Microsoft Tahiti gets new name, goes open beta

Microsoft's Tahiti project (not to be confused with the forthcoming Fiji update for Vista), has been given a new name this morning. Now known as SharedView, the 3MB download is available to anyone who wants it, assuming they've got a Windows Live ID, a Windows PC, and collaborators willing to install it.

It's a little early for a hands-on with SharedView, but it feels polished for a work in progress. Here are my impressions so far:

• Sending invites to join SharedView is fairly simple, although Microsoft assumes you're using their services, including Windows Live Hotmail and Live Messenger. If not, SharedView provides you with an 8-digit code that can be passed to anyone else who wants to join. I'd like to see a more open-source approach here, perhaps a built-in e-mail tool instead of it jettisoning you out to Hotmail.

• Group size is pretty generous for a free tool. Groups can have up to 15 participants in a session, and share related meeting files, which Microsoft calls "handouts." The total storage for these shared files is capped at 100MB. Microsoft is also a little lenient on individual file sizes, as I was able to upload an 80MB video file without a problem.

• Swapping between windows and screens you want to share is intuitive. You can also see a preview of what other people are seeing in a tiny window. Very cool.
  
  

  More as this application develops. I like what I see already, although the lack of text or voice chat keeps it from competing with some of the more serious players, including Microsoft's own Office Live Meeting.

  Previous SharedView coverage here.

  [via Download Squad via Digital Inspiration]

[xxdesmusxx]

stupid question

This is probably a stupid question (and I haven't downloaded it just yet), but isn't this just like Groove? It sounds like (from your description) that you create shared workspaces with shared documents to collaborate. Maybe I am missing something unique about this app.

[Josh.Lowensohn]

Yes it is similar

There are no stupid questions here.

To answer yours, it's quite similar to Groove, although stripped down a little. For example, Groove lets you share larger files, and save sessions for later use. It's also aimed at small business teams or groups. SharedView seems aimed at consumers or casual users who want to screen or application share with others.

[Majh N That]

A Lot Like AllPeers in Firefox

Don't know about Groove but it sounds an awful lot like AllPeers, an add-on for the Firefox browser. It does File sharing and Instant Chat from with the Firefox browser and it's still under development.
For more info go to www.allpeers.com but remember it is for Firefox.
Looks like the M$ machine is trying to catch up-again!