BitTorrent Intros Secure, Private Dropbox Alternative

On Thursday BitTorrent Labs launched BitTorrent Sync, a new distributed syncing product to help manage personal files between multiple computers. This new Dropbox alternative is currently in a pre-alpha stage, but the team is calling on BitTorrent users to help "build something sick" by participating in its development.

"If you’re comfortable using early, incomplete software, and if you’re committed to helping us figure out a better way to sync, we want to hear from you," BitTorrent said in a recent blog. "We’re opening up enrollment in our pre-Alpha program to a limited number of testers. If you’re interested, check out the Labs page, fill out an application, and we’ll get you started."

TorrentFreak has taken the pre-alpha for a test drive, and reports that unlike Dropbox and Skydrive, BitTorrentr Sync doesn't rely on an external cloud. Even more, there are no storage limits, and third-parties won't have access to your stored files. File transfers are also a lot faster because it's all done locally across the user's network.

"It fits into our overall goal of making a better Internet using P2P," BitTorrent Labs told the site. "This [alpha] is a great opportunity for participants to help us shape this developing product."

Setting up the private network is reportedly an easy task that can be accomplished in a minute. Simply install the BitTorrent Sync application, select a folder to share, generate a key, and that's it. This private key can then be used to sync the folder to other devices on the network.

The pre-alpha application will require a little information about how the service will be used prior to approval. This includes the number of different machines that will be used to sync the files, whether the user has a NAS device, what operating system will be used to run the application, and more.

To sign up for the BitTorrent Sync pre-alpha, head here. The application is available for Windows, OS X, and Linux, and will also run on NAS devices through a web-based interface.

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