How to share files between Ubuntu and Windows Phone (and Windows Desktop, iOS Devices, iPhones/iPads, Androids, your spaceship, your fish and everything else) wirelessly.

I'm a Linux user since years and completely love the power, flexibility and security Linux has to offer. I migrated to Ubuntu 4 years back and no looking back since then. I don't like Windows on Desktop but Windows Phone is one heck of a thing. Totally love the UI and UX Windows phone flaunts. Windows Phone is actually how customizable a phone should be. But Ubuntu and Windows Phone are not good friends. Its really difficult to share files between them.

So, this is one software which I really love. BitTorrent Sync. It has a very light-weight user client which sits silently in the background and very user friendly mobile apps too. Now you'll say "I already have dropbox, blah blah!" so here's the answer, in your face. Dropbox creates an account on their website and everything you share goes to their server before it reaches your phone where as, Once a folder is added to Sync, it immediately tries to discover other devices that have a folder with the same key. Sync easily finds other devices by using multiple methods. It also allows Sync to work on a private network that is not connected to the Internet. These methods include contacting user-defined IP addresses, looking on the local network, using the distributed hash table (DHT), automatically registering with a Sync-specific BitTorrent tracker, and using a relay server. While devices becoming peers is an automated activity, all of these methods can be enabled/disabled by the user. Each file contained in a Sync folder has an associated torrent and is broken up into small pieces before it is transferred. Using the BitTorrent protocol, this protocol allows devices to receive file pieces from any peer simultaneously. The more devices a folder is shared with, the faster files are transferred. While the speed is not visible to the user, the accelerated speeds will be noticeable. File pieces are AES-128 encrypted when in transit. They are then decrypted and reassembled when they arrive at the destination. File pieces take the shortest and fastest path to get from one device to another. Transferring files on a local network is most often fastest, while using the relay server to reach a device halfway around the world is often the slowest. This is different than cloud services, which have to send files through centralized data centers and that's why its not like DropBox. I have never used DropBox in my life because if you're in India, you understand how painful is file sharing over the internet. (BSNL @ 60KBPS -_-)



You can get Sync at http://getsync.com/  The site is super cool and the software is very easy to install so I will not waste blogspot's database by writing about it. :p

After installing Sync, you can add a new folder.


Right click on the added folder and generate QR code. Scan this QR code in your mobile app.

A similar folder will appear in your windows phone.



You can now easily share files between your Ubuntu System and Windows phone. This app is also available for other devices.

Lots of love. :)

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Hi! I'm Siddhant Minocha, a Jaipur based hacker/developer. I spend most of my day coding things, trying to develop the next billion dollar idea. When I'm not over-analyzing random stuff and people, I hang out with friends (mostly entrepreneurs). I'm in my final year of graduation and till now I have started and exited 3 startups and developed a lot of websites and software for different companies. Follow me on twitter and other social networks to see what I keep doing. You can also hire me to design/develop your website, if you're worried about your website or app's security or any other tech related work. See ya! :D

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