TECH SPECIAL ......Share Content Like a Pro

Share Content Like a Pro





Email has made it easier for us to share photos, videos and documents with others.
However, there are limitations to this mode of communication. The good news is there are quality web resources that will let you share bookmarks, documents, pictures, passwords and even your desktop screen with others. Ashutosh Desai tells you how you can...

BOOKMARKS & NOTES

If you are working on a class assignment, creating a travel itinerary or reviewing office documents, then head to Diigo.This web service lets you create a central repository of your research work and cuts out the need to send multiple emails back and forth. You can also create private groups and share bookmarked content with more than one person.

Once you sign up for this service, you will be able to save web links, images, PDF files and notes to your account. You can highlight text and leave sticky notes in the documents and web pages that you add to your “library“.When you click on a bookmark in Diigo, it will load the website along with the highlighted text and annotations.

Additionally, an “outline“ feature lets you collate highlighted text ­ with a simple dragand-drop action ­ into a fully formatted bulleted list. This outline will appear alongside the web page, making it easier to read and jot down notes.http:www.diigo.com

PHOTOS

Cluster lets you collab orate with friends to create albums around personal events. You need to create an account, select pictures and videos to add to an album, and invite friends to add more photos. By default, albums are set to `private', so only those you invite can view them. Of course, you also have the option to make them public.

Group members can `favorite' pictures, post comments and interact with each other.Its mobile app ­ for Android and iOS devices ­ also lets you invite people via an instant messenger like WhatsApp or e-mail, using a randomly generated code.

You can view your pictures in full size via a PC web browser and even download them to their handset or computer.cluster.co

ONLINE VIDEOS

When you email links to your favourite online videos, recipients have to click each one and deal with multiple browser tabs. Enter Vidsy.tv, a service that lets you create playlists with videos from YouTube, Vimeo and Ustream. You just have share one Vidsy link with friends and they will be able to browse your playlist and watch the videos in a single browser tab.

You can create a playlist by copy-pasting video links or use its in-built search tool to look for videos on YouTube, Vimeo and Ustream. Click the Collect button to add the videos to the playlist queue and save it to create a unique web link. You can share this via email, Facebook and Twitter. You also get the option to customise your web page with different backgrounds and choose from three free themes.vidsy.tv

MUSIC PLAYLISTS

The Parade lets you share yo u r f avo u r i t e s o n g s without having to upload them online. You can build playlists from music freely available on YouTube, SoundCloud and Last.fm. Register with the service and you'll be able to save as many playlists as you want and access them from different computers. You can search for songs by name, artist or genre or click on “Playlist Browser“ to listen to the compilations created by other TP users. Its music player lets you shuffle tracks and set playback to repeat as well. Plus, you get an option to listen to the music with or without the video (if available).When your party playlist is ready, hit the share button to post it to your Facebook and Twitter timeline.thepara.de

LARGE FILES

Email service providers impose restrictions on the size of file attachments.

Filemail, on the other hand, lets you share files up to 30GB in size for free without registering for the service. Just enter the recipient's email address followed by your own ID; click on the attachment icon to add files, and tap send. Your files are then uploaded onto Filemail's secure servers for seven days, after which they are deleted. Only those with the unique web link can access the files.Recipients can download the files individually; in a compressed (ZIP) format; via FTP and even through a BitTorrent client.

If you want to ensure that only intended recipients download your files, then use Send Anywhere. This service generates a 6-digit code, which recipients need to enter to gain access to the files. Install its Chrome extension and you can upload up to 10GB of data. For long term use, it is recommended that you register with Mega, which offers 50GB of free online space and the ability to encrypt data before uploading it to its servers. This ensures that only the owner and the one you share the data with can view the content.http:www.filemail.com | send-anywhere.com | mega.nz

DESKTOP SCREEN

Screen sharing can help provide a visual walkthrough of a project you are working on or simply give remote tech support to family. Google Hangouts and Skype include this functionality, but they require both parties to be registered users. With Screenleap, you only need to install the tool, then start a 30-minute screen-sharing session and email the meeting code to two viewers.

Register for the service and you can invite up to 8 people and hold an hour-long meeting.LightcomeiStockGetty Images You can share your desktop space, a specific area or an app. However, the free plan does not include audio-video conferencing.

If you want the latter, then try Zoom.

Attendees don't need to be registered users but will have to install a plug-in (130KB) in order to join the meeting within a web browser. You can host up to 50 participants, share your screen for up to 40 minutes and even record the meeting simultaneously .

http:www.screenleap.com | http:www.zoom.us

PASSWORDS

In case you need to share login details with a family member or a colleague, do not resort to plain text emails or an instant messenger. Instead, opt for a secure password management service like LastPass. Here, the recipient will also need to be a registered LastPass user.

Once this is done, you will be able give account access to website(s) without exposing the password to your recipients. Also, they cannot copy or forward this access to anybody else. You can update the password or revoke access, from your LastPass dashboard, at any point in time.

The user can view this access within the Sharing Center, under the Shared with Me tab. To sign in, visit the website, click on the sign-in page and let LassPass do the rest.

Alter natively, you can try Dashlane.

Its free plan lets you share up to five accounts with any number of registered contacts. Both services can be accessed with Android and iOS mobile apps.

Note that even though your passwords will not be visible, share your login details with the greatest of caution.

http:www.lastpass.com | http:www.dashlane.com

TOI29APR17