Webware100

Site: Bittorrent.com
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

BitTorrent is an advanced peer-to-peer sharing technology that runs using a client system. To share and transfer files, users must be running a BitTorrent software client on their computer. Some Web browsers, such as Opera, have built-in BitTorrent clients as part of their technology.

BitTorrent works by splitting up files into tiny bits of data that can be shared in any order. Users work together to make the file available on demand. Even if just one person has an entire file initially, eventually after sharing it with others, the speed for downloading increases.

To share and download files using BitTorrent, users must first open a torrent file that contains tracking information to get things started. BitTorrent has become quite controversial as a result of sites and services that have sprung up to track and host these tracking files (including The Pirate Bay, whose founders were recently sentenced to prison time). While the technology remains a really great way to take the burden off servers and put it on to the users, it's a hotbed for piracy of music, movies, software, and other intellectual property.

(Credit: CNET)

Site: Skydrive.live.com
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

Windows Live SkyDrive is Microsoft's free Web storage service. Users get 25GB of space in the cloud where they can safely keep their files, and they can log in to access those them with their Microsoft Live ID.

One of the things that makes SkyDrive neat is the desktop integration. Windows users who are running Internet Explorer can run a special SkyDrive-specific ActiveX control that lets them drag and drop files from their desktop to upload to their Web storage. SkyDrive is also beginning to be integrated into other Windows Live services like Spaces, which means users can have a central repository of files and access them from any of Microsoft's online services.

(Credit: CNET)

Site: OpenID.net
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

OpenID is a solution for the log-in problem of having multiple identities online. With OpenID, you create one master identity online at a site you use a lot and tend to remain logged into--for instance, a social network or your personal blog. When you need to identify yourself to another new site, you point that site toward your main identity-providing site where you're already logged in. Your main site sends the new site your log-in credentials, so the new site now knows who you are.

In theory, if OpenID was adopted on every Web site around the Web, you'd need only one universal log-in and could forgo the often tedious practice of remembering user names and passwords. In recent years OpenID has seen growing competition from companies like Google and Facebook, which are pushing competing services.

(Credit: CNET)

Site: Carbonite.com
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

Carbonite is an online storage provider that specializes in backup. Users install a small piece of software on their machine, which automatically syncs any new or changed files over a secured connection. In case of an emergency, you can simply use the software to get everything back, and because it's not localized to where your machine is, you can get that backup from wherever you have a connection.

Carbonite isn't a free service, but there's no limit on the size of your computer's backup, something which makes it more attractive as the speed of home Internet connections continues to rise.

(Credit: CNET)

Site: Developers.facebook.com/connect.php
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

Facebook Connect is a login platform that lets users sign into sites or services that aren't Facebook, with their Facebook credentials. This means they can enjoy most or all of the benefits of being a registered user for that service, without the need to sign up and provide things like e-mail addresses, or any other personal information. Instead, that log-in is going through Facebook, and the user has controls over what that site can do all in one place.

Since opening up in late 2008, Facebook Connect has been growing in adoption. Most recently it's been integrated into the popular Digg.com. It can also be found in a multitude of Apple iPhone applications, since Facebook launched a portable version of it back in March.

(Credit: CNET)

Site: GetDropbox.com
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

Dropbox is a file storage service that syncs up files between multiple machines. Once installed, you gain access to a virtual folder that will stay synced up and pass along any new additions, deletions, or changes. All the while, the service keeps snapshots of every version of a file that's been changed, which means you can go back and retrieve older iterations.

Dropbox also lets users create shared versions of these folders, so multiple users can contribute or make changes to a collection of group files and make sure everyone is using the most up-to-date versions.

Dropbox has both a Web and desktop component. The desktop software lets you forget worries about re-uploading while you make changes, and feels just like a native folder on Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs. And Dropbox's site lets you get at all your files, no matter where you are.

(Credit: CNET)

Site: Adobe.com/products/air
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

Adobe's AIR platform lets users on multiple computing platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux) use the same applications. Because the runtime platform is identical, developers can focus on making one version of that product, and making it well.

Since launching to developers in early 2007, there are now more than 500 applications for the runtime, many of which go in tandem with existing Web services. AIR has also allowed developers to make hybrid applications, or desktop tools that can integrate with various Web services, while still allowing some offline functionality that Web browsers don't yet have. This includes things like taskbar and dock notifications.

AIR is currently in its first major version, and continues to be developed alongside advances to Adobe's other Web plug-ins.

(Credit: CNET)

Site: Mozy.com
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

Mozy is an online storage provider that specializes in backup. Users install a small piece of software on their machine, and it automatically syncs any new or changed files over a secured connection. In case of an emergency, you can simply use the software to get everything back, and because it's not localized to where your machine is, you can get that backup from wherever you have a connection.

Along with its home service, Mozy operates a more advanced version for business users that adds things like storage pooling, administrative controls, extra security, and enhanced support.

(Credit: CNET)

Site: Dropio
Category: Infrastructure & Storage

Dropio is an online storage provider that packages Web storage in chunks called "drops." There is a free version of the service that lets users share files up to 100MB in size. And those looking for more can invest in drops up to 25GB in size, whose contents won't expire for three years.

Dropio is not set up to be a long-term storage provider. Instead, it's for people who want to share and collaborate on large files. It's also got some neat features not found elsewhere, like a real-time view of activity within a drop, and a pay wall that lets you charge others to get at the content you've got stored in your drop. There's also a Firefox add-on that adds things like drag-and-drop from your desktop, and a speedier way to create new drops.

(Credit: CNET)