How to share a file over the internet?
June 30, 2010 8:15 AM
I just want to upload some files that other people can then download. Evernote and Dropbox require passwords or emailing. I just want the files available to anybody who knows they're there.
I know this is super basic, but I don't know good search terms (all mine are so general I'm not finding a specific solution). It would help even to know the right words to search for! Thanks.
I know this is super basic, but I don't know good search terms (all mine are so general I'm not finding a specific solution). It would help even to know the right words to search for! Thanks.
Dropbox doesn't require a password if you drop things in the "Public" directory. It can then generate a direct link to the file. If you're doing this in Windows, you can right-click on the file and there should be a "generate hyperlink" option.
posted by griphus at 8:19 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by griphus at 8:19 AM on June 30, 2010
I'm a big fan of Drop.io. It lets you make a "drop" with a web address anyone can access — you can password protect if necessary. It only takes up to 100 MB, but that's usually enough for me.
posted by good day merlock at 8:21 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by good day merlock at 8:21 AM on June 30, 2010
If you stick something in your Dropbox's Public folder, you can right click on it and give the link to anyone and it'll be downloadable.
posted by Magnakai at 8:22 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by Magnakai at 8:22 AM on June 30, 2010
Evernote allows you to set the permissions for your collections to "private", "public" or "invite only". "Public" allows everyone to see the files.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 8:30 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by PontifexPrimus at 8:30 AM on June 30, 2010
Thanks, folks,
Regarding Dropbox, what I'm trying to avoid is having to send out links to specific people (or having to send out passwords to allow access). Looks like there already may be some good options here--I'm off to check 'em out. Thanks, Big Brained People!
posted by largecorp at 8:32 AM on June 30, 2010
Regarding Dropbox, what I'm trying to avoid is having to send out links to specific people (or having to send out passwords to allow access). Looks like there already may be some good options here--I'm off to check 'em out. Thanks, Big Brained People!
posted by largecorp at 8:32 AM on June 30, 2010
I just want the files available to anybody who knows they're there.
what I'm trying to avoid is having to send out links to specific people
But how will they know the files are there if you don't tell them? Or do you mean you'd like to be able to tell people over the phone or in person without having to spell out a 50 character URL?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:37 AM on June 30, 2010
what I'm trying to avoid is having to send out links to specific people
But how will they know the files are there if you don't tell them? Or do you mean you'd like to be able to tell people over the phone or in person without having to spell out a 50 character URL?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:37 AM on June 30, 2010
"But how will they know the files are there if you don't tell them? Or do you mean you'd like to be able to tell people over the phone or in person without having to spell out a 50 character URL?"
I run a club. I'd like to tell the club members about the general existence of a repository that they can access at will, regardless of when updates I make. I don't want to have to announce each file, but I don't mind making an initial general announcment.
Following the suggestion of PontifexPrimus, it looks like the public option of Evernote may very well do what I need. I didn't know about that!
posted by largecorp at 8:43 AM on June 30, 2010
I run a club. I'd like to tell the club members about the general existence of a repository that they can access at will, regardless of when updates I make. I don't want to have to announce each file, but I don't mind making an initial general announcment.
Following the suggestion of PontifexPrimus, it looks like the public option of Evernote may very well do what I need. I didn't know about that!
posted by largecorp at 8:43 AM on June 30, 2010
You can always use the Dropbox/etc. solution and have a page on the club's website that just links to the files you're offering.
posted by theichibun at 8:49 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by theichibun at 8:49 AM on June 30, 2010
I second drop.io, can't get any simpler than that. There is no sign up.
Pick a name for your drop, select files and hit go. Your drop will automatically expire a year after no activity.
posted by special-k at 9:42 AM on June 30, 2010
Pick a name for your drop, select files and hit go. Your drop will automatically expire a year after no activity.
posted by special-k at 9:42 AM on June 30, 2010
drop.io drop.io drop.io
no link, just a satisfied user
posted by london302 at 10:13 AM on June 30, 2010
no link, just a satisfied user
posted by london302 at 10:13 AM on June 30, 2010
If you're a Mac user, CloudApp (getcloudapp.com) offers a super-convenient interface.
Otherwise, or if you want some more features, drop.io.
posted by StrawberryPie at 10:32 AM on June 30, 2010
Otherwise, or if you want some more features, drop.io.
posted by StrawberryPie at 10:32 AM on June 30, 2010
Amazon S3 combined with S3fox is a great way to do it. There's no landing page or anything, someone clicks the link they download it as a regular HTTP document. You can store as much as you want, and people can download as much as they want.
It does cost 10¢/gigabyte/month. But it's worthwhile not to have to deal with any nonsense in exchange for a few cents. The transfer costs are 1 cent for every 10,000 downloads and 15¢ for every gigabyte after the first 1 (which is free)
So if you have less then a gigabyte of stuff, and send it out less then 10,000 times it'll cost you about 16 cents a month.
A lot of these services are backed by S3, actually.
posted by delmoi at 11:00 AM on June 30, 2010
It does cost 10¢/gigabyte/month. But it's worthwhile not to have to deal with any nonsense in exchange for a few cents. The transfer costs are 1 cent for every 10,000 downloads and 15¢ for every gigabyte after the first 1 (which is free)
So if you have less then a gigabyte of stuff, and send it out less then 10,000 times it'll cost you about 16 cents a month.
A lot of these services are backed by S3, actually.
posted by delmoi at 11:00 AM on June 30, 2010
If you run a club, have you considered setting up a proper website? Hosting's pretty cheap these days - I get a ridiculous amount of juice for $8/month through GoDaddy. Domain names only cost $10/year to register.
Then it's just a matter of uploading the files to your web space, and telling people to go to example.com/downloads or whatever.
You could also check into the blogging services like Blogger and Typepad. I think those let you upload certain file formats, so it depends on what you need it to do.
posted by ErikaB at 11:16 AM on June 30, 2010
Then it's just a matter of uploading the files to your web space, and telling people to go to example.com/downloads or whatever.
You could also check into the blogging services like Blogger and Typepad. I think those let you upload certain file formats, so it depends on what you need it to do.
posted by ErikaB at 11:16 AM on June 30, 2010
Comparison of file hosting services is a pretty good wiki page, breaking down limitations and features of 20+ similar services.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:42 AM on June 30, 2010
posted by filthy light thief at 11:42 AM on June 30, 2010
Another vote for drop.io. I use it for very similar things and have found it to be hugely useful.
posted by Canageek at 2:22 PM on June 30, 2010
posted by Canageek at 2:22 PM on June 30, 2010
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posted by Happy Dave at 8:17 AM on June 30, 2010