Microsoft has finally opened the doors to the project that was codenamed Tahiti. When this was first released back in March there was such an overwhelming response to try out the software that Microsoft quickly rejected anyone else trying to use the service. Now they have launched it for everyone to play with, and the new name is SharedView.
This free application makes it easy to share applications and desktops with up to 15 users in real-time. Here’s what Microsoft says is so great about SharedView:
- Microsoft SharedView Beta is a fast, easy way to share documents and screen views with small groups of friends or coworkers; anytime, anywhere. Use SharedView to put your heads together and collaborate.
- More effective meetings and phone calls
Connect with up to 15 people in different locations and get your point across by showing them what’s on your screen. - Work together in real time
Share, review, and update documents with multiple people in real time. - Use anytime, anywhere
SharedView is easy to use, from anywhere, at a moment’s notice.
When trying it out myself I wasn’t disappointed, but then again I was just playing with it to see what it was like instead of actually trying to put it to good use. Here are a bunch of the screenshots that I took of SharedView in action (click any of them for a full-size image)…
Choose how you want to invite people:
Here are the configuration options:
And then here is the main interface where you choose exactly which applications you want people to see, or you can show them your whole desktop:
The new version got a nice facelift, as you can see in the screenshots. One of the cool things that I found was being able to share files between users (called handouts), and soon you’ll also be able to talk and chat just like you would at a normal meeting.
Of course, there is no reason why this would only be useful for business, because it could also be used to do other helpful things. Maybe it will be useful when connecting to a friend’s computer to help them solve an issue or walking them through a new application. There are a lot of things that this could be used for that aren’t business related, and hopefully Microsoft will try to promote the software that way as well.
Download Microsoft SharedView Beta (Direct Link – requires no WGA validation)
Source: Webware, Digital Inspiration, & Download Squad
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Tags: Freeware, Pre-Release, Software, Apple, Downloads, Microsoft, Screenshots, Windows Vista, Windows XP
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How is this different from old-skool VNC?
Gave it whirl with an interstate colleague…on par with Webex, but still a bit slow. It is FREE, however….at least whilst in Beta…
I haven’t used VNC much, but I don’t think you can specify certain applications to share. In SharedView you could actually prevent users from seeing anything other than, for example, Firefox. You can also share your whole desktop, but I think the biggest thing is limiting what users can actually see on your desktop.
I’m guessing that it will remain free even after the release, and will be publicized as one of the perks to using Windows.
There is also a suggestions and support forum at [forums.microsoft.com] . Thanks.