Pando

Pando, at www.pando.com, is a large file sharing service that allows you to send packages of files and folders up to 1 GB. It's free, and simple to use; just drag and drop the files and folder you want to send (Pando gives you a running tally of the overall package size so you can stay under 1 GB).

A variety of ways can be used to send the files. You can directly send the files via email. You can post them on the web using the provided embed code. Or you can post the files on Facebook.

A few caveats: there is a small download involved (though it is quite small, about 5 MB). The person receiving your files needs to have Pando as well. And, most importantly, you need to choose "No thanks and continue" when it asks to install the insidious and incredibly annoying Weatherbug (ALWAYS say no to Weatherbug).

A screenshot of the easy-to-use interface is shown below.


Thanks, Angie Asmus, for the tip.

WeTransfer

With the demise of Drop.io, many of us are looking around for a free file transfer service. WeTransfer, at https://www.wetransfer.com/, offers a free service where you can send up to 20 people a selection of files up to a maximum of 2 GB in size. They’ll host the files for up to two weeks. The 2 GB file size limit is per transfer, so after sending the first 2 GB, you could start over and send another 2 GB of files out.

To use it, you don't even need to register. Just upload the files, input the email address the files are going to, followed by your own email address. You also hav the option to add a personal message to the email.

drop.io

First off, I'd like to acknowledge eXtension and their always informative 30 Minute Sessions, which give fast nutshell descriptions and demos of emerging technologies and tools via the Connect system. To be notified of upcoming 30 Minute Sessions, go to the eXtension People page (https://people.extension.org/communities/learn) and click "Join Community." You'll need an eXtension ID, which will, I promise, take less than a minute.

The reason I'm plugging eXtension here is that I learned about drop.io during one of their 30 minute sessions, and begin using it on a daily basis almost immediately. It's at it's simplest a file drop, a place you can back up files, large or small, and share them with others. I use it as a place to access documents I'm working on from multiple computers. I keep music files on there as well, to play while I'm working.

It can store any kind of file (as opposed to, say, Google Docs), is very fast, and very customizable. You can choose the name of your subfolder (e.g. drop.io/csuextension/) if it's not already taken, password protect your site, change the background, and receive email notifications when anything is added.

Big bonus: each site you set up also automatically is given it's own email address, phone number, fax number, and conference call extension. So you can use it as a "drop" for emails, voice-mails, and faxes. You can even use it as a "bridge" to host conference calls.

Did I mention it's free? Go to http://drop.io/ to learn more, and sign up for your own "drop." Hint: you will be assigned a random series of numbers and letters as your subfolder name, but you can enter in your own title, assuming it's not taken.

Below is a screenshot of the file uploader in action.

Large File Sharing

Many of you have probably encountered the situation of trying to send a file via email that is too large to send. You try compressing it, using a .zip program, and still can't get under the file size limit. You end up having to burn the files onto a CD and send the CD via snail mail. Which kind of defeats the purpose of email.

There are several free on-line resources where you can upload large files and designate specific email addresses to download them. Here are four of them (I personally use Send This File most frequently).

http://www.yousendit.com/ (free, 100 mb limit per upload, 1 gb per month limit)‏

http://www.sendthisfile.com (free, no file size limit, 3 downloads max, 3 days for recipient to pick it up)

http://www.driveway.com (free, 500 mb limit per upload)‏

http://www.sendspace.com (free, 300 mb limit per upload)

They all work pretty much the same way. You register at the site with your email and a password, upload the file, and give the email address of the recipient. The recipient receives email notification of the file and a link to retrieve it. The recipient clicks the link and downloads the file. That's it! It's very easy for all involved, and the files are Encrypted and secure.

Did i mention that it's free? All these sites offer paid premium services that allow faster uploads, larger file limits, email lists, etc, but the free service will usually do just fine.