The Synchronization Morass
Microsoft loves them some synchronization like a fat kid loves cake.
Yet another synchronization platform from Microsoft has emerged. This one appears to be an evolution of the Synctoy which was a desktop application that seemed oddly similar to Live Mesh. Codename "Anchorage", or as Redmond Pie calls it, "A SyncToy for the Cloud" If you're totally lost at this point, it's with good reason:
Codename "Anchorage" represents our current thinking of where to take SyncToy in the future that not only provides value as a generic sync hub but also - an easy to use application capable of keeping content synchronized across PCs, services, and devices through a rich plug-in mechanism based on the Microsoft Sync Framework.
Come again? Isn't that what Live Mesh does?
With Live Mesh, you can synchronize files with all of your devices, so you always have the latest versions handy. Access your files from any device or from the web, easily share them with others, and get notified whenever someone changes a file.
Here's where it gets really loopy:
With this project, providers will be able to register and be discovered in a variety of sync groups including contacts, files, favorites, videos, as well as synchronization across services such as the Live Mesh, PhotoBucket.com, Smugmug.com, and more. Powered by the Microsoft Sync Framework - this E2E and hub for sync providers has value for both consumers AND developers.
So wait a minute..."Anchorage" is an extensible synchronization platform that integrates with Live Mesh which itself is an extensible synchronization platform. (And from all indicators is ALSO built on top of the Sync Framework). Well at least Live Sync is a purely end user synchronization platform...at least we hope.