MobileMe is Meshing With Me

While the great 3G iPhone did not lure me in and cause me to spend even more on a device I really need to use less, I was looking forward to the enhancements to MobileMe. All I should be saying is I can now backup most of my current pictures in the cloud...however, I will add that I have been greatly disappointed.

You can sync calendars...but only Outlook and iCal...even though I have iCal subscribing to my GMail calendar, it will not include that sync...And, of course, now that I moved from Outlook on our lone PC to Windows Live Mail, no consistent and supported calendar is available...So, no appointments made easy...

After successfully logging in to the MobileMe sync portion on the PC, an error occurred everytime I tried to activate a sync. After checking a few blogs and Apple's support site, the answer was simple..log in with all lowercase letters in your user name...I know, I know, it has been like that for a long time...if that is really known than why can you login in the first place...anyone? Anyone? Apple? OK, nevermind...move along, nothing see here...

Speaking of seeing, or rather syncing...You can sync emails...but there are days that the Mail.app is the only way to go...I am getting IMAP from Google on my Tilt and using my MacBook Air for complete functionality...

The storage...I am so happy that this was increased. I struggled with renewing this 6 months from now for $100...this helps...however, since the Air's harddrive is so small, many files are on the still on the PC or a network storage device. iDisk on the Air works well, drag and drop, how much easier can it get? On the PC, well, there is the web app and uploading multiple file is scary...and, you can forget about syncing...I know that you can add a network place and such, but for some reason it takes an incredibly long time to upload items...longer than other cloud uploads, especially compared to ftp.

So, what about the Meshing Me in the title? I am glad you asked...As you may be able to tell from previous posts, we move between platforms...So, Windows Live Mesh, while in public beta now, offers a meager 5GB, but hey, it is free. You can upload multiple files by a sync from a Windows machine...but, you guessed it, only one file at a time can be uploaded from the Mac...so far.

We are syncing basic folders on Mesh.com using our Live ID and accessing them on our mobile devices, Macs, and PC at home and on the road.

Lastly, the greatest thing that made me happy and my little tech world align is the ability to connect to the PC, drag and drop files between machines using only Windows Live Mesh. To get the full effects, right now, you have to use Internet Explorer and, yes, Windows..Mac and Mobile versions are on their way. So, whether we use the seamless VMWare Fusion running XP from the MacBook Air, or need to grab certain files while at the day job without violating corporate internet policies, Mesh links our worlds together through the cloud instead of being lost within it.

Neither MobileMe nor Mesh has everything our hybrid teams need. However, with both of them competing and growing, that iPhone or Tilt, Air or corporate PC, can be more connected with data available at a literal click...OK, a couple of clicks, but much easier than carrying around 20 floppies, an external drive, or a little keychain dongle that gets lost and washed...Good luck in connecting your worlds...enjoy...

Up, Up, and Hopefully Not Away...Full Cloud Computing - Are We Ready for It?

With the recent news of Microsoft Mesh and Albany, I have been wondering if we, as users are ready for cloud computing. In fact, when I first read and looked into the details, I began thinking about what would happen if there was an internet tornado and the little people that push the data around to the emerald city got caught in the mesh...wait, that could have been because I just watched Tin Man ...nice adpatation by the way...

However, really...are we ready to have: all of our devices work together?...all our data and applications available from anywhere?...the people we need to connect with just a few clicks away for sharing and collaborating?...our the information to stay up-to-date and always be available?...You bet you we are...Where has this been?

We have a home and a business network, but have to add on multiple applications and even more security measures to be able access things on the road. We have to purchase as many variations of software as we have computers. This can get costly and time consuming...not to mention crazy when everything needs to be updated all at once. We would like to purchase the newest version of Office for our business and home, but the economics don't always work out...so, we have re-installed an older version and accepted the short comings. We are looking forward to more of this cloud computing.

While some of you may say that you prefer to have programs and documents locally, that is fine...hopefully, the options will remain. However, considering how expensive the upgrade or new install of MS Office is and how time-demanding other options can be, I would enjoy spreading out the time and expense elsewhere. Please Microsoft, hurry, but make sure it works well...it can be difficult explaining another cunning data-sharing plan to our parents and grandparents...again...

To read a more thourough review of Mesh, Albany, and other Cloud Computing...please use the more versed resources:
Paul Thurott's Supersite for Windows
Paul's Albany Information
Microsoft's Mesh Screenshots
Microsoft's Mesh Blog