Windows Live FolderShare

In the latest episode (56) of the Windows Weekly podcast, Leo and I were discussing Live Mesh (see my massive preview of Live Mesh for more information) and how you can duplicate some of the Live Mesh tech preview's folder sharing functionality with tools like Microsoft Sync Toy 2. A number of readers wrote in to remind me, however, that Microsoft has a tool that's much more like Mesh's folder sharing. It's called, go figure, Windows Live FolderShare:

Ever realized you needed a document that was on a different computer from the one you were on? With FolderShare, you can access your files from anywhere.

Keep all your files in sync
Use FolderShare to create a mirrored image of your most important folders - like your Favorites, Pictures, and Documents - so they're the same on all your computers.

Sharing files is easier than ever
Sharing with friends, co-workers, and family is easy when you add and update files in a shared library. Large files? Not a problem - FolderShare can sync files up to 2 GBs in size. And it works on both Mac and PC.

Get to your files instantly when you're away from home
Install FolderShare on all your computers, and you can access all your files from any computer on the Internet.

This service is quite obviously the predecessor of the Live Mesh folder sharing capability. I wonder if they'll keep both available separately as well going forward?

Related: Windows Live FolderShare team blog

Thanks to everyone that wrote in about this.

Discuss this Article 6

BrightrevCarl
on Apr 27, 2008
I haven't used Live Mesh, but the screenshots look more like Groove than FolderShare to me. Are you sure this is based on FolderShare and not Groove?
rickhuizinga
on Apr 27, 2008
I used FolderShare up until I started to use Live Mesh. For the simple purposes of performing folder sharing only, I like using Live Mesh more because it works better when using it to share my iTunes library. FolderShare had the habit of performing a temporary file lock on iTunes temporary download files which could prevent iTunes from moving the file upon completion of the download resulting in missing file in your iTunes library. After using Live Mesh for the past 3 days, it has not yet happened to me.
Adobaw
on Apr 27, 2008
I also used FolderShare friday when I started using Mesh. FolderShare is partially a predecessor to Mesh. visit liveside.net for reviews since they have been talking about livemesh for months.
jeffsters
on Apr 28, 2008
jeffsters
on Apr 28, 2008
BTW: This is a great example of what drives me insane: Live Mesh FolderShare SyncToy Does anyone have an overall responsibility to manage the software road map?
dstrack
on Apr 28, 2008
jeffsters - You're totally right... lots of overlap here. I think it most of these overlaps have to do with acquisitions. I think MSFT bought Foldershare a while ago and made it a free service. I'm sure they used some of that tech in Mesh too. I used FolderShare and SyncToy for quite some time... both are nice. I'm on to Live Mesh now and its definitely the winner. Nice stuff and if they follow thru it's gonna be great.

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