Out the Window Computer

Use Gmail as File Storage – This One Actually Works!

As is probably evident from the title, I have been attempting to use my G-mail as a file-store for a while now, with limited success. It isn’t just because of the huge amounts of space gMail affords, though that is nice. The main reason, of late, is to have a place online to store my PDF library that can also use Google’s fantastic PDF viewer.
Enter gSpace, a Firefox extension that allows me to use my gMail account as an FTP file host. I was skeptical at first but, in spite of the slightly cheesy website, it works just as advertised.

Once the Firefox extension is installed, just click Tools>Gspace, log in with your whole gMail address and password, and let the good times download. (Or upload, as the case may be.)  Though be aware, too much file transfer (an unusual amount, says Google) will cause your account to be suspended for 24 hours.  So, maybe, uploading your 8GB music collection in one go isn’t the greatest idea.

As a sidenote, gSpace did not work with Google Apps accounts at the time I tested it, so Apps loving users will have to create a new gMail account and set up a filter to forward gSpace messages if they really need to have those files in their Apps account.  Standard forward everything setups don’t work for whatever reason.  And note that a forward and delete filter will prevent viewing of files in your gSpace drive.

gSpace