Top 10 Reasons Sugarsync is Better than Dropbox

Have you heard of cloud storage? or real time syncing ? or even Dropbox? Great if you have heard of and use it. It is really convenient and useful tool for students like myself. I am using it everyday to synchronize files across my desktop and laptop. I also used it to backup my important documents. If you have never used cloud storage before you should start to try it today. Especially now SugarSync offers new registration which gives you 500MB bonus storage for free account.

What is cloud storage?
It is a service which allows you to upload the selected file to the cloud(internet) and allow you to access from any places, any devices. It basically replaces the needs of using USB drive or file sending via email. I found that it is one of the best productivity tool out there.
I would like to introduce Sugarsync to everyone else because I feel that it deserves some attention from the public. Sugarsync service is very much similar to Dropbox but it is way under-rated.

I prefer Sugarsync over Dropbox because it offers features which nowhere to be found in Dropbox. These features are reasons which make Sugarsync now my one and only syncing service I use. I will keep the features introduction dead simple.



Basic features of Sugarsync:

1. Backup your file in the cloud (with versioning which allow you to restore).
2. File syncing with multiple computer and also cross platform(phone, ipad or whatever).
3. File sharing with friend and family.
4. Auto photo album creation for uploaded photos.( which I feel unnecessary for me).

Better features of Sugarsync:

1. The most important one- Sugarsync allows you to sync any folder of your choice in your computer.(Dropbox only allows user to sync in one folder only- the Dropbox folder)
2. Share folder without forcing other member to lose spaces
3. Able to set read/write permissions for shared folder.
4. Upload files to Sugarsync by sending files to an email address.
5. Sugarsync is compatible with BlackBerry and Windows Mobile besides the famous iphone, Android.
6. Web archive which allows you to backup important data to the web only and not syncing to your computer. It means that you do not have to worry anything happen to your file in your computer will affect those in web arhive.
7. Simple editing of files through the web
8. Desktop software equipped with adequate functions which is neat to use.
9. 500MB storage bonus for each referral and unlimited bonus space until 12/31/2010 (Dropbox only has a stingy 250MB bonus and storage bonus limitation but people still keep promoting it. Come on guys ? something is wrong)
10. Better and more paid plans to be chosen for variety of users.

Cons as a free user:

1. Limitation of 2 computer syncing. (Okay for me as i only sync laptop with my desktop) Latest updates allow unlimited device syncing.
2. Only the last two  five versions of a file is saved. (Thanks to Drew G for reminding)

Sugarsync has a very huge funding and it stores more than 2 Petabyes(1,000,000 Gigabyes) of data as of the date of writing this articles. The service should be quite promising from what we can see. We can expect some constant development and growth of the service.

Editted 11/11/2010:
Now sugarsync offes 5.0GB space for free account!
You can now register to Sugarsync and get started with 2.5 5.5GB storage instead of 2.0 5.0 GB.

Windows 7 productivity tips : Mastering the jump lists

Jump lists is one of the new feature introduced in windows 7. It is one of my favourite features as it saves a lot of time once you get used to it. Every destination or application are just few clicks away after you master it.

Display more items on jump list
Before we go into those great shortcut that you able to do with jump list, lets check out some basic customization.

1. Right click the taskbar and click "properties"
2. Head to "Start menu" tab and then click the customize button.
3. At the very bottom of the window, you should be able to select your favourable amount of items in jump list.

Instant access to private browsing or bookmarks
Suddenly have the need to browse in private mode ? You don't need to open up a browser and find the button for private browsing. Jump list gives you instant access to open it up. Just right click the browser icon and click "new incognito window" for google chrome. Internet Explorer has this features as well, too bad firefox does not include this feature yet.

Pin outlook/document templates to taskbar
Good news for outlook users who have to email the same thing thousands times. In windows 7, you can create a template document in outlook/any other application and then drag it to the taskbar icon to pin it to the jump list. Then, whenever you need to use it, you can just right click on the taskbar icon to open it up. It will definitely save your time and boost productivity.

Pin folders and searches to the Taskbar
Ability to pin folders to the windows explorer is the biggest time-saver for me. Simply pin your most frequently use folder on the taskbar and right click to access it every time you need to use it. You will find that you save a lot of clicks. However, many people do not realilize you can actually pin a search result on taskbar.

1. Open up the windows 7 search and put in your keyword and drag the icon from the location bar to pin on windows explorer.

2. Next, you should have something similar to this in your windows explorer.

After reading this tips, explore yourselves to find a way you can adapt to use this short cut for your own benefit.

p/s: If you dislike to right click on taskbar icon to call up jump list every time, you can try to go to the taskbar icon, hold your left click and drag it upwards to call up jump list. This is one of the windows 7 gesture.