What are people using Connect - Sync & Share for?

Here's some examples of how your fellow Book Collector users are using Connect - Sync & Share:

• Browse your book data from multiple computers in your home
  Do you have multiple computers at home? Just have Book Collector (Windows or Mac) installed on 1 computer, to manage your collection. Then Connect lets you (and your family members) browse your book data from any computer that has internet access (PC or Mac!).
  
  No need for multiple Book Collector licenses. No need to install Book Collector on multiple computers, no need to share databases over a network.
  
  
• Give others read-only, view-only access to your book database
  Want to give other people (in your home, school, church, etc...) access to your book list, without the risk of them messing with your data? Then just give them the link to your public "viewing only" list. They will be able to browse and search, but not edit, your collection.
  
  
• Check your collection and wish list from mobile devices
  Once your book database is online in Connect, you can access its' mobile website from any online mobile phone or tablet device, wherever you are. Check your wish list from your phone while in the book store, or select a book to read on your tablet while sitting on the couch.
  
  Tip: We offer dedicated apps for several devices (iPhone / iPod touch, iPad and Android).
  But if you own a device for which we don't offer an app (e.g. Blackberry, Windows Phone 7, Nokia, etc...), then Connect is a great way to have your book list on your mobile phone.
  
  
• Keep a copy of your book list in a safe place
  If you use Connect, you always have a safe copy of your book list on our servers. A must-have for insurance purposes and a perfect backup in case your computer crashes. All Connect data is backed-up on a daily basis.

How does Book Collector Connect - Sync & Share work?

1. First, catalog your book collection with Book Collector for Windows or Mac OS X.
   Use the Windows or Mac edition of Book Collector to catalog your books.
   
   
2. Create a Connect account and activate your Sync & Share subscription for books.
   Sign up for a Connect account using the box above. Note that you only need one account for multiple collection (books, comics, movies, games and music).
   Then activate your Sync & Share subscription with your Book Collector PRO license key. Here's a step-by-step for Activating Connect Sync & Share.
   
   
3. Upload your Book Collector database to your Connect account.
   Choose the "Synchronize" command from the Connect menu in Book Collector,
   enter your account's user name and password, then choose Upload.
   Full instruction can be found in the Synchronizing with Connect topic in the Book Collector manual.
   
   
4. Browse your book collection online.
   Go to the Book Collector Connect website with your browser (IE, Firefox, Safari, etc..),
   log in to your account, and browse your book list online.
   
   
5. Make your online collection public (optional and switched OFF by default).
   Use the Settings page to make your collection public, so that your friends can see your list without logging in. Now email your web-link to friends and family.

Rules and restrictions

• Connect Sync & Share is read-only.
  Sync & Share is a basic Connect edition, created for desktop users who just want to sync their collection online and share it with friends, but wish to keep using their desktop software (Windows or Mac) to manage (add/edit) their database.
  Sync & Share includes all browsing, viewing, sorting, searching, sharing, Facebook, Twitter and statistics features of Connect. But NOT the Add feature and NOT the Edit feature.
  In other words, you will be able to upload your collection online, access your own collection from anywhere, any device and share the list with friends. However, you will need to do your data additions and modifications offline, with your trusted desktop software, then re-sync to Connect.
  In short, Sync & Share is Connect without the adding and editing features.
  A full-featured Book Collector Connect subscription is available for US $19.80 per year
  
  
• Sync & Share is FREE for PRO users of the *latest* desktop edition.
  To be eligible for a free life-time Sync & Share subscription,
  you need a PRO license of Book Collector version 8 (or later) for Windows or Mac.
  
  
• Connect Sync & Share subscriptions are free for life.
  Once activated with your PRO license key, you will have lifetime usage of the service.
  HOWEVER, to ensure performance and to make sure we don't run out of diskspace, we will have to employ a 3-month "keep-alive" system for online data storage.
  Which basically means that you will have to either log-in to your account OR re-sync your data at least once every 3 months to keep your data online.
  For clarity, if you haven't logged in or synced for 3 months, we will remove your online data, but not your account. A simple up-sync from the desktop edition will make sure you're up-and-running again.
  
  
• Already subscribed to the *full* Connect service?
  Of course, if you are already subscribed to the *full* Connect software, you will keep access to your adding and editing features, and you can continue to manage your collection online.
  If you wish, you can "downgrade" to a free "Sync & Share" subscription once your full subscription expires.