How It Works: Web Browser
After installing Presence on the Mac you wish to access (you can access more than one with a $70 family license), you’ll be assigned a simple URL based on your computer’s name -- for example, macliferocks.findpresence.com. Visit this URL from any internet-connected web browser, log in with the same user name and password you use for your Mac, and you’ll be presented with a Finder-like interface of your entire computer.

Viewing Your Files
When we say your entire computer, we mean it! Presence offers a view of every file and folder, including mounted hard disks, CDs, DVDs, servers and even other shared computers on your network. It’s all laid out in familiar Finder-like way, with a double click to open folders or directly access files using the applications on the Mac or PC you’re currently using. You can even view your files in an icon or list view.

How It Works: iOS
Presence is also a universal iOS app, offering a great experience on the iPad as well as the smaller screen of the iPhone or iPod touch. To access your computer via iOS, simply download the free app and log into the service the same way and you’ll again have full access to all of your files and folders -- although you won’t get the cool Finder-style view from the web method.

Access Your iSight Camera
Depending on where your Mac is located in your home or office, you can tap into the iSight camera to check in on your employees, make sure the cat isn’t on the kitchen counter again or just make sure everything is safe and sound. After logging in, click the Camera icon in the top menu bar, which will snap a photo from the iSight and send it right to you. Refresh the image with another click, and this trick even works from the iOS app.

Upload Files to Your Mac
Perhaps you’re visiting a friend or colleague who wants to send you a document or other file via email. Why bother with this old-fashioned scenario when you can simply log into Presence from their computer and upload the file right to your Mac, where it will be ready and waiting for you upon your return? It’s as simple as clicking the Upload button, selecting the file and waiting for the file to transfer.

Preview Files with Quick Look
Perfect for those times when you need to make sure you’ve selected the right file before you download it, Presence features its own Quick Look mode. Simply select a file and click on the Quick Look icon (the one that looks like an eye) and your image or document will be previewed right in your web browser. You can even select multiple files at once and skip through them the same way.

Email Large Files
Gone are the days when email attachments fail because they’re too big -- with Presence, you select remote files and email a link for the recipient to download direct from your Mac (smaller files are sent as attachments). Select files, click the email icon, add your recipient, subject and body (if necessary) and click Send. If the file is larger, you’ll be given the option to share it, and multiple files will be compressed in a ZIP archive for transfer.

Set Up Multiple Email Addresses
In order to email files from Presence, you’ll need to set up outgoing SMTP email accounts within the Photos & Email pane of the Mac app. Click on “Add Email Address” to get started, and many accounts are added quickly with just your email address and password, but you can manually configure your SMTP server and port for more complicated setups.

Share Files with No Upload
One of the most awesome uses for Presence is sharing files with other. Rather than having to upload large files to an FTP server or a cloud-based storage solution, you simply share them from your Mac using a simple URL link -- and you can do it from anywhere! On your Mac, simply select a file and Control-Click to select “Share in Presence” under Services.

Using the Shares Tab
Users can control their shared files by opening the Presence window from the Finder menu bar and selecting Shares. Here you can add new shared files or folders, copy or email links for same, select passwords for your shares or choose how to handle folders, which can be shared as a ZIP file or a browsable folder. It’s also easy to delete shares when you’re finished with them.