ControlC turns clipboards into social networking tool

Sick of installing bookmarklets or browser plug-ins to save and share links with other people? Want to simply want to keep a record of all the text, links, or pictures copied to a computer's clipboard? Then check out ControlC. ControlC is a new service that's halfway between a social bookmarking tool, and an archive utility.

Mac, Linux, and PC users can install this small application that will keep a record of their computer's clipboard content and automatically upload it to a feed. Uploaded items remain private until the user manually "unlocks" them for public viewing. Other users can then befriend one another and keep an eye on each others feeds, as they would messages on microblogging services, such as Twitter.

The service is free to use, but after five days older clipboard items are hidden. For $20, buyers get six months of access to the history, along with the option to import and export the data, get first dibs on upgraded software, and access to the customer support forums.

There are several other (local) software-based clipboard archiving and productivity applications, which can be found on CNET Download.com (here's a sample search). I would like to see ControlC add some of multiclipboard management options that makes tools such as M8 and Real Clipboard so useful for power users who like to keep a lot of items in a temporary cache.

Note: ControlC is in private beta, but register using code "beta4040" on this page until 11:59 PM PST tonight to test the service.

[via TechCrunch]

Keep an eye on your clipboard items, or those captured from other folks using ControlC. The service uses a small application that's almost like spyware to log clipboard items and upload them to ControlC's servers.

(Credit: CNET Networks)