I researched XMarks so you don't have to!

The following is a hand-out I made for presenting XMarks last week. It's interesting trying to "sell" something you don't actually like.

XMarks

XMarks is a browser synchronizer. It syncs your browser configuration, so you can access the same information using different devices, and even using different browsers!

Hold on... what's a browser?

• A browser is a program you use to surf the internet.
• XMarks works for the following browsers:
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Internet Explorer
  • Safari
  • Google Chrome
• Some features are only available for Mozilla Firefox.

What's syncing?

• Syncing is when you transfer information from one device to another.
• Rather than transferring one piece of data at a time, it transfers all of it at once. For example, if you sync your computer with your iPod, you transfer all of the music at once, instead of one song at a time.

What kind of devices are you talking about?

• Anything that uses the internet! This includes laptop and desktop computers (Apple II E's excepted), SmartPhones, Kindle Fires, and Dick Tracey's watch.

What information does it sync?

• Bookmarks
• Browser history (optional)
• Passwords (optional)
• Open tabs (optional)

What else does it do?

• Shows user ratings and reviews for websites when you use its search engine.
• Allows you to rate and review sites.
• Shows top 10 sites for your search.
• Suggests top 5 similar sites to the one you are viewing.
• Gives additional info about your site:
  • brief description of the site
  • list of relevant topics/tags
• Suggests tags for the site, and allows you to choose others. (Firefox only)
• Safe mode for the kids.
• ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL FEATURES ARE OPTIONAL!

Can I use different devices/profiles?

• You can sync as many devices to the same profile as you want! So if you want to share your amazing taste with everyone in your dorm, you can sync everyone's laptop to your music bookmarks folder. Or, if you are a secret agent, you can sync all of your different SmartPhones and Secret Agent Devices to the Top Secret bookmarks folder. You can turn the password sync off, in case one of your devices gets into the wrong hands!
• You can create many profiles, and choose which ones to sync with which devices. For example, you can have one profile just for your home computers, and another one for work, and have access to both of them on your blackberry.
• You can create unlimited folders, and add them to whatever profiles you want. For example, you might want to have a “work” folder that's in both your work and your home profile. Then, you might have a “vegetarian recipes” folder that's for home, and a “My Little Pony Fanfic” folder that's just for your and your significant other's BlackBerries. (I'm not judging.)
• You CAN'T have imbedded folders. Why not? Imagine that you have your “My Little Pony Fanfic” folder inside your “Wedding Cake Design” folder (again, I'm not judging.) Then, your daughter is abandoned at the altar, and through her tears, she deletes the WCD folder, to spare herself the agony of the memories. There go all your favorite links to SparkleSonnets and PonyPrideProse! At least, that's the explanation given by the XMarks website (with additional ponies.)

How do I set it up?

• Go to the XMarks website: www.xmarks.com
• Click “install now”
• Click “download xmarks”
• Click “Allow”
• Click “Install”
• Click “restart”.
• Xmarks is now installed. You can see the Xmarks logo in the bottom right corner, and the Xmarks folder in the Tools menu of your browser.

• Open Tools menu → Xmarks → Xmarks settings
• Click “run setup wizard”
• Sign in.
  • If you don't have an account, click “CREATE AN ACCOUNT.”
  • Fill out the forms and press “enter.”
• Decide if you want to sync open tabs.
• Decide if you want to sync browser history.
• Decide if you want to merge the information of the computer and the server, or use only from the computer, or only from the server. If you choose the second or third option, it will discard the information from the server, or from the computer, respectively.
• When in doubt, use this youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWGxCdXjiG4
  He's got a gorgeous Irish, or possibly English, accent.

How do I use it?

• To make a bookmark, go to the “bookmarks” menu and click “bookmark this page.”
• Your profiles are synced automatically every hour or so.
• To sync the profile immediately:
  • Click the Xmarks icon in the bottom right corner of your browser.
  • Click “Synchronize Now.”

How much does it cost?

• The basics are free.
• The “premium” costs $12 per year and has the following extra features
  • SmartPhone access (iPhone, Android/Dolphin, Windows Phone and BlackBerry.)
  • Backup and recovery of old bookmark collections
  • Priority support

How will it help me impress [insert gender]?

• Ladies, gents and genderqueer people alike love computer whizzes! Show off your mad browser syncing skills and synchronize yourself into their hearts!