SugarSync 2.0 announced; brings new features, a new user interface and is currently available in beta form

SugarSync version 2.0 has been officially announced. The new software, which is available for the desktop, web and Android is arriving today (November 13) in beta form. Those who happen to be existing SugarSync users and curious about getting the latest release — we have some good news. SugarSync 2.0 is available for download and can be found at www.sugarsync.com/beta. And for those who are not yet SugarSync users, the 2.0 release seems like as good a time as any to get started. Personally, I have been a long time user and never hesitate to offer a recommendation.

Some of the new features and changes that are being touted with SugarSync 2.0 include the following;

• Completely new user interface design and structure for more efficient use
• New search functionality enables complete search of all folders on all your devices
• Intuitive drag-and-drop sharing to your contacts or to social media sites, giving users the fastest and easiest way to share and collaborate

Other goodies include having a cloud that is social, a cloud that is searchable and a cloud that doesn’t box you in. Breaking each of these down a bit further and we have the following. Beginning first with the social aspect and you will find drag and drop sharing. This means that you can drag a file or folder to the contact you want to share with and drop it. From that point, the user will get a link to the file. There is also sharing over social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Next up, the searchable cloud. This one should be good for those with larger (or messier) SugarSync clouds. The search is simple, it will allow you to search all of your files — including all of your folders. The search will also include any files that have been shared with you from others.

Moving over to the cloud not boxing you in. This means that you will be able to sync any amount of files and folders. You can even have SugarSync sync and backup your actual desktop. I do that and cannot tell you how many times it has come in handy. Basically, this means you can use SugarSync as a true backup. For example, I sync my files and folders in a format that is the same as I have them setup on my notebook. This means that when I access SugarSync on the web, or on another device, the files and folders are all as I would find on my notebook.

That all being said, SugarSync 2.0 is available for the desktop and web today. These releases are considered public beta and are available for Windows and Mac. SugarSync 2.0 Beta for Android is also available for download today and can be found by navigating to the www.sugarsync.com/beta site.

Otherwise, SugarSync 2.0 for iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian are coming soon. These existing mobile apps (despite not being a 2.0 release) will still work if you upgrade your desktop to version 2.0. The folks at SugarSync have also promised that a Windows Phone app is coming soon.

Finally, new SugarSync users can get a free account with 5GB of storage and there is always the option to pay for additional.

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Keep reading to check out the full press release…

SugarSync Merges Power and Simplicity with Launch of SugarSync 2.0

The Highest Rated Cloud Service Gets Elegant New Design, New Features, and Becomes Simplest Cloud to Use
• Completely new user interface design and structure for more efficient use
• New search functionality enables complete search of all folders on all your devices
• Intuitive drag-and-drop sharing to your contacts or to social media sites, giving users the fastest and easiest way to share and collaborate

SAN MATEO, CALIF., November 13, 2012 – SugarSync, a premium service that lets you access, sync and share all of your files and folders across all your computers and mobile devices, today announced the public beta launch of SugarSync 2.0 – a completely redesigned and revamped version of its award-winning Cloud service. The new SugarSync 2.0 desktop, Web and Android apps are available for download now at www.sugarsync.com/beta.

“As more non-technical users incorporate the Cloud into their everyday life, we’ve made a point to work with our customers and understand what they really need. As a result, we went back to the drawing board and redesigned SugarSync from the ground up,” said Laura Yecies, CEO of SugarSync. “And while we have drastically simplified the use of the Cloud with SugarSync 2.0, we have kept all the unique power and functionality our existing users love – while also introducing even more powerful new features such as more flexible sharing and integrated search that users have been requesting, as well as an industry-first Cloud drive called “SugarSync Drive” that enables access to Cloud data right from your file system.”

Your Cloud. Your Way.

As the highest rated Cloud service, SugarSync remains committed to the features and functionality that have earned the company this status. SugarSync will continue to be the only leading Cloud service that doesn’t limit you to a single syncing folder. SugarSync will also still continue to support all platforms, including PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, Blackberry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile (with Windows Phone coming soon). And with SugarSync 2.0, the company has taken all the powerful features you love and merged them with a completely new design that makes it all even easier for anyone to use.

The new SugarSync design makes it even simpler to access, sync and share all of your digital stuff no matter where or how you are working – whether on your computer, mobile device, accessing via a Web browser, or wherever. SugarSync 2.0 also introduces the new “SugarSync Drive” capability, where users can see their entire SugarSync Cloud right in their file system. Setup is simpler than ever – just select what you want in the Cloud, and SugarSync takes care of the rest. No technical expertise required.

Your Cloud is Social.

Most Cloud services today, including SugarSync, make it easy to share large files and folders by simply sharing a link instead of a large file attachment. But for some, the process of generating that link is not intuitive. With SugarSync 2.0, the company is introducing simple drag-and-drop sharing. Just drag the file or folder that you want to share onto the contact that you want to share with. And if a folder that you’re sharing is not already in the Cloud, SugarSync will automatically upload it and make it ready to share. Want to share a file with your social media contacts on Facebook or Twitter? SugarSync has that covered, too. It really couldn’t be simpler.

Your Cloud is Big. And Now It’s Searchable.

SugarSync is often recognized as the best cloud solution, but it’s not the biggest (yet). And while other Cloud providers might want you to use only their service, SugarSync isn’t the jealous type, and understands that you might be using multiple Cloud services. But unlike every other Cloud service that requires you to put all your folders into one special Cloud folder/box, SugarSync lets you sync as many folders as you want.

We know that the more devices you use and the more you put in the Cloud, the tougher it can be to navigate. And many of you have been requesting a search feature to help you quickly find any file or folder in your Cloud. We heard you, and now with SugarSync 2.0 we’ve added powerful search functionality, so you can easily search all your folders and all of your data on all your computers and devices. You can even search all of the content that other people have shared with you, too. SugarSync just turned your big, unruly Cloud into something you can actually navigate and use.

Your Cloud Doesn’t Box You In.

SugarSync has never, and will never, box you in to a single folder. When other Cloud services make you move everything into a single folder, you forget to add important stuff to the Cloud, you forget where you saved things last, and you constantly doubt whether you’ll have access to important files. SugarSync lets you select any and all of your folders – even your general desktop – and it automatically and continuously syncs all your stuff, giving you the peace of mind that you’ll have what you need, when you need it.

SugarSync has repeatedly been recognized as the most powerful Cloud syncing service both by media – via their head-to-head reviews of SugarSync and the competition – as well by large global partners such as Samsung, Lenovo, Fujitsu, SanDisk, France Telecom-Orange, Korea Telecom, SoftBank and more who have selected SugarSync over the competition. And while millions of users in over 120 countries currently use SugarSync, the company realizes that there are hundreds of millions of people worldwide who still do not use any Cloud sync service.

“Adoption of file access, sync and share personal cloud services accelerated in the past two years. In 2010, 9% of US online adults were using file, media, and information syncing services; by 2012, 15% were using a file storage service for syncing and/or web access, which is two thirds increase in just two years,” according to a July 2012 commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of SugarSync: Personal Cloud Services Emerge To Orchestrate Our Mobile Computing Lives.

“While the Cloud has gained massive popularity over the past few years, the overall adoption of Cloud sync services has only reached 15% worldwide, meaning today’s Cloud services – such as SugarSync – have an incredible amount of growth opportunity ahead,” said Laura Yecies, CEO of SugarSync. “We don’t just want to be the best Cloud service – we want to be the best Cloud service that people are actually able to integrate into their day-to-day lives. We want to be your Cloud, which is why we work the way you work.”

Availability
The new SugarSync 2.0 desktop and Web apps are now available in public beta, and can be downloaded today for Windows and Mac. The new SugarSync 2.0 for Android app is also available today, and can be downloaded from the SugarSync 2.0 Beta page. Redesigned SugarSync 2.0 mobile apps for all other mobile platforms (iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian) will be coming soon, but the current SugarSync mobile apps will continue to work with the SugarSync 2.0 Web and desktop apps. New users get 5GB of storage for free, and can earn up to 32GB by referring other free users (you get 500MB for each new free user you refer). You can earn unlimited free storage by referring paid users, as SugarSync offers 10GB of additional storage – with no limit – for each new paid subscriber you refer.

About SugarSync
SugarSync is a free service that helps you sync your life. With SugarSync you can backup, sync and share all of your documents, photos, music and movies so that you can access them from your laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, or any other device. SugarSync puts all your stuff at your fingertips from any other computer or mobile device, enabling you to do more with your stuff while on the go.

Launched in 2008 and based in San Mateo, CA, SugarSync currently has millions of users worldwide in over 120 countries. Brands such as Samsung, Lenovo, Fujitsu, SanDisk, France Telecom-Orange, Korea Telecom, SoftBank Mobile, Best Buy and more have selected SugarSync as a partner to bring Cloud services to their customers. For more information, please visit www.SugarSync.com, follow us on Twitter @sugarsync (http://twitter.com/SugarSync) or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SugarSync.