Use cases for that innovative way of sharing files?
Hi everyone,
Almost by accident I found an approach to let anyone share local files over internet with just a web browser. No app to install, no data to pre-upload in the cloud, no account to create.
The user selects some local files using the native "browse files" button. Instantaneously, the file are available for listing and streaming over internet behind a unique url. See screenshots at the end of the post.
The user simply closes the tab to stop serving his files.
With this approach, you can literally host websites and stream huge files (like movies) directly from your mobile phone.
So far, this is just a tech. But I feel it could help in some ways:
- to share documents that you don't want to copy (even temporarily) in a third party cloud storage/messaging/mail service
- to let others browse thousands of your local files and download just the few they need
- to exchange files with people you don't know nor want to exchange personal information (email, phone number, telegram id, etc)
What do you think of this?
Would it be useful for you?
What use case do you think it can cover?
I'd appreciate your feedbacks :)
Below the screenshots of a quick prototype to help understanding the sharing process.
User 1 selects a bunch of files or a folder to share. This generates a unique url to access the files.
User 2 opens the url and can browse/stream the files.
User 1 can see what's going on with his files.
I updated the prototype with slightly better visuals and added the ability to download folders as a zip.
Cool idea. I don't know if you've seed https://www.sharedrop.io/ but they have a similar service except the listing part I think.
There is also https://snapdrop.net/ (used a couple of times)
Thanks, good finding!
It seems very similar to Trango, same UI and underlying technology: https://www.indiehackers.com/post/trango-is-a-p2p-lan-based-audio-video-calling-and-file-sharing-webapp-cross-platform-and-free-d05dc7e6e7
My webapp is almost solely focussed on transfer ease. One click to select the files/folder to host, one QR scan to list them, one click to download (as a real HTTPS stream). No app to install. No storage in the cloud. All with a browser.
I guess I'll keep it as simple as possible. With an incoming feature to download a zip when multiple files are selected and an optional end-to-end encryption.
Pretty cool. If I didn't have Dropbox premium, I would definitely consider using something like this.
I'd recommend creating a download all -- maybe zipping them for the download.
When you upload multiple files, or a folder, it would be a pain to download each file separately.
Thanks for your feedback.
Yeah this is definitely not a competitor of Dropbox.
One advantage however is that nothing is stored anywhere. Transmitting a file doesn't require uploading it completely in the cloud and only then downloading it. It is streamed instantaneously. Hence you are not required to buy online storage. Also there is no need to clean up anything.
[edit: Dropbox is a STORAGE service. This is a TRANSFER service.]
The zip feature is definitely a good one!
Ah, now that is super cool. I really like the P2P nature of that file sharing via browser.
So much more practical than uploading.
I think with a nice UX, and some "Share Files & Folders. No Uploads Necessary." & "Safe & Encrypted" type messaging, I think it could be a very cool service that people would use. (Doing transfer securely, I think, would be important)
Some other little tweaks:
I don't think the QR Code is overly helpful on Desktop -- mostly on mobile. If I'm on a desktop, it's easier for me to copy a link, and send it. Though if I'm on mobile, and I take a screen shot of the QR code, and send it to someone, I can't initially envision how the recipient would use it.
You may want to make "Share This Link: click to copy link to clipboard" function. I didn't initially realize I needed to copy the link to share it.
If you need UX help, you may be able to find some help here:
https://www.indiehackers.com/group/design-and-ux
Neat tool! Gonna bookmark it. Keep me posted.
Thanks for your new feedback and your enthusiasm!
This is definitely a prototype. I even came with a name just yesterday: sharify (as it is about "making things sharable" and also because every other domain names are taken).
It lacks landing page for sure, I'll get inspiration from your quotes ;)
Haha, we agree, a QR code can't be easily scanned by a PC.
For computer to mobile transfer, the computer can visit https://proto.sharify.net/static/server.html (mobile can scan the generate QR).
For mobile to computer transfer, the computer can visit https://proto.sharify.net/static/client.html (mobile can scan the generate QR).
For mobile to mobile transfer, any entry page is relevant (any mobile can scan the QR of the other).
For PC to PC transfer, QR codes are useless and I'll add other ways to share links (currently you need to "copy link address" with a right click on the link that appears below the QR code).
Very cool!
Alt domain idea: sharemyfiles.io (It's available -- personally not a fan of .net domain extensions)
Someone posted on this the other day - did you happen to see their post?
No I didn't see any post about that prior to mine.
After a quick search, I found this post that introduces some live sharing over network. Is that the one you had in mind?
https://www.indiehackers.com/post/trango-is-a-p2p-lan-based-audio-video-calling-and-file-sharing-webapp-cross-platform-and-free-d05dc7e6e7
Indeed Trango is an impressive service!
Mine is simpler and doesn't cover the same needs: no need to be on the same local network, ability to browse shared files
I went back and found it - I was referring to this post: https://www.indiehackers.com/post/give-me-your-opinion-is-it-worth-it-as-a-product-a66380bd4f?commentId=-MDwyy453yoP-x7h5mcu
Thanks for digging up!
Omg, that is indeed very very close.
Tiny differences: I'm sharing multiple files or a full folder, not just one.
And currently I don't support end-to-end encryption (I guess it would make impossible to stream a video as the browser won't detect the media).
Actually, I am working on an online platform where remote apps can access users' files through a unified API that connects Dropbox, GDrive, OneDrive, Box. We added "local files" to that list. This is why my approach literally "serves users' files" over internet.
Cool - I actually used a service about 6 months ago that does something similar - https://www.multcloud.com/
I know there are differences but maybe gives you some ideas. Good luck!
Yeah it looks like a "third-party storage service" aggregator (like https://kloudless.com/cloud-storage-api/).
We could use such services but since our customers only use Dropbox, OneDrive, GDrive and Box. So we decided to handle the connection (from our platform to these services) ourselves.
I deployed the prototype.
https://proto.sharify.net/static/server.html
With just that link, you can serve your local files over internet at will :)