Does MLO Cloud Sync work just between Windows computers? What are the exact cases when sync happens?

[Danny Clark]

https://sync.mylifeorganized.net/mlo/ says:

What is it?

The MyLifeOrganized Cloud Sync service allows you to synchronize your data between different devices running the MyLifeOrganized task manager.

How does it work?

Add your tasks in MLO-Windows on the desktop, then transfer them to your iPhone, BlackBerry, or other device over the air with a single click*. Then sync updated tasks back to MLO-Windows.

Which is confusing in a few ways:

(1) It says "a single click", but I've read other threads that have stated the sync happens in all of these cases:

a. Single click (or pressing the F9 key)

b. After 8-9 minutes of inactivity, as long as mlo is open (is this on Windows and Mobile devices?)

c. When MLO is opened (started)

d. When MLO is closed (quit)

... which would be nicer :-)

(2) It's unclear how many instances of Windows MLO and how many instances of mobile device MLO it can sync between. I'm guessing it can sync between any number of any of these, but I'd like to know for sure before spending money. 

[Dwight]

Danny, the sync algorithm is evolving. Until recently you had to make the single click (F9) or use the menus, which would have added a few clicks. With release four the four cases you documented were implemented. You can still use F9 but the other cases are there for you as well. I believe that over time, it’s going to evolve closer to a fully automated sync.

 

There’s one aspect of your four cases which confuses people, and it’s the 8-9 minutes of inactivity. That’s not just MLO inactivity, that’s inactivity of the entire Windows system. Often people will leave some low-level task running in the background which may not do much but it does enough that the system’s not inactive and the sync’s not performed.

 

Regarding the maximum number of devices: I have not heard of anyone hitting a ceiling. It makes sense, too, if you think about the sync a little differently. It’s not like there’s a central intelligence pulling changes out of one device and sending them to another. Instead, each device is responsible for syncing itself with the cloud server. Each device knows the sequence number(s) the cloud server had reached as of its last sync. It comes back when it wants, delivers and new or changed tasks since that point, and receives and new or changed tasks that the cloud server has accumulated since the last sync point. If a single task is changed on a device and also on the cloud server that’s a conflict and it’s the device’s job to resolve it. The cloud server performs this routine for each device that comes to sync. Having more devices active is more work but it isn’t any more complexity.

 

If you want a guarantee that there’s no limit you should write to the support email address.

-Dwight

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[Danny Clark]

Thanks, that's really useful! And it sounds like the type of clients just don't matter; so two or some >2 but not stupid-many Windows clients would also sync; it's not the case that just one copy of Windows MLO client with smartphones and/or tablets. So just got a sync license :-)

It'll be fun to find out what exactly the definition of "idle" is on Windows; I mean there are always low-level processes running in the background, using various small amounts of I/O, CPU, Network, etc.

I saw some scripts that trigger the sync elsewhere, so it looks like one could make their own triggers with a bit of work. I'll be sure to put in a rate limit to make sure it doesn't happen more than once every 10 minutes; it should be significantly less frequent than that.

I'm setting up a sync system where Outlook will be a "sync hub" with non-MLO systems, since lots of software syncs with Outlook. It'll be interesting to see how exactly MLO (and the other systems) keep track of tasks when the names change (e.g. what is used as a unique ID), and if those ways are all compatible.

I'll post more about that system once I make sure it all works - I'm doing it because I want at least limited access and editing from some devices / in some situations not currently covered by MLO - Linux, Mac OS X, BlackBerry 10, Google Tasks, an API, and a (nicer than Google Tasks) web interface. I think it's worth the complexity, as as soon as I saw MLO, it was like the company had read my mind regarding what an org system should be, and then spent numerous years making that concept better and better :-)

[Nick Clark]

Regarding the number of devices that can sync, I can relate my experience.

In the dim and distant past I used to synchronise 2 Windows machines using a Pocket PC as an intermediary. I then added a USB drive and synced 3 Windows PCs via this, plus the Pocket PC. I work in several if fernet locations as a consultant in case you are wondering!

When the Cloud sync option came along it was brilliant. I often test different devices and at one point was syncing 3 Windows PCs, 6 Android devices and an iPad. I now regularly use 2 PCs, 2 iPads (one Mini, one v3) and 3 Android devices, although some are used more frequently than others.

So regarding a limit, I can say it's at least 10!

Nick

[Nat Gross]

re: multiple Windows machines.

Do you need to purchase more than 1 MLO Pro license? I paid for Windows, Android, and cloud sync. On the Android side I was glad to see that 1 license covered multiple devices. Is this true for Windows as well?

Thanks;

nat

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[Simon Denham]

You can use your Pro license on up to 5 computers as long as you are the only person who uses the software. See:

http://www.mylifeorganized.net/products/my-life-organized/faq.htm#OneLicenseForDiffComputers

Simon

[Nick Clark]

Yes, just the one license, although I'm guessing the terms restrict it to a single user. Probably find the details on he website.