BitTorrent announced Sync 2.0 and the launch of a Pro version of the product back in November 2014 and has released the final version of BitTorrent Sync 2.0 to the public today.
If you used Sync before you are probably wondering what is changing in the new version. There is still a free version available that you can upgrade your existing version to, but there is also a pro version now that offers additional features.
If you never heard about Sync before, it is a file synchronization service that uses direct connections between your devices which means that no third-party is involved in the process.
If you plan to continue using the free version you may be affected negatively by the update as shares have been restricted to a maximum of ten folders.
You can synchronize as many files as you want and are not restricted file size or transfer speed wise just like before though.
Considering that most file synchronization services require all data to be stored in a single root folder, it is not as bad as it sounds even though some users of the software may be affected by the restriction.
Sync 2.0 Pro
The new BitTorrent Sync Pro is available for $39.99 per year per user offering several features on top of what the standard version of Sync 2.0 offers.
Free users get access to 30-days of Pro after which the account is downgraded to free again unless a license is purchased.
First, there is no folder limit in the Pro version which means that you can share as many folders as you want when you use it.
BitTorrent Sync 2.0 Pro ships with several core features in addition to what the free version of the file synchronization software has to offer.
- Folder ownership and permissions controls allow you to set permissions for specific contacts. You can give read and write access to a folder that is usually set to read only for example, make someone the owner of a folder or revoke user access.
- On-demand folder access. Instead of syncing all data right away for select folders, data is only synced when requested which saves storage space on devices where this is implemented without losing access to file and folder lists.
- Access to all shared folders from any device thanks to private identity support. This speeds up set up time on new devices as you can use the identity to add all folders in one go to the new device. You create a private identity on the first device you run Sync 2.0 on. The process is automated and you don’t have to enter any data to complete it.
Especially the third feature adds some new possibilities to BitTorrent Sync. The developers have added support for select NAS devices and if you combine that with private identities, you can create your own always-on “cloud” server for all of your files using it.
As far as NAS support is concerned, you may want to check out the following page on the official website for a list of supported devices. Brands currently supported include Netgear, Western Digital, Seagate, Synology and others.
Closing Words
The core features of Sync are still all available free of charge in version 2.0. You can still use it to sync files between as many devices as you like without third-party involvement and the addition of NAS support for all users makes this even better.
Sure, some users will dislike the new 10 folders limit and that is understandable as the limitation was not there before.
Businesses and enterprises get additional features they will most certainly welcome: from better permission and access controls to private identity support.