HomePipe Spring ’11 Release Offers More Mobile Features

HomePipe Networks™ (www.homepipe.net), the leading innovator in digital content access and file sharing for the mobile community, today announced the release of the HomePipe 2.0 service, including its new SecureShare features, Collaborative Computing capabilities and A La Carte Playlist generation. The new offerings further demonstrate HomePipe’s vision of on-the-go digital content access, offering an easy and secure way to tap into digital files from any device, without paying extra for unnecessary storage in the cloud.

With HomePipe, users have their digital files at their fingertips, regardless of file size or type, and independent of system or content location. By utilizing HomePipe’s apps, users can access and share their digital assets simply and securely where they want, when they want, without the hassle of uploading, syncing or organizing files in the cloud.

HomePipe’s enhanced mobility features include:

• HomePipe SecureShare: With SecureShare, HomePipe users can now easily share digital content with everyone in their network by importing contacts from Outlook, as well as Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail and other email providers directly into HomePipe. Enhanced security features enable users to protect sensitive information by providing selective access, and requiring specific recipients to login securely before viewing private files.

• Collaborative Computing: HomePipe eliminates the hassle of downloading, syncing and organizing documents in the cloud, or paying for expensive cloud storage. Using Apple®, Android and Windows® Phone 7 devices, users can open any document from their hard drive, edit, and resave the document back into HomePipe. Once saved in HomePipe, any recipient can immediately and securely access the updated document – no drag and drop required.

• A La Carte Playlist Generation: HomePipe’s new A La Carte Playlist capability enables users to generate playlists from multiple iTunes® and MP3 libraries on the fly using Apple, Android, or Windows Phone 7 devices. With one click, HomePipe’s app populates a list of all folders containing music files, and allows users to select from those folders creating a single, unique playlist. And please don’t stop the music just to send a text. HomePipe’s Now Playing feature enables users to stream music, or browse photos or documents, on Apple, Android, and Windows Phone 7 devices, while simultaneously using other applications.

To learn more about these and other features, click here.

Editions & Pricing
HomePipe is available in four editions designed to cater to the needs of individuals and businesses. HomePipe Standard edition is available for $23.99/year, and offers consumers unlimited access to any digital file, regardless of size. HomePipe Group edition provides collaborative access for 2-9 users, and includes all standard features, as well as APIs for Website/Application Integration. HomePipe Enterprise Edition provides collaborative access for an unlimited number of users, and includes all standard features and APIs, as well as customized corporate branding. HomePipe continues to offer its free Lite Edition, providing users up to 11 content accesses per month from any mobile device.

HomePipe Apps are available for Apple, Android, and Windows Phone 7 devices. The app for Apple iOS devices is available in the iTunes Store. Android users can download the app from the Amazon Appstore for Android, Android Market or search for HomePipe for Android. For Windows Phone 7, go to the Zune Marketplace and search for HomePipe.

How to Keep Your Photos Safe and Secure While Online Cloud Storage Services Disappear

Avoid online photo sharing shut down with HomePipe

I was surprised to receive an email a month or so ago from PhotoWorks to learn they are shutting down the site. It seems as though a number of multimedia cloud hosting sites are closing. Earlier this year, Yahoo! Video shut down as well. And sadly, there will be more.

As an amateur photographer and PhotoWorks subscriber, I had a limited amount of time to access my photos. PhotoWorks would give me a $30 certificate to buy merchandise if I transfer my photos to Shutterfly. According to the site, images not transferred to Shutterfly would be deleted. Great. I can’t buy a DVD archive of my PhotoWorks photos nor can I download them to my computer. But if I transferred them to Shutterfly, I could buy back my own images on a disc if I so choose. That’s what the $30 credit is for—to buy my stuff back!

Since January 2011, Shutterfly stopped allowing the viewing or downloading of high-res photos on the site. So I can upload my high-res photos to Shutterfly, but I am not allowed to download them again (see http://www.shutterfly.com/help/view_pictures.jsp#download). This puts a kink in using Shutterfly as my official backup plan. I can download a low-res version of my photos by right-clicking on the image, but it’s only suitable for viewing on my monitor, not for printing!

Shutterfly promises that they will “never delete [my] photos. Ever.” Ok, but that’s what I thought with PhotoWorks. I’m not sure there is a safe place in the cloud to keep my photos or videos.

Gregory Scoblete of Your Digital Life (http://your-digital-life.com), a digital media solutions site, agrees:

“...the demise of PhotoWorks is instructive: if you were counting on them to store your photos for the long-term, you’d have been disappointed. That’s why you should not ultimately rely on an online service alone to secure your photographs.”

Scoblete also brings up a very good point about online photo services—privacy (or potentially the lack there of). Every time we hand over a digital file to a service, no matter how reputable, we run the risk of that content being stolen or distributed by hackers. Let’s not forget WikiLeaks! If the government or credit card companies can be hacked, anything is possible.

So what to do? Enter HomePipe.

HomePipe is easy, fast and convenient. You never have to worry about your photos being deleted, transferring them to yet another online site or scrambling to download your files because your online photo service is closing down. You keep your photos and your memories safe and secure on your computer.

You always have access to your photos, music, videos, documents and you can share them with whomever you choose. With HomePipe, you can drill down to a specific folder to share with one specific person, group or distribution list. Now how cool is that?

And, it’s so easy to share your photos with family, friends and colleagues:

1. Once you’ve activated your HomePipe account, sign in and select the folder or file you want to share. Then click “Share This Folder” under the category “Folder Tasks.”

2. In the screen, complete the form by entering your name and the email(s) of those you want to share files with.

3. Just press the “Send” button at the bottom of the form and your email invitation(s) are automatically sent.

That’s it. It couldn’t be easier! Plus, HomePipe Lite is absolutely free for the occasional user. Sweet!

As Scoblete warns, why put your precious photos into a cloud service that may close leaving you high and dry? Choose HomePipe and keep your photos and your memories forever. Try HomePipe today at http://www.homepipe.net/web_signup.html. 

Make Your HTC HD7 a Ginormous Productivity Monster!

HomePipe Networks' instant remote access and file sharing service turns the HTC HD7, T-Mobile's first Windows Phone 7 device, into a ginormous productivity monster.

HD7 Apps recently listed HomePipe as an All Time Top App for HTC HD7. It’s easy to see why. HomePipe makes it easy to access files from your home or work computer and perform online file sharing—videos, music, photos and documents. As a Top App for HTC HD7 Windows Phone 7, users can safely and easily remote access and share music, videos, photos, and more with a flick or a tap. Since HomePipe works on any platform—Windows, Mac and Linux—remote access and file sharing is hassle-free. Users can stream music, watch videos, share documents or photos from any computer seamlessly to any mobile device. HomePipe shares the honor with other Top Apps including Facebook, YouTube and Acrobat Reader.

The HTC HD7 holds the distinction of having the largest display of any Windows Phone 7 handset in the U.S. This full size screen plays well with the platform's multimedia and gaming abilities. Plus, the keyboard is larger and easy to use. Couple these features with the power of HomePipe’s remote access and file sharing service, and the HTC HD7 turns into a productivity monster—a must have for anyone on the go.   

Imagine what you can do with your HTC HD7 Windows Phone 7 and HomePipe's remote access and file sharing service:

•          With HomePipe and the HD7’s big 4.3” high res screen, just flip out the kickstand, kick back and stream movies or videos from your home laptop anytime you want.

•          Make your own movies with the HD7’s built-in 720p HD camcorder. It lets you to capture film with incredible quality and detail. Using HomePipe, you can easily share your videos with friends and family.

•          Go from pocket to picture in seconds! The HD7 lets you capture amazing photos. So why upload and manage your photos in the cloud?  Share your photos instantly and directly from your HTC HD7 Windows Phone 7 with HomePipe! Whether you’re across the globe or across the street, you can share photos online anytime with anyone you want using HomePipe!

•          Stream your favorite tunes from your home or work computer to your HD7. 

Turn your HTC HD7 into a productivity monster! Go to the HD7 App Marketplace or go to the Zune Marketplace. Just click the “free” button and within seconds, you’re set. 

With HomePipe and your HTC HD7 Windows Phone 7, you’ll have the ultimate entertainment and productivity monster at your fingertips! Don’t wait! Download it today. And, make sure to download the free HomePipe agent for remote access and file sharing for your computer at http://www.homepipe.net/sign_up.html.

 Useful links:

Get HomePipe for your HTC HD7

Get HomePipe for your Computer

Learn More About HomePipe for Windows Phone 7   

HomePipe for iPhone

HomePipe for iPad

HomePipe for Android

Go To Your PC for Free :: A Review of Remote Access and File Sharing Software and Services

Let’s face it. A lot of people use GoToMyPC to access files. It’s pretty simple and reasonably easy to install. But, it’s expensive. GoToMyPC charges $9.95/month or $99/year to connect one user and two computers. Adding a user is another $99/year if paid in advance, and every additional computer connection is $9.95/month each. Just my opinion, but that’s a bit rich to occasionally access a file.

While GoToMyPC is ok as a remote access tool, it lacks a lot of functionality for accessing and sharing different media. For instance, you can’t share a file with multiple users nor can you stream your audio or video playlists. There are other limitations including having to sync files once you’ve accessed and resaved them.

Another large drawback is that GoToMyPC is anything but transparent when accessing a file remotely. Let’s say you’re at work and want to access a file from your home computer. You login to GoToMyPC and remotely access your home computer. Unfortunately, little Johnny is doing his science project at the same time and entering data into a spreadsheet program. While you access your file, little Johnny is left in suspended animation—that is, he can’t do anything until you’ve finished accessing the file remotely. 

So if you want to access and share files remotely, there are other services that offer greater functionality for less money than GoToMyPC. For $99/year plus all the add-ons, it’s worth a search.

One of my favorites for remote access and file sharing is  HomePipe. HomePipe is an easy, fast and convenient alternative to GoToMyPC. For the occasional user, there’s no monthly fee to access and share files online. And you can share files of any size with anyone you choose on any platform at no additional cost. There are no extra charges to connect additional Internet or broadband-connected devices with HomePipe – those $9.95/year charges for each additional device after the first computer with GoToMyPC can rack up pretty quickly.

HomePipe takes literally seconds to setup and it doesn’t “freeze” your computer or mobile device when accessing a file remotely. You can seamlessly stream music or videos and access photos or documents from your home or work computer (works for both PC and Mac) to your Android phone while little Johnny finishes his science project uninterrupted.  Unlike GoToMyPC, HomePipe users can also share one file with multiple users—very helpful if you have a tight schedule and need feedback fast.  

If you compare functionality with GoToMyPC, HomePipe offers a better overall value. HomePipe is simple, easy to use and transparent to the remote computer. Plus, HomePipe provides greater flexibility as you can stream your music with HomePipe—you can’t with GoToMyPC. HomePipe also eliminates the need to synch and organize files in the cloud. Best of all, HomePipe is cost-effective since the Lite Edition is absolutely free. The unlimited use version called HomePipe Standard Edition is still only $23.99/year which beats $99/year or more a year for GoToMyPC.

So why spend hundreds of dollars to remotely access and share files with GoToMyPC when you can do it for free with HomePipe?  Compare GoToMyPC and HomePipe here.