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Digital Content Synchronization for Ultra-Mobile PCs

Introduction
The Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) platform was designed as a PC companion for today's media-driven, on the go consumer/prosumer. It allows users to surf the Internet, check e-mail, and enjoy their favorite digital media content virtually anytime, anywhere. The UMPC combines the power of Windows® XP with mobile-ready technologies that make it easy to access and use full versions of Microsoft® Office, Internet Explorer, and other Windows-compatible applications on the go - enabling users to communicate, accomplish tasks, and stay entertained and informed wherever life takes them.

Although the Ultra-Mobile PC brings many benefits to mobile users, its "PC companion" design makes the need for comprehensive, yet easy-to-use synchronization between the UMPC and a home/office PC essential. UltraSync™ software from imagine LAN, Inc. satisfies the sync needs of the UMPC user by combining several categories of synchronization (files, email, browser settings) into a single, easy-to-use application.

Overview of UltraSync
UltraSync v1 is a peer-to-peer, bi-directional PC synchronization application for synchronizing files, folders, Outlook® email, and Internet favorites between an Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) and a desktop or notebook PC ("partner PC") via wired or wireless LAN. UltraSync is profile-based, allowing users to select the specific files and folders to be synced. Folder selections can be filtered by age, file type and the inclusion/exclusion of subfolders. Additionally, users can sync their Outlook folders and browser favorites.


(view additional skin options)

Product Features
  • File/Folder sync
  • Outlook folder sync (messages, contacts, calendar, tasks, etc.)
  • Browser favorites sync
  • Sync Selection Profile Editor
  • Deletion Tracking
  • Overwritten/Deleted file recovery
  • AutoSync (automatically start sync process when UMPC and partner PC are connected via wired/wireless LAN)
  • Skin Selector (decorative skin selection for the UltraSync UI)

    How Does UltraSync Work?
    During the initial execution of UltraSync on the UMPC, the user is presented with a simple 3-step process that:
    1. identifies the "partner PC" that will be synced with the UMPC
    2. installs the corresponding sync software on the partner PC (OEM options include full license or a 30-day trial version)
    3. and starts a service on both the UMPC and the partner PC that will enable peer-to-peer synchronization of the two systems over a wired or wireless LAN.

    Note: The UltraSync "partner PC" installation/setup process requires an UltraSync folder to be temporarily shared. Once the partner installation/setup is completed, the UltraSync folder may then be un-shared. The synchronization process does not use folder/file sharing, rather, it employs TCP/IP sockets for data transfer.

    UltraSync will synchronize the specified digital content of both the UMPC and partner PC, such as folders or individual files specified by the user, the Outlook .PST files of the Outlook default profiles, and IE browser favorites. UltraSync provides a Sync Selection Wizard that enables the user to customize a sync profile, which contains specific user-selected files and filtered folders. Users may also enable/disable email and favorites synchronization, and enable/disable AutoSync. Lastly, users may select the option to retain copies of files that have been overwritten or deleted during the synchronization process.

    Synchronization can be initiated by the user by clicking the Sync icon on the UltraSync UI. During the sync process the UltraSync software will:
  • Read the current Sync Selection profile
  • Contact the partner PC via TCP/IP sockets (LAN connection required)
  • Compare items on both systems (per the Sync Selection profile) and determine differences.
  • Copy and delete items on both the UMPC and partner PC as necessary to achieve synchronization
  • Copy overwritten and deleted files to the backup storage location on each system (if the user elects to retain copies).

    AutoSync Option
    Users may enable the AutoSync option from the Settings Menu. When enabled, AutoSync monitors the connection of the UMPC to the LAN and automatically initiates the sync process upon each reconnection of the UMPC to the LAN, and at a user-configurable time interval. If the systems are successfully connected, UltraSync will proceed silently with the sync and notify the user when the sync is completed.

    Synchronizing Deletions
    UltraSync tracks items specified in the Sync Selection profile and identifies files/folders that have been deleted on the UMPC and files/folders that have been deleted on the partner PC. During the sync process, files/folders that were deleted (since the previous sync) on one system will also be deleted on the other system.

    If Outlook sync is enabled, items deleted in Outlook on one system will also be deleted on the other system.

    Requirements
    The following hardware and software requirements are necessary to use this software:

    Operating System:
    Windows XP Home, XP Pro, or XP Tablet PC Edition with Service Pack 2 or later installed. Support for Vista will be available in late Q4 2006.

    Applications:
    Outlook 2003 (for Outlook .PST sync)
    Internet Explorer 6 or later (for IE favorites sync)

    Hardware:
    35 MB of free disk space is recommended

    Network Requirements:
  • The UMPC and the partner PC must be accessible to each other via a wired or wireless LAN.
  • When using a personal firewall, users must ensure that the firewall is configured to allow UltraSync traffic when prompted to do so by the firewall, or configure the firewall to open TCP port 22040 to allow UltraSync synchronization.
  • UltraSync v1 does not work over WWAN networks.

    Other Requirements
  • Matching user accounts on UMPC and partner PC for My Documents and IE Favorites sync
  • Admin rights account logged on (both UMPC and partner PC) during initial execution of UltraSync and partner PC setup process.

    Availability
    The retail version of UltraSync is available now for trial/purchase from imagine LAN. To download a 14-day trial of UltraSync click here.

    An OEM version of UltraSync is available on select UMPC models. For information about OEM versions, contact Jan Olsen.

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