Welcome

Welcome to the June 2014 newsletter from 2BrightSparks.

In this packed issue, find out about the latest updates to SyncBackPro/SE/Free. Enjoy exclusive news about an unmissable upgrade offer, and discover how Runtime Intelligence can help you. We also point to new articles on Understanding NTFS Hard Links, Post Office Protocol (POP3), Receiving Email with Internet Message Access Protocol, and File Transmission using Media Transfer Protocol, and we conclude with a contribution from a long time user of SyncBackFree..

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If you have any suggestions on what you might like to see in future issues of this newsletter, drop us a line with your suggestions.


SyncBackPro/SE/Free V6 are Updated

Enjoy the latest 6.5.38.0 update to SyncBackPro, SyncBackSE and SyncBackFree. For those who already have V6 installed, do not uninstall/re-install, or you will lose your profiles and settings. Simply install 'over the top' of your current installation.

Download SyncBackPro V6

Download SyncBackSE V6

Download SyncBackFree V6

Review the history of changes for SyncBackFree/SE/Pro

What if I use a pre-version 6 of SyncBackFree/SE/Pro?

Read the Article SyncBackSE/Pro V6 Upgrades Explained for the full details, or check whether you qualify for a Free Upgrade Today (only for v4/5 users as the serial test will fail if you already have V6).

If you are running a version of "SyncBack" freeware (V3), install SyncBackFree and follow the installation instructions.

SyncBackFree, SyncBackSE and SyncBackPro

There are three versions of our backup program: "SyncBackFree" which is freeware, and "SyncBackSE" and "SyncBackPro" which are commercial programs.

Compare the freeware and commercial versions

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New Articles at 2BrightSparks

Since our last newsletter we have published four new articles that seek to illuminate some lesser known yet important areas of Windows computing that we hope you will find valuable:

Understanding NTFS Hard Links, Junctions and Symbolic Links

Over the years Microsoft continued to improve the linking tools in the Windows NTFS operating file systems which can now be used to link files and/or directories together. The latest form of file link was introduced in Windows Vista and continues to form part of their latest operating system. In this article we will look at what these file links are and how they differ from one another.

Understanding Post Office Protocol (POP3)

Most Internet users with email accounts would have used some form of “client” software (Outlook, Thunderbird etc.) to access and manage their email at one point or another. To retrieve emails, these email clients may require the configuration of Post Office Protocol (or POP3) before messages can be downloaded from the server. This article will help readers understand what POP3 is and how it works.

Receiving Email with Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP4)

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and Post Office Protocol (POP3) are protocols used for email retrieval and they are in-use by almost every modern mail clients and servers. Following on from the article about Post Office Protocol, this article will focus on what IMAP is, its features and the difference between these two protocols.

File Transmission using Media Transfer Protocol

Learn about Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) and its pros and cons.

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Buy Now & Upgrade to V7 for Free!

We like to provide our mailing list subscribers with exclusives, so here is some very special news we're certain you'll love to hear.

Anyone purchasing a license of SyncBackSE V6 or SyncBackPro V6 today will receive a FREE major upgrade to V7 once it is released later this year. Please note this offer is for all NEW orders made, however to be especially nice, we're backdating this offer so any one who purchased a license after March 1st 2014 also gets the upgrade!

Here's the best bit: we're not just offering this major upgrade to V7 (once it is released) at no charge for new customers, but existing SyncBackPro/SE V4/V5 customers who upgrade now to SyncBackPro/SE V6 will be eligible for the free upgrade to V7 as well!

Perhaps you need more licenses, or you want to go to the next level from SyncBackSE to SyncBackPro. All of you purchasing a new license (even those buying volume licenses) will enjoy all the great improvements that are on their way in V7!

So if you've been thinking about buying that license, or upgrading, there's no better time:

Visit Our Store Today

Enjoy V6 today and get a free upgrade to V7 once it is released!

Of course, as you're on our mailing list you'll be the first to know when the next major version becomes available.

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How Runtime Intelligence Helps You

You may have come across a request after you installed a program that asked if you would allow the transmission of non-personally identifiable information to help improve your experience. If you are a new user and unfamiliar with the company, that can be a difficult decision. The request often pops up out of the blue and it may not always be clear about exactly what data is going to be exchanged. This segment of our newsletter throws light on the world of what is known as Runtime Intelligence and provides some advice about what to consider when making the decision to opt-in or out.

Runtime Intelligence is a technology that assists developers with the collection, analysis, and presentation of application usage levels, patterns and practices. Put more simply, it is a tool that provides feedback about the way software is used. This information helps to drive improvements in functionality and ease of use.

100% Anonymous

Essentially, Runtime Intelligence is a feedback mechanism for developers to make their software better. In nearly all cases the data that will be shared is anonymous. Here is a check list of data types that you will want NOT to be collected or recorded:

Make sure the developer's statement covers any kind of unique, private, personal or confidential data.

So What Is Being Collected?

The majority of the data collected by Runtime Intelligence provides information about features of the software that are being used. Perhaps you have enabled or disabled a function, or you are using a particular level of a feature. By gaining feedback on usage, developers can concentrate their efforts on making them better, and just as important are the features that are not being used as this information may indicate a usability issue, or demonstrate there is little or no interest in a particular function.

More general data about the operating system and language in use, together with the demands the program is making on the device (for example how much RAM is being used) may also be reported. This can help indicate minimum system requirements across a broad range of devices, and leads to decisions about the languages the software and support resources (help files etc.) will be translated into.

A Question of Trust

The resistance to allowing software to "call home" is one of trust. Here are five simple questions to ask yourself before clicking that opt-in button:

•	Are you familiar with the company asking for your trust?
•	Is there a way of reversing your decision so you can easily opt-out of sharing your data if you change your mind?
•	How easy is it to find out the details about what data is going to be shared?
•	Where will the data be stored?
•	Is the data that is sent used to prevent software piracy?

How Runtime Intelligence Helps

Although some companies and organizations do not permit the exchange of data over the Internet, and therefore will not permit Runtime Intelligence, your decision is more likely to come down to a choice. You'll need to weigh up your level of confidence in the company. Data privacy issues are in the foreground of many of our online interactions, and most users will err on the side of caution, however Runtime Intelligence can have a very real positive effect on the software you use.

2BrightSparks has continuously benefited from feedback sent to us through contact forms, support requests, or postings on our community forum. SyncBackPro has grown into the powerhouse of a backup and synchronization program it is today, largely through the comments and suggestions of its community of users. In order to further improve the software we will be offering the option of agreeing to activating Runtime Intelligence in SyncBackSE V7 and SyncBackPro V7 which are due for release later this year.

If you have any comments about Runtime Intelligence, or perhaps you have questions or concerns not addressed in this article, do not hesitate to Contact Us.

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User Stories

Following our last newsletter we received a suggestion of including user stories in future additions.

Thanks to SyncBackFree

I’ve twelve years’ experience as a senior manager in a reasonably sized electronic equipment research and manufacturing company. I mention this as hopefully, it lets the reader know I’m a busy guy. I use my PC at home for everything, including bits of work stuff (e.g. PowerPoint preparation) as well as storing photos. I have digitized my entire paper photo collection (a story for another day), so my PC has therefore become a central “data hub” for everything my wife and I are involved with. Because of this I need to ensure that all of this data is backed up regularly (folks - please do back your stuff up, sooner or later you’ll have a glitch and then you will wish you had backed it up). I did this back-up manually once or twice and quickly got fed up with that approach, so looked for a tool on-line. I looked over a few before I settled on SyncBackFree.

I liked SyncBackFree because it is very easy to use and yet has features that allow it to be used much more comprehensively than I use it, should you need that in your set-up. For example I use Microsoft Outlook to remind me when to backup. SyncBackFree can actually do this for you. I guess I just like to control that aspect.

For me, this software has become indispensable simply because it works. I always, always do a simulation run before the main run just to make sure everything looks alright. Then I let it go and it just does its job, each time. So, I am very confident that my email, work, photos etc. are all backed up safely and securely on a regular basis thanks to SyncBackFree.”

John Henderson, Sydney, Australia

If you have a story you would like to share we would love to hear from you...

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Lucky Draw Winners

Every month, ten lucky winners who complete the SyncBackSE/Pro survey forms receive a free license for OnClick Utilities. The link to the survey is contained in the order confirmation email. We will even allow you to transfer your license to friends or family if you've already got a license. Good luck!

To date, over 1100 lucky people have already received free software from us just by simply completing the survey, so what are you waiting for?

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Until Next Time

Thanks for reading! Like/don't like this format? Let us know.

If you have any suggestions on what you might like to see in future issues of this newsletter, drop us a line with your suggestions.

The 2BrightSparks Team.
2BrightSparks Pte Ltd.
www.2brightsparks.com

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