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First Looks at Microsoft's New "Live Mesh" Platform
technirvana writes "Microsoft's Live Mesh service launched today as an invite-only 'technology preview.' It is Microsoft's attempt to tie all of our data together. Live Mesh synchronizes data across multiple devices (currently just Windows computers, but theoretically it will extend to mobile and other devices in the future) as well as to a web desktop that exists in the cloud. It can sync data across devices used by a single users, as well as create shared spaces for multiple users." And since it's run by Microsoft, you know you can trust it.
"you know you can trust it" Yeah, I'm gonna trust it in about the same fashion.
Trust a company that demands the right to delete any file they suspect of violating copyright? No thanks, not on any machine much less as a sync service to ruin other OS.
So they "invented" something like .mac by Apple, right? The latter is of course being overpriced and lacking compelling reasons to subscribe, but still, you can access your Mac from anywhere, it offers email, storage etc.
So, anything new here?
Its an interesting idea, the limitations of synctoy are quite apparent. There is no reason why backup should be a separate operation these days it should all be automatic. Be nicer when they support mac as well.
Looking for an Information Security student project suggestion?
Try http://dotcrimeManifesto.com/
And, looking at the operating system installed base, as well as the most popular web browser, as well as the most popular Office suite... everyone seems to be in agreement!
nt
Running with Linux for over 20 years!
...w/r/t the syncing of data across multiple machines.
Being able to keep my contacts, calendar, bookmarks, etc synced effortlessly on my multiple Macs has been worth $99/year to me.
And for the first people fired for "uploading" their porn collection to their workstations at their jobs.
Am I the only one who thinks of the movie Antitrust when I hear this? I wonder if Microsoft bumped off a few OSS developers to get the code for Synap-- err... I mean... Live Mesh? And now that I think about it, is my wife really my wife or actually a Microsoft spy? Hmm.... /insert paranoia and tinfoil hats
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
If it's M$, it's crap!
Can't believe I got there first with the common pejorative. If their music sync skill is any indication....
Invenio via vel creo
Sounds like a great idea. Now when Windows inevitably crashes it will lock down ALL your data; not just one device. Not to mention the inherent security quality so common in Microsoft products.
The Long Now Foundation
MS needs to fire the marketingdroid they have working out the names of things.
From the people who brought you "squirt" as a verb, now you have "mesh". A word that most people immediately associate with the word "trap".
I suspect the marketingdroid may be a saboteur.
Until they decide to close down the service because it isn't viable for whatever reason. Read a previous article where MS is shutting down their music store servers.
Another example of their take-the-money-and-run attitude. Thanks, but no thanks.
It will only work with Windows Mobile devices. Compatibility with any other OS is strictly prohibited by military MSFT doctrine.
This mesh won't work with generic phones, Linux phones, the iPhone, or any one else. Remember it took the EU years in court and a billion dollar fine to just get MSFT to release Networking Protocols.
*note some sarcasm was used above, if you can not detect it your sarcasm meter is broken, or running windows and constantly pegged*
i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
Despite the source, this could be a great tool for people if implemented correctly (and free). I already find myself using addons for firefox like FoxMarks to synchronize myself across several desktops/OS`. If this had even limited cross-platform support, or an open-API I'd imagine it could go pretty far.
With Microsoft Security approach Mesh means security holes all around.
"And since it's run by Microsoft, you know you can trust it."
I wonder if we'd get that comment if it were a Google service. Can we trust Google any more than Microsoft? Around here it sure seems like Google gets a free pass on everything and can do no wrong...
I'll be looking forward to Google's version of it.
... until they turn the servers off. Yesterday's PlaysForSure debacle comes to mind.
"And since it's run by Microsoft, you know you can trust it."
Um, isn't it Google's slashdot favorite GMail service that has had "trust" problems, including whole email accounts deleted, entire message boxes erased (unrecoverably), and multiple security flaws allowing bad guys to hack into people's accounts?
GMail has been very untrustworthy (compared to Live/Hotmail and Yahoo).
Microsoft has tried this before, and the industry already told them "Go away, Microsoft. We don't want HailStorm acting as the official Microsoft Big Brother of our technology lives."
Tired of FB/Google censorship? Visit UNCENSORED!
Live Mesh synchronizes data across multiple devices (currently just Windows computers, but theoretically it will extend to mobile and other devices in the future) as well as to a web desktop that exists in the cloud.
Extend to other devices? Unless they're running Windows Mobile, pull the other one.
To my mind, this is an attempt to create a killer app which will tie everyone to Windows for another 5-10 years much like "I want shared calendars in Outlook and I'm prepared to pay a lot of money to get it" has tied businesses to Exchange for so long.
"It's not whether you win or lose, it's how drunk you get." -- H. J. Simpson
Sounds like another Microsoft poorly implemented technology initiative based around a marketing campaign.
So I'm guessing activesync is going to be abandoned in the future for Live Mesh in terms of mobile devices? I never personally used activesync but I wonder if LM will absorb its responsibilities, and compatibilities. As long as there is no phoning home, I can see this having some good applications, but skepticism is always healthy.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. indymedia
I find it obscurely funny that the servers doing much of this demo are msbluelight -- the new technology that belongs on the back shelves of K-Mart.
Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
Just for that snide remark, you get to provide Ballmer with some chairs...
Chas - The one, the only.
THANK GOD!!!
Sorry for posting this again, but:
Try PowerFolder. It's a mature alternative:
* The software works since 2003
* It gets actively developed
* It's open source - a free Basic client is available
* There is a commercial Pro client with advanced security and connectivity features and 5 GB Online backup space
http://www.powerfolder.com/
Best regards,
Christian
Plus, from the look of the website, they stole all the icons from KDE.
What the shit? Which slashdot department is this from? I don't know which bias I should read this story with now...
Firstly to things:
1. I can't see the demo's, why? Apparently to "install Microsoft Silverlight to have a 'better' experience"... So no experience at all then.
2. I just must have a "Windows Live" account to sign in.
If these two small examples of Microsoft hubris, lock-in and lack of anything resembling open standards are to go by, then, no. No I shall not be partaking in their oh so, 'Wow' experience.
Microsoft approach problems from the top down;
For Microsoft cracking a nut involves copying competitors products and making sure only those with Microsoft brand gloves can use the resulting nutcracker. And again with the naming,
Microsoft announced today that the Live Mesh servers are going dark on June 1. Any data that users stored in the Opens Fo' So' Live Mesh format will no longer be accessable. Microsoft would like to remind its customers that its users should begin printing and re-keying any important documents before the g-dark date.
[an error occurred while processing this sig]
If one drops the naively simplistic "MS bad, Google/Apple good" view, then it is harder to feel a sense of unity, because there is no real enemy out there. People, especially groups, need an enemy just as much as they need a force that can be considered a 'good guy.' Otherwise, it'd force people to admit that reality is far more complicated and they'd have to possibly even think a little bit before posting stupid memes to get bonus points that mean absolutely nothing.
Once we move to a more utilitarian, level-headed analysis of available tools and how they fit various needs, we will be more able to have a reasonable discussion. So long as we deify the makers of tools and feel slighted when something comes out that doesn't praise them, we'll be unable to have reasonable discussions. Currently, it seems more like users need to root for whatever toolset they use as if it was the local baseball team.
I wonder how much they paid for mesh.com? Can't see what it used to be on archive.org, but I bet the previous owners wish they could have charged 100x more for it...
Now that everybody is pre-bought it should only take a week or 2.
To avoid any Microsoft product with the term "Live!" in the title?
Sure, actually, you should avoid all MS products, period. But especially the "Live!" Products. There's like... 200 of them on Wikipedia, and I've heard of maybe 10.
WhiteWolf666 an exBush supporter. All you new-school,compassionate,save the children Republicans can rot in hell
And since it's run by Microsoft, you know you can trust it. ...and the rest of the Slashdot staff for telling us how to think. I was afraid I was going to have to RTFA but that little quip at the end spared me from having to do anything other then clear away some space in front of my leg so I don't stub my toe.
"And since it's run by Microsoft, you know you can trust it." Clearly we should all feel more trusting of Google I'm sure, right? The double standard is kind of a joke.
when will people realize that MS is no longer the 'evil empire' it used to be? ... Why do people feel they can trust google and apple and not microsoft? They all have the same end goal...
Although they might both be businesses, they don't share the same value system or skillsets. Microsoft has institutionalized their LACK of integrity (lying, broken promises, deception, no sense of collaboration or appreciation of real genuine industry standards) and selfish control-freaky aggression into their DNA, and Microsoft has proven themselves technically incompetent and thus not earned trust.
You're probably right. I'll change my mind now that an anonymous coward has admits a company used to be an 'evil empire'... but now anonymously says it isn't. You're right, you're right, as for Microsoft we both love this company!.
An excellent, up and coming alternative to this is Dropbox. Currently in beta, so you have to register for an invite. But it works on Windows, Mac and (in a few weeks time) Linux.
I've been testing it for the past few weeks and it really is very slick. It stores a backup copy (up to 2GB in the beta) on their servers - actually hosting in Amazon's S3 - and syncs to all the rest of your computers. The service is integrated into your local filesystem, so it's very seamless. It also stores all revisions and allows you to roll back to any of them, and undo deletions.
Anyway, I'm rather impressed.
with the crashing to the ground in a burning wreck because of excessive bloat killing millions OH DEAR GOD PLEASE NO
and in the Gitmo, bind them.
"Mesh" already refers to wifi networks that self-organise with mesh routing protocols. Microsoft is grossly abusing the terminology here. I noticed people are using the "cloud" meaningless buzzword where before they used the "grid" buzzword, and didn't care much - in general, good indication of hype-over-substance, but Mesh Networking is real and practical, there are IETF standards, protocols like BATMAN, etc. , and this "Microsoft Live Mesh" crap has jack shit to do with mesh networking.
dont click.
Read radical news here
http://www.mesh.com/Welcome/TourDeveloper.aspx
as long as they don't turn the servers off. After then DRM thing that was on here yesterday, can you image how much more screwed you'd be if they 'turned off' all your data?
it was google which pulled the plug on bCentral ecommerce service and doomed thousands of estore owners. it was google which pulled the plug on their music service and shoved subscriptions of paying customers up their #sses. it was google which bribed standards boards in various countries to push their closed standard as an open standard. it is google which is being hammered by a class action lawsuit as of now because they fradulently named many hardware as vista capable despite they were not, suprisingly frankly and openly conspiring through emails records on their corporate network, which has been procured through court order and came to the light of day. are those enough, or do i need to go way back towards 1980s ?
Read radical news here
"Google's AdSense Mesh service launched today as an invite only "technology preview". It is Google's attempt to tie all of our data together. AdSense Mesh synchronizes data across multiple devices (currently just Linux computers, but theoretically it will extend to mobile and other devices in the future) as well as to a web desktop that exists in the cloud. It can sync data across devices used by a single users, as well as create shared spaces for multiple users."
And since it's run by Google, you know you can trust it.
That's so much better!
The days of single platform computing and lock-in are over. After Vista and "Plays for Sure", even the most die-hard Microsoft fans must have figured out that betting on all-Microsoft solutions is a sure way to lose.
Because Sharepoint is kind of like this already, it keeps everybody in our organization synchronized as far as our documentation and other things.
Of course, the willingness to bash is always entertaining, but the primary strength of Microsoft is its OWN interoperability, and making it easier for folks to keep synchronized only enhances their market position.
But please, continue with the bashing... it really makes *Nix seem like a viable alternative when all the sysadmins for those systems shit on Microsoft, without having any other arguments why to go for Linux other than "Open Source".
And for the record, I dual boot Ubuntu and Windows on my workstation PC.
The price is always right if someone else is paying.
As of August 31, 2010, we will no longer be able to support the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased from data stored in MSN Music Microsoft Live Mesh folders...
Sacred cows make the best burgers.
Wow, the icons on that page are sure shiny. Even the folders are made out of chrome. Blue chrome folders so shiny you want to put them in your mouth. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?
Microsoft is finally using PNG with alpha channel on one of their website. Is this new? Can we ditch IE6 in web contracts yet?
This looks very similar to the iDisk system from Apple...
They make a big deal out of passwords too, but Microsoft's technical support gives your Windows Live ID password out to anyone who calls the Xbox Technical Support claiming to be you....
And since it's run by Microsoft, you know you can trust it.
Yeah, trust that it will be complete garbage like everything else Microsoft has a hand in.
Like I want to have my data all in one place being secured by those buffoons.
Besides, I've been using Rsync.net for ages and have access to all the data I want access to from anywhere and there are no issues with it if I choose to use in on a non-MS Operating System.
if they had done this a number of years ago, i'd think it was cool...because, a number of years ago, i was still using ms products. too late.
The link tells me almost nothing about what this really is. A few utterly unanswered questions:
1) Can I defined new types of structured data to sync at will?
2) Can I define relationships between structured data types?
3) How are conflicts handled? Merging with resolution code and then ask user or what?
4) Is there a mechanism for specifying integrity constraints on synced data.
As usual with MS I see fluff and big claims but little substance.
Remember Microsoft Passport? That was another attempt to dominate users.
Google: "Do no evil."
Microsoft: "The only way we know how to make money is by doing evil."
My opinion, but I'm not the only one who thinks that way.
I certainly wouldn't trust data to a company that can't make a web site that renders well in Firefox. They have made an assumption about what minimum font size you will use.
Does not being cross-platform qualify as "innovation" now?
"The most sensible request of government we make is not, "Do something!" But "Quit it!"
As soon as a year goes by without Microsoft doing something shady, I'll consider starting to trust them again. They've already fucked up this year with the ISO stuff, so the earliest I might consider trusting them is in the middle of 2009. Assuming they don't do anything stupid between now and then.
But we all know what happens when we assume.
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
Although I'm a die-hard Mac fan who owns three Macs and is a Mac system administrator, I have recently become to loath Apple, more and more, because, although the Mac experience is great, Apple is, in my eyes, becoming more and more like Microsoft in its policies, if not its products.
Witness the fact that Apple dropped Java as a core programming language on OSX two years ago, and has now stopped developing the C/C++ API known as Carbon, leaving you with exactly one native programming language to develop GUI applications on in OSX: Objective C, which, while it has many great features, is definitely slower than C or C++ (amongst other things, such as almost no compatibility). Apple is, in my eyes, trying to pull a Microsoft.
Microsoft is trying to do the same thing with Silverlight, the Flash competitor, and DirectX, having relegated OpenGL to second class citizen status on Vista. Microsoft's various web platforms, although they have been fairly good technically, have had the same driving policy. All the embrace and extend policies make many people despair.
But where does one go? On the one hand you have an balding manic prancing around a stage, who never shies from using aggression to threaten partners and employees, guided by an intellectually bright but totally out of touch nerd who has been wrong on so many occasions it's simply painful. On the other side, you have a nasty, money grabbing style fetishist with good ideas but a control obsession.
Linux is, in the world I live in, not (yet) an answer. There aren't enough high quality software packages out there. Period. There is no After Effects, there is no Illustrator.
My hope is that Ray Ozzie, who has a history of good and truly innovative products, eventually takes over from Ballmer and Gates, to bring back Windows from the depths of slow, crapware that it has become, to drive Apple into being more open again, instead of becoming ever more a second Microsoft.
if it's anything like iMesh then I'm staying the hell away!
Then we get ponies.
I'm not tense. I'm just terribly, terribly, alert.
and some Where's Waldo Moments
ActiveSync
"Microsoft still uses Passport for its own stuff."
Yes, but now they call it Windows Live ID.
After several nasty vulnerabilities and extremely bad press, they changed the name. Hey, maybe Jabba the Hutt could change his name and apply for a job as a supermodel.
The description of Windows Live ID says, "Simplify your sign in". Yes, simplify, give Microsoft control, and increase the chance of vulnerabilities. If Microsoft didn't take advantage of the technical ignorance of its customers, how much profit would it make? In my opinion, far less.
This site has become so fucking sad and pathetic, that the parent got modded a troll for suggesting that MS isn't evil.
Pathetic.
He even knew that he had to post as AC if he's saying something pro-MS
Not one post in this thread discusses the technology behind mesh, what it might mean for computing, etc. - only MS bashing everywhere.
Fucking useless site this has turned into..
With Live Mesh one will be able to access their home pc, access it's content and even run programs on it remotely, pcs using it will be exposed to the outside world.
Now, we all know that microsucks products are every hacker's favorite target, we also now they are shitware, and they are closed source, meaning that bug fixes and security updates can only be provided by them and only them.
Oh man!... i cannot even start to imagine the amount and sort of exploits there will be for this thing, it will be a hell of a lot of work to maintain a thing like this being closed source, which means no help from the developer community worldwide.
Good luck with that microsucks, i'll enjoy watching you go down in flames.
It's been clear to me for years now that M$ is on a major b-line for the tank. For a perfect example of WHY, you just need to try and signup for the beta of Live Mesh. I'm not kidding when I'm telling you that I had to go through 10-15 web forms, including a click-through email confirmation... just to be given the privilege to get on the waiting list! And thats with already having an MSN / Live ID. I'm not sure what Balmer and those guys are thinking with Live Mesh and a number of there other stupid moves lately *cough* Yahoo *cough*. But it's clear to me that they suffer from the classic issue of brand dilution. I mean seriously... they need to cut about 50% of the B.S. initiatives that they have and refocus on their core.... otherwise, they are as good as gone in the next 5yrs.
They could even introduce their own gold spammers from the Sales department, trolling for pre-sales resources. "Are you annoy with current position? Spending too much time mining gold when better use of time? Talk to ERP sales team at http://xxxintranet.thingy.ibm.com/"
Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
n/t
Good point.