synchronization

Atomic clock tool

Chronos Atomic Clock Synchronizer is a small utility that synchronizes your Windows system's internal clock with online time servers that use ultra-accurate atomic clocks. Yes, Windows already does that; Chronos adds flexibility and displays more information, such as latency and correction in fractions of a second. Best of all, you can specify a connecting interval instead of relying on Windows' unspecified "scheduled basis." By querying multiple clocks simultaneously, it returns the most accurate average of the current time.

Chronos has a small but attractively colored interface with a list of Time Servers as well as their latency … Read more

A Kwik way to manage media

Nero Kwik Media is a light and free media manager with which you can organize, edit, and share your music, photos, videos, and data. Imagine iTunes and iPhoto rolled into one, then trimmed in half. While this download is technically "free," there is one caveat: you'll have to purchase some of its functionality in the form of "apps" listed in Nero's built-in store. Sure, most of these add-ons aren't too expensive, but it's a shame that a few of them (like Nero Kwik Play, a video decoder) don't come with the … Read more

More Windows 8 leaks reveal cloud syncing

More details about Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 have apparently leaked onto the Web, revealing new surprises and some makeovers to existing features.

A greater peek into the next version of Windows is coming from Windows 8 Milestone 1, also known as Build 7850, which started popping up at various FTP and file-sharing sites last week. This build was released to Microsoft partners late last year. Milestone 2 has since been released, while Milestone 3 has reportedly been compiled. But combined with details from more recent builds, Windows users can get a glimpse into what the future may hold.

One … Read more

Hard-drive carbon copy--without the mess

Carbon Copy Cloner is a simple, donation-ware utility for cloning entire drives, performing incremental backups, and scheduling ongoing backups. This app has a long track record as one of the most useful and reliable disk utilities available, and its interface and features (especially for scheduling) have only gotten better. Its also kept up with the Mac OS, adding support for HFS+ filesystem compression. Other recent updates have integrated support and documentation into the app better, speeded up recovery of files from damaged volumes, and ensured that Carbon Copy Cloner excludes the Time Machine database.

Carbon Copy Cloner makes it very … Read more

Carbon copies

Syncing folders can be a very useful activity, whether you're backing up important documents or keeping what's on a portable device, like a USB drive, synced up with what's on your computer. Carbon Folder is a simple utility that makes regularly syncing folders a piece of cake.

The program's interface is plain and extremely easy to navigate, as the whole thing is really just a wizard that walks you through the syncing process. Users choose the two folders they want to sync and then select whether they want to sync in both directions, or just from … Read more

A syncing feeling

Any time you start moving files around--back and forth between a thumb drive and a computer, for example, or between two computers--you run the risk of something getting duplicated or left behind. Moleskinsoft File Sync is an easy way to compare and sync folders to ensure that your files are exactly where they need to be. We've seen syncing utilities with more features, but this one works just fine for basic syncing.

The program's interface is plain and intuitive. We liked the fact that users can create and save particular tasks, allowing them to easily compare and sync … Read more

Sync up your drives daily

ChronoSync is a syncing and backup utility with high-powered features underneath a novice-friendly interface. Along with the ChronoAgent companion app, it's especially useful for anyone trying to sync folders and files between multiple computers.

At its most basic, ChronoSync lets you pick a target disk, folder, or file that you want to back up--the "left target" in ChronoSync's visual, left-right interface--and then another disk, folder, or file where you want the new backup located (the "right target"). But ChronoSync doesn't stop there: you can easily swap directions, do a "blind" backup (… Read more

Apple rejects Wi-Fi sync app

To paraphrase the Soup Nazi: No Wi-Fi sync for you!

A couple of weeks ago we brought you the tantalizing news of an app called, simply enough, Wi-Fi Sync. Its promise: to wirelessly sync your iPhone, iPod, or iPad.

Late Thursday I received word from developer Greg Hughes on the app's sad (but not entirely unexpected) fate:

Wi-Fi Sync was rejected by Apple, and will therefore not appear on the official App Store. I'm obviously disappointed by their decision, but being a student I have neither the time nor the resources to pursue the matter further. It's … Read more

Net syncer

Dillobits' SNTP Service is a full-featured Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) synchronization application for 32-bit versions of Windows, including XP, Vista, and Server 2008. It can maintain network time synchronization and services for a single Windows PC or a large network from the Administrator's desktop. It includes complete SNTP client/server capabilities and offers many extras for advanced users, such as support for multiple time severs, built-in Denial Of Service attack resistance, and advanced logging.

SNTP Service's main interface is a small and efficient control panel applet that gives the administrator the ability to remotely configure, update, monitor, … Read more