sync

Cubby out of beta, offers free 5GB accounts to all

Remember Cubby? It's the new file-syncing and -sharing service from LogMeIn (makers of my longtime favorite remote-access tool).

Cubby's been running a closed, invitation-only beta for some time, but I've got good news: now it's an open, no-invitation-required beta. That means anyone can sign up for a free Cubby account, which includes, among other things, 5GB of cloud storage.

But hold on a sec -- this isn't just another Dropbox wanna-be. For starters, the latter gives you only 2GB of free storage; Cubby gives you 5GB. And for each friend you refer who signs up, … Read more

E-mail bill raises privacy concerns

Tuesday's CNET Update is checking privacy settings:

There's an update to today's top story. Hours after CNET reported on a bill rewrite that would give warrantless access to American's e-mail, the senator behind the legislation has abandoned his controversial proposal.

Facebook gives automatic Photo Syncing on iOS a trial run

Some iOS Facebook mobile users may have noticed something different today -- the ability to automatically sync their photos from their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to the social network. According to TechCrunch, Facebook's Photo Syncing is currently being tested on iOS.

The feature, which automatically uploads images that users snap with their devices, is being given a trial run for a small number of users. These users should be able to take a photo and Facebook's Photo Syncing feature will automatically send the image to a private folder in the user's account. Those photos can then … Read more

Microsoft probes Windows Phone 8 reboot weirdness

Windows Phone 8 devices just started hitting the market, but a number of users are reporting spontaneous reboots and email-sync issues with various devices on different carriers.

I had not had any issues with my loaner HTC 8X Windows Phone 8 on AT&T, which I've been testing since October 29 -- until yesterday, that is. This morning, my email accounts, as well as my Microsoft Account, were stuck in an endless loop of continually trying to sync. This was not happening on my Windows Phone 7 device (an HTC Trophy on Verizon). My Windows Phone 8 device … Read more

Cloud storage services have their benefits and flaws

Tons of options exist for which cloud storage service to choose from. You've got Google Drive, Box, SugarSync, DropBox, Apple's iCloud, and more. A new report by tech support site FixYa, which sourced data from its 25 million users, studies which service best fits different customers' needs.

For starters, DropBox and Box users have security concerns as well as complaints of lagging response time, according to FixYa. This isn't a huge surprise considering DropBox was hacked in July and hundreds of users were sent spam e-mails about online casinos and gambling sites. However, users also say they … Read more

The 404 1,164: Where we've got free copies of Black Ops 2 (podcast)

The show title isn't just an SEO play, we actually have five copies of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 to give away on the system of your choice (Wii U, Xbox 360, or PS3). Just follow us on Twitter and tell us your best 404-related box art parody name--use this one as an example, and don't forget to use the hash tag #404COD!… Read more

Microsoft app syncs Windows 8, Windows Phone 8

Microsoft has released a Windows Phone 8 companion app for its new desktop operating systems, Windows 8 and Windows RT.

The app, apparently published just before Windows Phone 8 gets fully detailed on Monday, makes it possible to synchronise photos, videos and music between Microsoft's mobile and desktop devices.

According to the listing information, the app's functionality gets embedded in various Windows 8 features — for example, the user does not need to fire up the app in order to pull photos from their Windows Phone 8 device into their desktop Photos app.

Microsoft officially launched Windows 8 on … Read more

How to make ColorSync profiles stick in OS X

When you set up your displays in OS X, you have the option of selecting a ColorSync profile that will adjust the colors to match a specific color scheme and accurately display colors on your computer. If you have multiple monitors connected, it's recommended that you calibrate your displays to have colors appear consistent across them.

While the system should keep assigned ColorSync profiles associated with your display, there may be times when an incorrect profile is used. For instance, upon opening some applications, switching display settings, or changing your active GPU (i.e., from the internal graphics to … Read more

Back up and sync your Nokia phone with your Windows machine

Nokia PC Suite is a collection of tools that allows your Nokia handset to connect to your Windows machine and sync data, back up your phone's contents, push software updates to your phone, as well as share files between desktop and mobile phone. Supporting a long list of Nokia phones, Nokia PC Suite is easy to install and launch on your Windows machine.

The interface used by Nokia PC Suite is simple, using a set of icons to show different tasks. When a phone is connected, it appears with its status in the left pane of the software; the … Read more

Get a free 15GB cloud-storage account from 4Sync

Cloud-storage vendors are falling all over themselves to attract new customers.

Dropbox, by far the most popular, offers newcomers freebie accounts with 2GB of space. SugarSync raises the bar to 5GB, while Microsoft ponies up 7GB for its SkyDrive service.

If you're looking for even more cloud storage and want to keep your wallet closed, check out 4Sync. The company, just out of beta, currently offers 15GB of cloud storage free of charge.

True to its name, 4Sync promises to keep all your files in sync across all your devices: laptop, desktop, tablet, and smartphone. But unlike, say, Dropbox … Read more