Member Sign In
Not a member?

A Wired.com user account lets you create, edit and comment on Webmonkey articles. You will also be able to contribute to the Wired How-To Wiki and comment on news stories at Wired.com.


It's fast and free.

Sign in with OpenID
Sign In
Webmonkey is a property of Wired Digital.
processing...
Join Webmonkey
Please send me occasional e-mail updates about new features and special offers from Wired/Webmonkey.
Yes No
Please send occasional e-mail offers from Wired/Webmonkey affiliated web sites and publications, and carefully selected companies.
Yes No
I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to Webmonkey's User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
Webmonkey is a property of Wired Digital.
processing...

Retrieve Sign In

Please enter your e-mail address or username below. Your username and password will be sent to the e-mail address you provided us.

or
Webmonkey is a property of Wired Digital.
processing...

Welcome to Webmonkey

A private profile page has been created for you.
As a member of Webmonkey, you can now:
  • edit articles
  • add to the code library
  • design and write a tutorial
  • comment on any Webmonkey article
Close
Webmonkey is a property of Wired Digital.

Sign In Information Sent

An e-mail has been sent to the e-mail address registered in this account.
If you cannot find it in your in-box, please check your bulk or junk folders.
Sign In
Webmonkey is a property of Wired Digital.

Microsoft Sync Framework: Google Gears Meets Time Machine

By Scott Gilbertson November 5, 2007 Categories: Operating Systems, Software & Tools

windows.jpgMicrosoft has released an early preview of a new programming tool known as the Microsoft Sync Framework, which looks to be one part Google Gears, with on/offline sync capabilities, and one part Time Machine-like, OS-level syncing system.

According to the documentation, the Sync Framework will allow developers to take online services and databases offline. Microsoft says the framework can synchronize “any type of file including contacts, music, videos, images and settings.” The Sync Framework also includes “built-in support for synchronizing relational databases, NTFS/FAT file systems, Simple Sharing Extensions for RSS/ATOM, devices and web services.”

Microsoft rather boldly claims that Sync will support “any application, any type of data, using any protocol over any network.”

But reading through the description on the Microsoft download site, it would appear that the new framework goes somewhat beyond the scope of Google Gears and enables, in addition to the offline support, various collaboration and file syncing capabilities.

Among the scenarios Microsoft notes in the documentation are multi-master file sync between multiple PCs, synchronization between PCs using a USB Drive, taking a network share offline and maintaining a backup copy of files.

At the moment the Sync Framework only supports Windows Vista, XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 Service pack 3. It’s unclear whether Microsoft will expand that support in the future.

Microsoft has yet to release any details regarding a timeframe for the final release of Microsoft Sync Framework, though the developer preview is available for those interested in testing it.

[via ZDNet]

See Also:

Tags: Windows
Post Comment Comments Permalink Print
Reddit Digg
 
Subscribe now

Special Offer For Webmonkey Users

WIRED magazine:
The first word on how technology is changing our world.

Subscribe for just $10 a year