Sending Large Files

The best way to share those digital files? Don’t limit yourself
to email attachments. CHIP lists numerous ways and means to
transfer, store, compress and split large files..

The easiest way to share your files with
colleagues, friends and family is to email
them as attachments. However, the
setback to this method is that if the files are too
big they either can’t be sent because your email
provider doesn’t support it or that it clogs up
the mail box of your recipient. Alternatively, you
may simply want to backup your data to a server,
than keep them on disks and flash drives. The
advantage of backing up data on the Internet is
that they won’t be affected in the case of any
natural calamity destroying your PC and files.
Most people have heard or used RapidShare and
Gmail as a reservoir for their files, but there are
currently many alternatives as we discuss in this
month’s feature article.
To make your files available for download
on a website, first, navigate to the website by
entering the URL on your default web browser.
The home screen displays a web based tool
such as a Java application or a submit field.
To send a file, simply browse to the file name
and click Upload File. You will be provided
with a pick-up code, or simply with a pick-up
URL, which is emailed automatically to email
addresses you provide, or you may have to
cut and paste the links into an email and then
send it to your recipients. The recipients click
the hyperlink in the e-mail, and are taken to the
download page. After the specified number
of days/number of downloads, the files are
removed completely from the servers. Most
websites don’t require upfront registration and
they are easy to use. Some of them are free,
with some restrictions on file size and expiration,
while others charge for the service after a
trial period. Bandwidth usage for this type of
account might also be limited depending on the
plan chosen. Other optional features include
password protection, file encryption, notification
to creator of number of downloads. There are
many such services in operation nowadays, and
we list the best of them here.