Looking at other "Free" File Transfer sites that aren't really free

Some minor fine-tuning on the www.filehurl.com site (my absolutely free unlimited file transfers web site).

There was a comment in a previous post about using another site. So I was curious about it, and looked at the site and compared it to FileHurl.

The other site requires registration (FileHurl doesn't). It does have free file transfers (like FileHurl), but limits the size of the free transfers (FileHurl has no size limit). It also limits the number of times you can use the "free" transfer (FileHurl has no such limit). It has some paid services that allow unlimited use and size (FileHurl is fully free, although you can voluntarily donate).

The other site may be a bit 'prettier'. FileHurl is pretty simple. Click one button, fill in one simple form (four or five fields, plus a 'Browse" button to select the file), and that's it for sending the file notice.

The recipient gets a simple email with one link. One click for the link, one click to get the file, one click to save the file. That's pretty simple.

And it is totally free and unlimited, unlike the other place. If you want to check it out, go ahead.

But I think that my FileHurl place is better. It certainly doesn't have the limitations of other file transfer sites. I haven't found any that are totally free like FileHurl (but will look at any alternatives that you mention).

Try it out. And let me know what you think. (And a mention on your web site or to places like "Digg" might be nice.)

How to Send Big Files via Email

Ever need to transfer a file to someone, but it was too big for sending via email? There are some sites that do that, but most have a one-time or monthly charge, especially if the files are large. Or they limit the size of the file.

That happens to me sometimes. So I decided to try to create my own file transfer web site. And I think that it is ready for my thousands of readers (well, maybe as many as five) to try out (and to recommend to others).

The concept is quite simple. You fill out a simple form with the email address of the person you want to receive a file. Type in a little message, use a browse button to find the file on your computer, then click one button to send it off. (We call it "Hurling a file".)

The recipient gets an email message with a special and unique link, along with your message. Click on the link, then click one "Get the File" button to save the file to your computer.

And that's it! You've sent your file to someone else, no size limits, no charges, and it's simple enough for "Aunt Minnie" to use (at least, that's our hope). We don't save the email addresses, and the file is available for just seven days and then goes away.

It's not a file sharing site, since you only get to send one file that you already own. And it can't be a spam site, since you have to enter the email addresses manually. We've protected it against the evil guys as much as we can, and will monitor things to make sure that the site stays as safe as it can.

And, it's all free. Although we do have a 'donate' button, and hope to get some simple advertising, to help defray expenses.

We (hmm...sounds like a 'royal we'...) also put some social networking buttons at the bottom of the page to spread the word about the place. It's a grand experiment, it will be interesting to see if anyone other than me actually goes there.

Oh. Where's there ? We call it "FileHurl", and it's at www.filehurl.com . You're invited to try it out...and send along any suggestions for improvement.

And tell a friend. The place might even be ready for the "Digg Effect".