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Humyo.com is offering 30 gigs of online storage for free with every account sign up . The catch is 25 gigs is restricted to media files such as music and video, five is for whatever you want, and anything over that will cost you.
The website interface uses a Java Applet to drag and drop files to and from your online account. You can create folders, sort by type and edit files directly within the browser. Editing and sharing files via the web interface makes the online storage somewhat unique by simulating a shared drive and enabling collaboration.
Downloading via the web page is a little clunky -- you can only download one file at a time. Humyo explains that instead of developing a way to permit mass downloads, development will focus on making it easy to access all your files online. Although it is unsaid, it will also probably also prevent software piracy.
Perhaps the most useful feature of Humyo's offering is its Windows desktop client. The client emulates a network drive, complete with any files or folders you created or uploaded online. You can download and upload just as if you were moving files around on your computer. You can even play the media directly through iTunes or Windows Media Player.
Humyo's desktop client is impressive because it blurs the line between the "cloud" and desktop software. You would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the Humyo drive or any local area network drive that appears under "My Computer."
Of course, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Humyo makes their money by getting you to pay for the Premium account which will run you $59.99 for the first year, $79.99 after that. As with any online storage, you will probably want to hold on to the original files in case Humyo goes down. The client software comes with a 14 day trial, after that you'll have to pay for the Premium account.
Humyo's service is an example of what is next in store for the web. Apple's MobileMe, announced in June, promises online synchronization between computers through online, mobile and desktop interfaces. MobileMe will be available to Mac users this summer for a hefty $99/year. Dropbox promises similar functionality for the Mac but is currently limited to beta testers by invite only.
Other services focus on the transfer of files rather than accessibility. Drop.io is a favorite and doesn't require an account. Drop.io works like TinyURL for files. You can upload a file under 100 mb and share it with friends with a simple URL.
[via Makeuseof.com]
