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File Sharing and Storage Services

FolderSync USB keys are great for shuttling files around, but how do you ensure that you have the most recent versions of your files? Easy: You use FolderSync to sync files between any two folders.

BeInSync If carrying a USB key is too much trouble, use BeInSync to ensure that you always have access to your most critical files. It keeps folders, IE favorites, and Outlook e-mail and contacts automatically (and virtually instantly) synchronized between up to five PCs. You can share files with other people, too.

FolderShare Like BeInSync, FolderShare keeps data files synchronized between multiple computers. It won't sync Outlook data, but it does have an OS X version, so you can use it to sync between PCs and Macs. Note: Microsoft has acquired FolderShare's maker (also called FolderShare). A Microsoft representative says that the program will remain free.

Flickr This popular photo-sharing service makes uploading pics, sharing them with others, or posting them to your Weblog a breeze. If you upload full-size images, though, you'll quickly burn through the paltry 20MB monthly upload limit.

Kodak EasyShare Gallery Sure, Kodak wants you to upload photos so you'll be tempted to buy prints from its site. (And it'll delete your galleries if you don't order anything for a year.) But this site's usability, mobile-phone access options, and lack of upload restrictions make it our top pick for photo sharing. The photo prints look attractive, too. Tip: A 15-cent order--okay, $1.65 with tax and shipping--is all it takes to keep your galleries alive.

Yahoo Briefcase Its interface is almost starkly simple--which is why we like Yahoo Briefcase. It's one of the easiest ways we know of to store and share files (up to 30MB of them) online.

BitTorrent You may have heard that some folks use BitTorrent to trade copyrighted music and movies. But it's useful for downloading legitimate content quickly or for sharing your own (though creating "torrents," or files you want to share, is quite a bit trickier than downloading them).

Avvenu Like many file sharing services, this one lets you access your files in a Web browser. What's unique about Avvenu is that it lets you browse files and view thumbnails of images from a cell phone or PDA, too. No need to upload files to a server--the files stay on your desktop.