http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 10:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 10:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
The instances this would be useful were to, say, transfer a file to a friends computer. However, this is where this becomes a crapgadget. You may use it once, or maybe a couple times a year - and the rest of the time it's sitting in your desk drawer taunting you.

Useful? Maybe occasionally. Practical now days? Not really.]]>Sep 15th 2009 11:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
I respectfully disagree.

True, for anyone likely reading a tech blog like Engadget, iTwin is largely useless. This much I can agree with you on. Outside of it's corporate espionage made easy, Hail Mary pass around corporate firewalls encryption feature, I personally would never have any use for it.

However, iTwin is being developed and marketed at people like my mom . . . and all my siblings . . . and a whole crap load of my other relatives (aunts, uncles, etc.) and friends and co-workers, who have absolutely no clue.

I, and likely everyone else here, can do home networking in our sleep. However, more than half the people I know cannot - I'm sure that I am not alone in this boat, as those of us who can, are always the goto guys when everyone else needs their network setup . . . or fix their networks if they get SNAFUed. And from what I have seen, it is not like Windows is exactly making networking that much easier for the uninitiated. My mom for example, can't even run Network Magic, and I set that up for her pretty much thinking that networking could not possibly get any easier than that.

The reality is, that for the vast majority of computer users, setting up the network beyond just getting your computer connected to the internet, is a huge chore that many could care less about learning how to do. Setting up your network for remote access is not only an even larger headache for people in that boat, but is considered by many to be almost insurmountable - which is half the reason why flash drives are a multi-billion dollar business.

I have found through observation, that in order to get everyone where they are as comfortable setting up networks as say those of us who come to a place like Engadget, is the setup process has to be what I have affectionately labeled, "Nintendo Stupid".

Anyone who has ever set up the network connection on a Nintendo Wii or a Nintendo DS, already knows what I am talking about. It is the easiest thing on the planet. To coin a phrase, it's so easy a caveman can do it (no offense to the cave people reading this post).

Going back to my Mom as the example, she cannot run Network Magic, but she had no problem setting up the network connection to her Nintendo DS (once she knew what her network password was). Which is my point. Nintendo has made the entire process so easy and so straight forward, anyone can do it, hence the term, "Nintendo Stupid".

What I like so much about iTwin, is it takes "Nintendo Stupid" to an entirely new level, and it does so with the one thing the average Joe on the street considers the hardest part about network computing - remote access. Anyone who has ever successfully used a flash drive ever (and at least a billion people on the planet have), can now do remote access. This thing is brilliant in it's sheer simplicity.

The only place where iTwin fails is in the pricing. $99.99 is just way too much for what it does. If these guys are seriously looking to break into the same market as the flash drive market, then $19.99 is the price they should be shooting for. Anything north of $24.99 is suicide for what they are offering. They'd be better off licensing the tech to companies like 3M or SanDisk and allowing them to make their own, thus handling all the manufacturing, marketing and distribution work for them.

I can also see where they could license the same tech to mobile phone makers like Nokia, Motorola, HTC, Samsung, etc. That way any phone user could physically link their phone to their desktop, and from then on out, have remote access to their content via the phone's various wireless connection protocols (WIFI, 3G, 4G, etc.). Again, for power users like us, setting this up is already a breeze - we could do it in our sleeps. Many of us reading this, already are constantly streaming videos and music from our desktops via 3G to our phones on a daily basis. But for the average Joe, doing something like this is rocket science. However, having iTwin's tech built into their mobile device would allow them access to the same features, without them blowing a blood vessel in their heads trying to figure it out.]]>Sep 15th 2009 3:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Just clearing that up.]]>Sep 16th 2009 2:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
DropBox = all the convenience of cloud computing, with none of the fussy online applications.]]>Sep 15th 2009 10:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/MAC)]]>Sep 15th 2009 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 1:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
What I'm not sure though is if it stores the files shared directly onto the USB stick or just a "special folder" on the computers' hard drives.]]>Sep 15th 2009 2:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/

Also what could this do for security? like could i just slap this into a computer like at a school and have access to it?

]]>Sep 15th 2009 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
i can only see if this was useful if every computer is bundled with it on the motherboard and u can ask for permission to send/transmit]]>Sep 15th 2009 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
coverage here http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/14/tc50-itwin-remotely-connect-two-computers-via-usb-drives/]]>Sep 15th 2009 10:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 10:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 10:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Also, if I were out say at a hotel or somewhere that i needed to get a file from my pc to someone elses, why would I use this thing rather than one of my other usb sticks? I just cannot immagine a scenario where I would "need" this.]]>Sep 15th 2009 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
If you know how to push files through a Gb network yourself, it's highly unlikely you would ever need this -- it's aimed at people who don't really know how to use computers, but do it anyway.

The one benefit it does have over using a thumbdrive is that I can make a TB or so of data accessible from my home machine and carry around a thumbdrive-sized unit to access that on any internetted Windows machine -- the alternatives are carrying a genuine thumbdrive (works on more systems, but has less capacity), carrying a 1TB USB-connected drive (works on more systems, but more bulky for carrying), or just setting up my home server for internet access with dynamic DNS and port-forwarding (cheaper, same or better features, works on all internetted systems, carry no hardware at all, but requires a modicum of technical know-how).]]>Sep 15th 2009 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
PASS]]>Sep 15th 2009 10:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
Horses for courses and all that, these could be useful in some situations but they're totally different to crossover cables.]]>Sep 15th 2009 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
Also, good luck finding a 5 mile cat5 cable, at any price. This uses the internet to transfer your files, with all the good (all the cables, interference, etc. are Somebody Else's Problem, and usually already solved) and bad (poor bandwidth, difficulty of getting connected if you aren't already) that implies.]]>Sep 15th 2009 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
Jus' sayin'.]]>Sep 15th 2009 10:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
A lot.]]>Sep 15th 2009 11:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
Really, if you want to share files with your riends over the internet, for me GigaTribe is the best solution. I don't understand why people do not know GigaTribe.

GigaTribe 3 tomorrow... will be so exciting!!]]>Sep 15th 2009 11:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
It is my favourite software. Lots of people use GigaTribe in France

I cannot wait for GigaTribe 3 tomorrow!!!

For those who don't know GigaTribe => www.gigatribe.com My advice is to donwload the last Release Candidate which is stable.]]>Sep 15th 2009 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 11:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 12:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 12:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
What I am askin is what do you mean, remote log into a PC via iPhone or remote log into an iPhone via PC?]]>Sep 15th 2009 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 12:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 12:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
down side: which one goes with which? granny, auntie, and bob but they are all identical? whoops! sorry I sent THAT file granny please delete it and don't open it, it was supposed to go to Bob!]]>Sep 15th 2009 1:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
Its a little dongle which uses some clever software to make a virtual flash drive appear on your pc, and then sycn that with what ever pc the other end is plugged into. and there's another virtual drive for the other end.

By the looks of it, if you added it to your drive, you can remove it, but they cant
and if they added something to their 'end' then they can remove it.

The advantage as has been stated is that you're Ageing or otherwise less-than tech savvy (who cant work out how to use say, flickr) can just plug this into their pc, up it pops and they can see their grand kids on holiday.

Simple as.]]>Sep 15th 2009 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
It's also a great idea for those of us who want to surreptitiously snoop on somebody else's computer, providing you don't have to install any software - Just plop it in the USB slot and head home, and log right in.]]>Sep 15th 2009 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 2:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/Sep 15th 2009 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/itwin-lets-you-share-files-over-the-internet/
Can it be used for gaming applications, e.g. StarCraft?]]>Sep 15th 2009 3:00PM