Dec
Surely more than once you have had complications sending or sharing a file that was too large and exceeded the limitations of free applications designed for this type of task.
With the intention of avoiding similar situations, BitTorrent Sync is born BitTorrent Syncdesigned by BitTorrent to offer a way to share files in an unlimited, fast and secure way.
Operation
BitTorrent Sync Beta is completely free and allows you to synchronize files between different devices or, selectively, share as many folders and files as you want with as many people as you need.
It works over a LAN network and it is necessary that all users who are going to use it have the software installed on their different devices (applications for Mac, PC, Linux, Android and iOS will be released soon). Perhaps this is the first difference with other platforms such as We Transfer, where you can directly access the file download without installing anything.
In addition to synchronizing selected folders, you can also choose a one-way transfer, so that changes in the destination folder do not affect the source folder.
The major difference between BitTorrent Sync and the popular Dropbox is that it abandons central servers and therefore the cloud, eliminating the problem of limited storage and reducing the cost of software development and marketing.
Security
Although BitTorrent is associated with piracy, the company wants to shake off this image and assures that its tool is a secure medium because files are only shared with authorized devices. In addition, they can be encrypted (AES encryption and a 256-bit key) with security keys that are generated automatically or manually.
Speed
If folders are being synchronized over a LAN network, file uploads should be very fast because they do not have to travel to a distant server. Even transferring to a remote location should be faster than with other platforms because we skip the central step before sending to the final destination.
Large production (and post-production) companies use platforms such as Aspera, Signiant or FileCatalyst to speed up transfers. All of them work with the UDP protocol, which is more efficient than FTP or HTTP because there are no significant overheads that slow down uploads.
BitTorrent can use UDP as a vehicle through the P2P protocol, offering higher data transfer speeds.
Additional functions
BitTorrent Sync can be a good tool for editors, producers and filmmakers in general to transfer files in high quality without compression. It would also be useful for keeping media and projects synchronized on different computers or sending final deliverables to a client.
At the moment ButTorrent Sync is completely free and everything points to the fact that when they come out of beta there will still be a free version. Even so, the development involves an investment, so there is also talk of premium features or applications for specific use that will be paid.
These services could include centralized storage options, administrative functions, integration with backup products, or the ability for an administrator to see how many people have access to a folder and who has downloaded it.
Other file sharing applications
Some of these functions are included in other platforms such as Dropbox, Google Drive or We Transfer.
Google Drive has a 15GB limitation that can be expanded for a fee and has apps for iOS and Android that allow you to edit documents and spreadsheets.
We Transfer offers a 7-day cloud storage of files limited to 2GB, being able to share music, video, photos and documents with up to 20 recipients. With a Plus account the storage is extended to 5GB.
Finally, Dropbox links several devices through a folder that can occupy from 2GB (in the free version) to 1TB (in the enterprise version). There are versions for Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry and iOS.
