Microsoft gives Live Mesh 4 weeks to live
Microsoft yesterday advised customers that Live Mesh, the forerunner to SkyDrive, will close down on 13 February, and all access to its services will cease. Here's what users should do.
Microsoft has advised customers that it will close down its
online storage and file syncing service Live Mesh on 13 February 2013. It is
urging all current users to move over to SkyDrive. So far, 40% have done so.
After 13 February, it warns,
some Mesh functions, such as remote desktop and peer to peer sync, will no
longer be available. Data on the Mesh cloud, "called Mesh synced storage
or SkyDrive synced storage", will also no longer be available, as it will
be removed.
The full letter sent to customers by Microsoft reads:
Recently we released the latest version of SkyDrive, which you can use to:
·
Choose
the files and folders on your SkyDrive that sync on each computer.
·
Access
your SkyDrive using a brand new app for Android v2.3 or the updated apps for
Windows Phone, iPhone, and iPad.
·
Collaborate
online with the new Office Web apps, including Excel forms, co-authoring in
PowerPoint and embeddable Word documents.
Currently 40% of Mesh
customers are actively using SkyDrive and based on the positive response and
our increasing focus on improving personal cloud storage, it makes sense to
merge SkyDrive and Mesh into a single product for anytime and anywhere access
for files. As a result, we will retire Mesh on February 13, 2013. After
this date, some Mesh functions, such as remote desktop and peer to peer sync,
will no longer be available and any data on the Mesh cloud, called Mesh synced
storage or SkyDrive synced storage, will be removed. The folders you synced
with Mesh will stop syncing, and you will not be able to connect to your PCs remotely
using Mesh.
We encourage you to try out the new SkyDrive to see how it
can meet your needs. During the transition period, we suggest that, in addition
to using Mesh, you sync your Mesh files using SkyDrive. This way, you can try
out SkyDrive without changing your existing Mesh setup. For tips on
transitioning to SkyDrive, see SkyDrive for Mesh users on the Windows
website. If you have questions, you can post them in the SkyDrive forums.
Mesh customers have been influential and your feedback has helped shape our
strategy for Mesh and SkyDrive. We would not be here without your support and
hope you continue to give us feedback as you use SkyDrive.
|
Frequently Asked
Questions |
|
|
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Why is this
happening? |
|
Over the years, customers have asked us to
bring many of the benefits of SkyDrive – including mobile access and online
collaboration – to Windows Live Mesh. We've also received requests for some
of the features of Mesh – such as syncing and remote access—to SkyDrive.
Bringing together key features of both products into SkyDrive allows us to
maintain a single product and deliver all of these benefits to customers.
Moving forward, a single product also allows us to quickly deliver more new
features to everyone. |
|
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What features are
available on SkyDrive? |
|
· Sync your entire SkyDrive or only select folders with your computer. With the SkyDrive desktop app for
Windows or Mac, your files on SkyDrive are available online or offline – and
update automatically across your computers. · More storage –
Every SkyDrive customer automatically receives 7 GB of free SkyDrive storage,
two more than Mesh. If you need more, you can purchase up to an additional
100 GB to meet your needs. Just sign in to SkyDrive.com and click Manage
storage in the lower left corner. · Great views –
SkyDrive has several features Mesh didn't include. For example, with SkyDrive
you can sort files, change file views, view photo slide shows, and stream
video. |
|
|
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What can I expect
between now and the date when Windows Live Mesh is retired? |
|
For now, Mesh will continue to work the same
as always. We'll send you reminder emails as the retirement date for Mesh
gets closer. |
|
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Where can I learn
more? |
|
For more information, see SkyDrive for Mesh users. You'll find details
about how to make the switch to SkyDrive, as well as updates about the
changes to Mesh. |
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Can I use SkyDrive
to connect to a PC remotely and run apps on it? |
|
No,
with SkyDrive you can fetch files on a remote PC, but you can't connect to it
remotely to work as if you were sitting in front of it. If you want to
connect to a work PC, try Remote Desktop Connection in Windows. With Remote
Desktop Connection, you can connect to PCs that are running these editions of
Windows: · Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise · Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7
Ultimate · Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista
Enterprise · Windows XP Professional |
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To remotely connect to a Mac or other
Windows operating systems not listed above, we recommend creating a LogMeIn account. LogMeIn Pro gives you fast, easy remote
computer access from your devices over the web in HD. Transfer files, print
remotely, or keep machines up to date from any computer or your mobile
device. |
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