SugarSync (for Android)

For Android users seeking some of their own iCloud coverage, the latest version of SugarSync for Android (Free) delivers much of what Apple forecasts for iPhone users. The highlight of the update is AutoSync Photos, which does for Android what Photo Stream promises for iOS. But SugarSync isn't just for mobile photographers. As with iCloud, SugarSync delivers 5 gigabytes of cloud-based storage; however, SugarSync employs a more flexible DropBox (4 stars, Free) model with a higher storage cap (5 gigabytes as opposed to DropBox's 2 gigabytes). Some of SugarSync's goodies are hard time find, and others are hard to use, but for Android users looking for a more full-featured alternative to DropBox, SugarSync is a pretty sweet deal.

Getting in Sync
In order to test all the functionality of SugarSync for Android, I installed SugarSync File Manager on my MacBook Pro and uploaded some files from my desktop. It's worth noting that unlike DropBox, which creates a DropBox shortcut on your desktop, SugarSync lets you manually specify a folder (I pointed SugarSync to my DropBox backup). While the upload process took longer than DropBox, this flexibility may make SugarSync a more suitable option for some users.

Files, Sharing, and More
SugarSync has three main tabs?Files, Photos, and Shared?with three sections under Files: Quick Access, SugarSync Folders, and My Devices. I used Quick Access to find my most recently uploaded documents (Recent Documents). You'll probably rely on Recent Documents as you build a SugarSync library. When I tried to locate files manually in my DropBox folder through My Devices (MacBook Pro/Drop Box), I grew frustrated with the limitations of the mobile browser: SugarSync doesn't include a search field and only reveals 80 items at a time. I also noticed a noteworthy delay every time I tried to access a folder?even over Wi-Fi.

SugarSync includes a couple of other ways to get the most out of your cloud. Magic Briefcase works like DropBox, but across all your devices. Whatever you drop in your briefcase?be it via your Desktop application, Android app, or web browser?will appear here, irrespective of the device from which it was uploaded. SugarSync deserves credit for their impressive support: In addition to the Android app, Sugar Sync supports Mac, PC, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and even Symbian. I also liked the Web Archive feature, which functions a bit like Time Machine on the Mac, providing a versioned archive of your files. Finally, one feature that shouldn't be overlooked my memory-conscious smartphone users is the fact that you can use SugarSync to store and play music (I tested it with a couple of songs that I purchased from iTunes and it worked well, given a good Internet connection).

If you intend to use SugarSync for collaborative purposes, the Shared tab lets you see your files ("Owned By Me") and other people's files ("Shared With Me"). Because I tested from my desktop and Android phone, I didn't have access to other people's files, though I was able to see all of my uploaded files through the "Owned by Me" folder. From here I also had the option to either localize the files ("Download to this Device") or e-mail them to a friend ("Send"), though I'd love to see SugarSync add more sophisticated sharing options to the Android app.

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