BitTorrent, which is one of the most used clients for downloading torrent files, announced the arrival of the beta version of a new app that allows users to sync files across several devices. The Sync app from BitTorrent will users to share faster than other cloud-based apps such as Dropbox and SugarSync. The reason behind it is that it does not use cloud storage but it simply transfers or shares from one device to the other directly.

The files that are to be shared through Sync cannot be altered or monitored by anyone as it comes with an encryption feature. BitTorrent which has been long used for downloading pirated movies and songs from sites like The Pirate Bay and Isohunt is all set to provide users with an easy to use file sharing application. After all, BitTorrent is just a technology that allows users to share large files easily.

The way Sync works is quite different from BitTorrent. It splits the files into several segments so that the person who is downloading the file can download those files simultaneously from multiple sources. By using Sync, you can directly share your files to anyone over the internet. If computers are on the same network, you won’t be required to go online. So, sharing files through Sync is similar to sharing files over the home network.

Applications like Dropbox saves a copy of the file in an online locker. However, the Sync app does not work that way. It is simply meant for transferring files over the web. There is no limit on the size of the file that is supposed to be shared, you don’t have to pay anything to use the app and its services, and there is no limitation on the transfer speeds.

The Alpha version of BitTorrent Sync was made available in April. Users who have the alpha version have used it for various purposes such as collaborating on projects, making an online environment for discretely distributing for blogs, making a data storage for yourself and so on. The beta version of the app brings file synchronization for mobile devices powered with Android OS. Very soon, support for iDevices will also be launched.

The only major problem that one may feel while using the app is that it does not create backup of the files you share. If the files are missing and cannot be found in the Sync folder, applications like Dropbox allow users to access the backed up version of the files on their servers. In case of Sync, you are required to maintain your own backups.

Also, some may feel that since BitTorrent uses the same network as BitTorrent, chances are there that even though the files are encrypted, the files may get distribution over the network and stored on unfamiliar computers. However, this is not true because users are required to enter 32 character unique ‘secret’ which allows only people who know the ‘secret’ to access the files.

To sum it up, BitTorrent Sync is a free platform to keep your files with you and access it on any device such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Android. Soon, it will also support iOS.