Live Mesh Mobile

Posted by:     Tags:      Posted date:  January 31, 2009  |  No comment


January 31, 2009


Without any fanfare or any promotion, Live Mesh for Windows Mobile went…Live.

 

For what seems like months, I’ve been trying to run my Mesh app on my Treo 800w only to be notified that I am not authorized to add a mobile device to my account. I was bemoaning this very thing in the JAGS forum just a few days ago. Just for grins and giggles, I tried this morning, and lo and behold “adding device to your Mesh” appeared. Needless to say I was beside myself with glee.

mesh01

The main screen is nothing exciting. The excitement is in its availability. Opening my Mesh account, I see the 3 folders I have in sync with my main laptop, along with a new folder Mobile Pictures.

 

Tapping on the Mobile Pictures folder takes me to My Pictures on my Treo. Of course, I typically don’t save media to my device, so there wasn’t much beyond the sample photos there. But it opens up some very nice options for syncing, backup, and that whole “cloud computing” thing in general.

meshoptions meshsettings

I can now add folders from my device to my Mesh to automatically sync. What folders and why? My Vehicle Manager data for starters. My eWallet data – it’s all encrypted, so even if my Mesh isn’t secure, the eWallet data is. I can even sync the folder with all my cab files for backup, in case I ever experience a catastrophic failure. And let’s not forget the most obvious – I can backup my backups!

meshfolder

There were only two things wrong with finally having Mesh as a standalone app on my device, and they are related. In order to see the contents of my Mesh folders on my mobile device, it takes me to the web. That is a disappointment, but one I can live with. I can go straight to the web to view contents – the sync features are what’s important. The other negative was that with Skyfire as my default mobile browser, mobile Mesh could not be located.

meshskyfire

Again, not a game changer, but a big disappointment. As we look forward to the release of Fenec (Firefox for Windows Mobile) and the availability of PIE 6 – it will be interesting to see how Mesh integrates.

 



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  • http://www.mobiletechaddicts.com Gareth

    I agree that the PIE involvment being essential is a bit of a burden (Works on Opera Mobile mind) but I’m using this day and daily. It’s also extremely simple to get to grips with, I’m surprised that some of my relatives have managed to use it.
    I’d recommend it to most, it can be a life saver.

  • http://justanothergeeksite.com Alli Flowers

    I have been really loving Live Mesh on my desktop(s) for several months. I’m thrilled about being able to sync my mobile!

  • http://www.j2i.net Joel Johnson

    This comment may be a little off subject since it has nothing to do with the mobile aspects of Mesh, but I’ve got mesh installed on my computer and my parent’s computers in addition to my phone. The thing I like about it is when my dad calls me with a computer problem I can use mesh to copy files to his computer and take control of his computer to install whatever he needs. (it is making for a nice interim solution until I get a VPN connection between his house and mine).

  • http://justanothergeeksite.com Alli Flowers

    That is a great feature of Mesh, Joel! I actually mentioned that part on this week’s msmobile’s podcast. I log onto my home computer regularly from school. Makes it extra convenient to have access to everything that way!

  • http://occamsrazr.com Ike

    I still get failures to add my device.

  • http://justanothergeeksite.com Alli Flowers

    You mean I’m special? Woohoo! I figured I wasn’t, and that if I was able to add my device then so was everyone. Thanks for making my weekend, Ike!