Okay Geek Farm
Minus.com offers 10GB free space - A social file-sharing app
Brandon Davenport
We’ve all used file hosting and sharing sites like Megaupload, Rapidshare and Mediafire to share files and download files to have for our own. To make money, these sites require you to sign up for a membership, and to persuade you to do that, they imply restrictions on activity. Minus is doing something different, and 10GB of free space sounds rad, but there are some risks…
Following, sharing and more
Minus is a different beast when it comes to file-sharing. The cool part is they give you 10GB of free space and unlimited downloads, but another thing is Minus seems to be a bit more social. You can follow people and see what they’re sharing, and gain followers so they can access your content. It seems a little out of place for a file-sharing app, and we don’t see any redeeming qualities with the “follow” gimmick, but the service is still young so we’ll have to see if it ties in down the road.
The overall goal of Minus is to allow people to share files using one app, instead of a bunch of different ones. The usage case is much like that of CloudApp, or Dropbox, where the files you store can be shared with a small URL and downloaded by anyone. We really like the idea, and the 10GB of free storage already sets it apart from other file sharing services and apps — it’s all starting to make sense. A traditional file-sharing site with the vibe of Dropbox and CloudApp.
Another cool thing is the slick design and being able to drag and drop files from your computer, into Minus using your browser. They also have a bunch of apps, and a nifty API to allow developers to tie their apps in to Minus and allow users to store stuff. It’s all really interesting, and we’re starting to really get a vibe for it — in fact, we uploaded a little goodie for you to watch and test out Minus.
There are a few risks however
Quoted from Minus TOS by ichundes - “However, Minus Inc reserves the right to release user information if user has violated the Minus Inc Terms of Service, if the user has committed unlawful acts, if the information is subpoenaed, or if Minus Inc deems it necessary or appropriate.”
In normal terms, this means once Minus has your personal info, they can do whatever they want with it (all services like this impose similar risks). They may also be able to view your files, so make sure you stay within the TOS and be mindful of the info you give Minus, or any similar service. User info is most likely how Minus will make money, and it may in fact be impossible to use the service 100% risk free, but we still do reccomend giving Minus a look. It’s really slick and it’s a great app — just be mindful of the info you give them.
If Minus wants to comment, email us — team[at]okaygeek.com
