to be stuck for it all to work.

• Amazon Ecosystem: Since Amazon also has developed Kindle software for iOS, users wishing to move to or from parts of the Amazon ecosystem will also find a bridge here. However, since the Kindle Fire is Android based, see the Google Ecosystem, below.

• Google Ecosystem: Trying to implement parts of the Google ecosystem in an Apple/iOS world isn’t going to be easy, so be ready for some challenges. You aren’t going to be using iTunes to sync content to any Android device, and if you’re a Mac user, you undoubtedly have SOME content there.

Windows and Linux Users
Windows users have a few options, as basically all ecosystems are open and available to them. Linux users (and non-iTunes users) can use doubleTwist for media and rely on Exchange or Google Sync for PIM data.

• Apple Ecosystem: Windows users have been using iDevices for years. The Apple ecosystem is completely open to all Windows users. The only thing you need to insure is that all your iDevices and iTunes have been updated to their latest versions.

• Amazon Ecosystem: Windows and Android go well together. In fact, many Windows users are also Android users and vice-versa.  Amazon has carved itself a very unique corner of the mobile market by introducing its own app store and inking deals with music labels, and movie and TV studios. The content is available through Amazon Prime, and you get a 30 day free trial with the purchase of a Kindle Fire.  Google itself hasn’t been able to nail this bit down yet, so Amazon stands apart as the most complete player in the Android space, despite the lack of an Amazon-branded smartphone.

• Google Ecosystem: Despite recent developments with Google Music and Google Books, Google’s ecosystem is still somewhat disjointed.  For as much money as Google has, they really need to nail this down. Users who go with an Android tablet and smartphone should be able to exchange purchases and data with all of their devices, provided they are compatible. The only difference may be the Amazon App Store, as I’ve not bought any apps there as yet.

In the end, you shouldn’t really try to mix and match Apple and Amazon/Google devices. You’re going to run into too many challenges trying to get the data and content from one to another, especially on the media and productivity sides of things. eBooks are easy, but will require Kindle software to bridge the gap.

Come back next time, and I’ll have specific gift recommendations for your 2011 Holiday Gift recipients.

Related Posts:

• Navigating the Mobile Landscape: Ecosystems – #3: Where the Heck is Microsoft?
• Navigating the Mobile Landscape: Ecosystems #2
• Navigating the Mobile Landscape: Ecosystems #1
• Last week’s highlights #4
• Apple releases iTunes 10.5

TrueCrypt is a free encryption utility designed to keep your data safe from curios eyes and prevent data theft of destruction. With TrueCrypt you can create three types of encrypted volumes: file-hosted (very useful for DropBox users) ,partition/device-hosted or you can encrypt an entire partition or system drive.

While using the services of any backup provider, you need to secure your data before uploading it on their servers. With TrueCrypt you can encrypt and decrypt your files on your computer, so they’re already encrypted prior to being uploaded. That means the backup company can’t access those files, whatever happens. In order to secure your data, you can choose between several strong AES (Advanced encryption Standard) algorithms such as: Rijndael, Serpent or Twofish with up to 256-bit keys and 128-bit blocks.

TrueCrypt is a little bit hard to set up, because of its open-source character, but its functionality will convince you to carry on using it. The biggest advantage, compared to other similar paid-for products, is that with Truecrypt you can encrypt folders much larger than 2GB. Another advantage is the fact that TrueCrypt comes in three editions, one for Windows users, one for Mac users and one for Linux users, so you are not limited to a single operating system. The program can also be used on removable devices, such as a USB Flash drive. No installation is required on such a device. It is enough to unzip the content of the downloaded archive and copy the directory named ‘Setup files’ onto the removable drive.

read full review | download TrueCrypt

Related Posts:

• Keep your surfing and personal data private Platinum Hide IP
• BitTorrent and Sync
• Raspberry Pi gets its own Appstore
• Secure your home or businesses internet connection with Wifi Protector
• Manage and maintain your drive’s partitions with Aomei Partition Assistant

Perhaps you have been a victim of file corruption which also victimized your gamesaves?
Maybe you just wished to transfer your gamesave(s) to your new machine, or send them to a friend of yours?

With GameSave Manager, you can easily backup, restore and transfer your gamesave(s).
No longer do you need to manually track through all of the those different directories to backup/restore/transfer your gamesaves. That’s because GameSave Manager supports 778 games in its own database. It will automatically scan your computer for game profiles based on this database and the results with the correspondent files from your hard drive.

With GameSave Manager you can also share gamesave progress with friends/family and format frequently your computer without the fear of losing it. List of features follows:

Related Posts:

• Get access to all of your files on all of your computing devices with Dropbox
• Backup saved games the easy way – with SaveGameBackup
• BitTorrent and Sync
• Transfer music and video files from iPod and iPhone with Ease
• Keep your Windows Registry clean and optimized with Registry First Aid