Acrosync - private cloud drive powered by rsync 3.1

Acrosync is a noteworthy iOS application that integrates the rsync protocol, a reliable and efficient folder synchronization protocol widely supported by Mac and Linux systems, NAS devices, and remote servers. It allows users to effortlessly synchronize selected folders between their computers and iOS devices. Initiating a full folder sync is simplified to a single tap and the process is designed to intelligently skip identical files, transmitting only new or modified ones.

Moreover, Acrosync employs a differential sync algorithm for modified files, enabling it to transfer only the altered parts, thereby optimizing bandwidth usage and improving synchronization speed. The application offers encrypted file transfers to enhance security on unsecured networks and validates data integrity using checksums to prevent corruption.

Advanced sync options permit users to define specific connection settings such as the port and protocol to be used. Selective sync functionality is also available through include/exclude patterns, allowing for synchronization of specific files while excluding others.

All synchronized files are stored locally on devices, ensuring constant offline access to documents, photos, videos, and more even in the absence of an internet connection. The user-friendly interface is tailored for mobile use, simplifying file navigation. A wide array of multimedia files and documents, including music, images, movies, text documents, HTML files, PDFs, and various office formats can be easily accessed through Acrosync.

With the addition of new features in the iOS 8 storage extension, Acrosync now functions as a personal cloud drive that serves files to other applications. Files stored in Acrosync can be seamlessly shared with other apps using the universal document picker interface without necessitating a switch to Acrosync itself. Any modifications made by external apps can be saved back to Acrosync through the same interface and automatically synced with computers.

Acrosync provides an experience similar to mainstream cloud services like iCloud and Dropbox but with added benefits like offline access and the ability to transform any computer into a private cloud server without requiring proprietary server software installation.

System requirements:

• Mac computers must have Remote Login enabled (System Preferences → Sharing → Remote Login).
• For Windows systems, openssh and rsync need to be installed; both are freely available either as standalone packages or as part of Cygwin.

Acrosync works seamlessly with rsync hosting providers like HiDrive and Strongspace, as well as popular NAS brands such as QNAP and Synology.

The rsync library utilized by Acrosync was developed from scratch and has been recently launched as an open-source project.