There is a category of online collaboration tools that exist to allow you to send huge files to one or more people. This allows you to avoid the network clog that happens if you try to use email, and avoids having to walk a client through installing a P2P client…assuming you could convince their IT folks to allow a P2P client through the firewall.

Tools List

1. StreamFile
   StreamFile is a web based file sharing system that you can use to send files to any email address. Just input as many email addresses you want, pick a file up to 2GB, and click send. People will receive a download link to get the file, which you can also share via IM or as you wish.
   http://www.streamfile.com/
2. Fileai
   Fileai is a file sharing service that lets you send huge files to anyone. Just select the file you want to send, with no size limit, get the link, and share it with other people: the file will be sent directly from your PC to other people’s, with no upload process. The service does not need any registration and it is free to use.
   http://fileai.com/
3. Tranfer Big Files
   Transfer Big Files is a free online service that anyone can use to share files online. With no registration needed (registered accounts can also manage files), you can upload any file up to 1GB of size and share it with anyone just by typing in their email address. Files will be stored online for 5 days or 10 days if you’re registered. Free to use.
   http://transferbigfiles.com/
4. DropSend
   DropSend is a free website that anyone can use to store and share files online. With a simple registration and no software to install, you can easily upload any type of file up to 1GB and share with everyone by typing their email address. A message with the download link will be sent automatically to that person. Plus it can also be used to store your files online and carry them with you wherever you are. Free to use.
   http://www.dropsend.com/
5. File Dropper
   File Dropper is an online file hosting website that you can use to send large files with anyone. With no registration you can upload any file up to 5GB and, after the upload progress bar has finished, you will be given a sharing link for other people to get the file. Apart from the basic free version, other paid versions are available for password-protected sharing and up to 25GB of space per file. Free to use.
   http://www.filedropper.com/
6. PipeBytes
   PipeBytes in a web-based tool that anyone can use to share files, with no size limitation. If you want to send a file, just click the “Send” button, browse for you file, and click “Upload”. You will be provided with a pick-up code, or simply with a pick-up URL, that will connect your and your friend’s computer to send the file directly, with no uploading process. Free to use, no registration needed.
   http://www.pipebytes.com/
7. Filemail
   Filemail is a web-based file sharing system that you can use to send an unlimited number of files, up to 2GB each, to anyone who has an email address. With no registration needed, you can send any file just by selecting it from your PC through the Flash-based interface, set the options, such as the number of days the file will be available for, type the receiver’s email, and click send. When the progress bar will finish, an email will be sent to your friend with the download link. Free.
   http://www.filemail.com/
8. ADrive
   ADrive is a new web-base file hosting solution which gives you 50 GB of online free storage for free. After you create an account, you are able to upload all of your files online through a web-upload, but a new uploading solution will be available soon. You can use ADrive as your online backup hard-drive, but you can click the button “Share”, and make your files public so that anyone can access them anytime. Completely web-based and free.
   http://www.adrive.com/
9. Podmailing
   Podmailing is a kind of P2P application for Windows and Mac machine that enables users to exchange files with absolutely no size limit. When sending a file, a notification email will be sent to the other user, and the file will be transferred directly from your PC to your recipients, who can download it using the Podmailing software, any BitTorrent client or with a standard http download, so that your recipients are not required to install the Podmailing software. Free.
   http://www.podmailing.com/

As storage media continues a downward arc, many other services are removing file size restrictions.  As well, there are lots of services designed to allow for smaller file sharing.  I’ll address those services in a later post.  If you have suggestions, or know a good service that I’ve missed, please share your recommendations in the comments section.

All photo-sharing websites publish licensing information. But a newcomer in the image search universe makes it incredibly easy to use the photo with the due attribution.

Sprixi is a free image search engine. Using Sprixi is just a three step process – Search, Choose and Use. Sprixi sorts all images into topics. You can browse the topics in graphics or text using the Browse link placed right at the foot of the page.

Enter your search query and Sprixi takes over. What you get is a double framed window with the images on one scrollable pane. Choose any image from the results and view it in larger dimensions on the View pane.

The View pane provides usage and credit information about the image with a rollover of the mouse.

Usefulness – Sprixi learns and tries to sort all images by usefulness i.e. relevancy. Images are rated according to use, downloads, the ratings added from the yes/maybe/no buttons etc. Images are weighted more by the ratings given by registered users. Images can also be flagged for inappropriateness.

Image Size – Touch the bar chart like colored indicators and you can choose a specific size.

About this image provides complete information on the creator and the license.

The last step is to select your choice image and click on the corner placed Use tab. Sprixi gives you two options for fair use -

The Image with credit option comes with the attribution inked in fine print while the Image without credit asks you to manually provide that link. A Copy button makes it easy to copy-paste the image attribution link.

Look at the same images below to note the difference between the two options.

The image with the assigned license (the first option) is useful for cases where the image credit source is not explicitly mentioned. Images which are smaller in size may need an explicit credit link.

How Does Sprixi Source The Images?

Sprixi uses the Flickr API (but the service is not officially endorsed by Flickr). According to the FAQ, Sprixi is presently sourcing images from its own collection, Flickr and OpenClipArt. It also has a leaning towards public domain and commercial-friendly Creative Commons licenses.

Image search is no longer about Google and Bing. Services like Sprixi are re-working the usual with their unusual take. As I mentioned before, getting an image online is easy – what’s overlooked is giving the creator his or her rightful reward. Sprixi makes it a more deliberate affair.

Sprixi seems to be a win for both content creators who need images, and image creators who want a larger audience.