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.

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.