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Tag: sync

  • Google replaces Backup and Sync with new Google Drive desktop app

    Google replaces Backup and Sync with new Google Drive desktop app

    Google has just released a brand-new version of its Google Drive desktop app, bringing Google Backup and Google Sync together with Google Photos and other features, along with additional improvements. It will be replacing previous home and business versions alike, aiming to make many of the regularly used Google Workspace features easily accessible in a single space.

    We know some of the main highlights of what the new Google Drive app will feature:

    • Uploading and syncing photos to Google cloud storage—including automatic compression and resizing, for those choosing “Storage saver” rather than original image quality
    • Syncing external storage devices (thumb drives, USB hard drives, and SSDs) to Google Drive
    • (Optional) two-way file and folder synchronization—automatically download files to local folders and vice versa
    • Locally mounted Drive folders in either Stream or Mirror mode—automatically downloading files on-demand or automatically prefetching all files from the cloud
    • In-app support for shared Google drives (new feature, was not present in Backup and Sync)
    • Integration with Microsoft Outlook and Google Meet scheduling

    The download size is rather hefty for the new Google Drive app, coming in at 238 MB and a reportedly fairly long installation time.

    For people who are eager to replace their old Sync and Backup app with this upgrade, they will soon start seeing the in-app prompt to download the new, unified version very soon, when they open either of the old apps.

    Users of the two apps will be supported by a guided transition to the new Google Drive starting July 19, and in-app push notifications reminding you to upgrade will start appearing as of August 18.

    Google recommends that users complete the transition by the end of September in 2021. That’s because on October 1, both the Google Sync and Backup apps will stop working and lose all support from the company. Both business and personal Google Workspace users benefit equally from the simplified workflow made possible in the new, unifying Google Drive app, so it may be better to go ahead and switch sooner than later.

  • Harvey Norman first to launch Microsoft Synchronized Shopping software

    Harvey Norman first to launch Microsoft Synchronized Shopping software

    Harvey Norman has become the world’s first retailer to launch a new AI-powered retail software concept the Microsoft Synchronized Shopping solution.

    Microsoft says its system, accessible via the retailer’s website, “empowers consumers to make informed purchase decisions amidst the myriad of options available online and offline”.

    Visitors to the Harvey Nomran website can use a customized, conversational AI-driven product advisor that asks a series of questions to identify the shopper’s needs, then recommends devices that best suits them. That might feature such as long battery life or storage capacity.

    Microsoft says product advisor results reflect devices that are on display in Harvey Norman, where customers can go to try them out.

    “The immersive and engaging experience starts when the shortlisted device(s) on the website creates a shopper pass on the mobile device with embedded geo-location services. When shoppers are in proximity of the store where the specific PCs are available, they get a phone notification, and once they enter the store are guided to the exact PCs that were recommended by the online advisor,” says Microsoft in a statement.

    “This simplifies the in-store experience, eliminating the need for shoppers to spend time navigating through all the choices in the PC aisle. In addition, it provides a seamless online-offline purchase journey tailored to their needs which is highly secure (and with no footprint of the user on any of the interacting devices).”

    Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page says she believes customers must be able to make decisions holistically, especially in a digitally connected world.

    “This has always guided how we curate our assortment of offerings, and it now shapes how we look at connecting online and offline channels seamlessly for our customers. Microsoft Synchronized Shopping is a major step in the right direction to help all of us live this ‘connected life’.”

    Microsoft says it created the solution to address the challenge faced by consumers of an online proliferation of options and the anywhere/anytime nature of shopping via mobile devices.

    Its research showed that 80 percent of consumers now begin their shopping journey online, and many end up delaying a purchase because they are overwhelmed by the number of choices.

    “Second, they find it difficult to choose the product that best meets their needs, without conducting extensive research, and often ends up buying a less-than-satisfactory device. This ‘choice paralysis’ inspired the design of Microsoft Synchronized Shopping.”

    Microsoft says its Synchronized Shopping solution is part of a broader “retail-reimagined strategy aimed at simplifying the consumer journey” by using intelligent cloud technology.

    It was developed in partnership with Microsoft Gold partner Popcornapps and is built on Azure cloud services, progressive web-apps and geo-location-based services.