mikefisher.org

I blogged before about FolderShare and BeInSync, which are synchronization programs. BeInSync was a great program but last I checked you had to pay for it. FolderShare worked really well most of the time but every once in awhile I discovered it wasn’t syncing. Several times I had to reinstall it to get it working again. Besides I had to have it installed on both desktops on my network and I am suspicious it was buggy because it synced over a wireless connection. Plus FolderShare runs over the Internet so basically your data travels to the Lord knows where and back through the servers of the evil Microsoft! So I went to using SyncToy which is a very nice lightweight program that syncs folders both ways. I scheduled it to run every night and it worked flawlessly. But I still wouldn’t have minded running a sync program that runs in real time as changes are made.

This month’s PC Mag featured 157 of the best free apps. Under backup/sync they featured Allway Sync. It can be set to do automatic synchronization at desired intervals (as often as every three minutes) and can be installed on one computer on the network, keeping specified folders across the network in sync. It runs on the network, not through an Internet server like FolderShare does. I installed it and it ran through 25+ GB of data in only a few minutes. I was impressed with the speed. It looks like it is a pretty big memory hog at 45MB although who cares now that I am running a Core2 Duo/2GB RAM?!

http://www.allwaysync.com/

Awhile ago the Internet was all atwitter because Microsoft was giving away free copies of Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Office, and other expensive software in exchange for participation in the Windows feedback program.  Well so many people were willing to let Microsoft spy on them that the supplies designated for the program were exhausted in a matter of days (hours?).  I was able to sign up before this happened and the other day I got this nice email from Microsoft:

Thank you for participating in the Windows Feedback Program! 

This message is to notify you that you are a registered member of the program, and so far you have met all requirements to qualify for the free product offer. Congratulations!
As a reminder, when you registered for the program, we stated that you will receive your product only after we have confirmed that you have:

·        Entered a valid e-mail and shipping address.

·        Fully completed the survey.

·        Downloaded and installed the software on Windows Vista or XP.

·        Used our software for at least 3 months on a Windows Vista or XP computer that is periodically connected to the Internet.

As part of the registration process, we indicated that if we detect your computer not to be sending data, you would be notified accordingly.

We are currently receiving data from your PC on a frequent basis, and as soon as you complete the 3 months participation term, your free product selection will be sent to the mailing address you submitted at registration.

Your product selection:

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit DVD)

Now I have to decide whether I want to use it or sell it.

Today Librivox.org released G.K. Chesterton’s Heretics. Listen to it free or read it on Google Book Search. Christianaudio.com’s free download of the month is R.A. Torrey’s How to Pray. Lots of good stuff.