Firefox Universal Uploader (FireUploader)

The utility is pre-configured to connect to 13 different services, including Box.net, Flickr, Picasa, Youtube, Facebook, Google Docs, and others. You select the service from a pull-down menu, give FireUploader your login and password for that service, and can then transfer files to and from the service with the FireUploader interface.

A thumbnail view option makes it easier to identify pictures on your PC, but there's no accompanying option for viewing files on a site. That said, you can select an online picture and click the tab for the Information Panel on the bottom to see a thumbnail, along with the picture's height and width in pixels.

To transfer files you can drag-and-drop between panels, select a file and click and upload or download button, or drag-and-drop from Explorer into the panel that displays online files. You'll see transfer status in a panel on the bottom. In my tests, images I uploaded to Picasa showed up on the site immediately.

If you tend to upload many files to a number of different services, the Firefox Universal Uploader could save you time. It works well for image-oriented sites such as Picasa, but for others like Google Docs you might find the site's own interface easier to use.

Note: The download link takes you to the Mozilla add-on page, where you can automatically install the file into your browser.

--Erik Larkin