Pogoplug's been on a roll lately with new products and updates. Not only do we have the new Pogoplug Video (Pogopiug hardware optimized for live video streaming) but we also have a new iPhone app that was completely rewritten--and a new web user interface.

Not content, however, to limit your cloud to USB storage only--Pogoplug has also created a desktop version of the Pogoplug software. The concept is so simple it's almost anticlimactic. You basically turn your computer into a Pogoplug, enabling you to share whatever is on the internal/local drives on your machine over the Internet--just like dedicated Pogoplug hardware.

How Does it Work?

It's as easy (if not easier) to set up the desktop software as it is to set up the hardware. All you need to do is download the free software and follow the installation instructions. Assuming you already have a free My.Pogoplug account, you can then sign in with your credentials to get started with the app.

After signing in, you can select the folders on your computer that you'd like to share--and you're done. Those files will now be available to download or view from the Pogoplug web interface or mobile clients. That's it--and it's free.

In addition, you will still be able to configure Active Copy, same as with a regular Pogoplug--only difference is that, currently, Active Copy is integrated in the web software and not on your local machine. 

Finally, the Desktop software integrates your local drives seamlessly along with other Pogoplug devices and drives you may have active on your account. Nice!

Can I stream video with the desktop software?

Yes, you can--although certain elements of this feature are available only in the Premium version. For example--let's say you have Free software installed on PC #1, and that's where your media is housed.

While you are in-network, you can stream the media through the mounted folders on another PC, say PC #2, (e.g., through QuickTime) but you will not be able to stream to mobile devices from PC #1, which houses the media.

In other words, if you have multiple computers in your home using the Pogoplug Desktop software, make sure the one with your media is using a Premium license to enable streaming to all devices either remotely or in-network.

So, how does transcoding work with the Desktop software?

This may be the big question on a lot of peoples' minds, especially those experienced with Pogoplug. For those new to Pogoplug, transcoding is the process needed to translate your videos into a format that is streamable by the Pogoplug to other clients through the mobile app or web browser. The reason Pogoplug Video was released was to enable instant streaming of videos to remote clients using an on-board video processor--essentially, instant transcoding.

While the Pogoplug Desktop software isn't designed for that, it does allow you to use your computer's (much faster) processor for video transcoding--meaning that it will take much less time for your videos to be formatted for remote viewing through browsers or mobile clients. Of course, if you are in-network, you should be able to stream the movie in its original format without major speed delays.

Transcoding for desktop clients is modified in the same way as Pogoplug hardware units, so the transition should be seamless for those familiar with the process.

What's the difference between the Free and Premium versions of the software?

The Pogoplug software is free to use for sharing files on your local machine--thus enabling you to download and view them remotely. However, you will not be able to stream music or movies from a machine with the Free software installed to any mobile clients. Also, you will not be able to stream media to your game console, Internet TV, or other streaming device.

For those features, an upgrade is available from Pogoplug for a one-time cost of $29.99 per machine, no monthly fees.

Are there any other limitations?

According to Pogoplug's website, cloud printing will also not be enabled with the desktop software--a Pogoplug hardware device with a connected printer is required to do this.

Also, your computer must be on in order to share files from it. This may seem obvious now that I've said it, but that's a great advantage of the hardware--since the Pogoplug hardware is standalone, you can power down your much more power-hungry computer while you are gone on vacation, for example, and still have cloud access to your files.

See our comparison of Pogoplug hardware and software lineup for more details!

Conclusions

Overall, the Pogoplug desktop software is an absolute no-brainer whether you choose the free or Premium editions. For simple file sharing from your local machine, I cannot think of a more streamlined solution--certainly none that are available for free.

For those who are looking to stream media from their connected machines, the Premium software is a sure bet. I'm thinking it would be an excellent fit for anyone who has a dedicated machine as a media/file server in their home. You could instantly and easily turn it into a cloud server, with no need to move files around or cumbersome (and potentially risky) copy operations.

Finally, it's a great supplement for those who already own Pogoplug hardware, as it's basically integrated into the desktop software and again, free to use for basic purposes.

In other words--go out and give it a try and see what Pogoplug can do for you!

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