The clipboard is something we use probably every few minutes, but rarely see. Like an invisible aid, it stays out of the way and carries everything we cut and copy to every corner of our computer. Clipboards have been freed from the confines of the desktop and connected. And like their older cousins, online clipboards have uses that we generally ignore in favor of more visible mediums like email and social media.
Saving and sharing are the biggest reasons for giving rise to the many online clipboards you see. Whether it's snippets of text, links, or images, online clipboards help capture them in an instant and "transport" them elsewhere without the need to save them locally.
Online clipboards are also more flexible; You can communicate visually with those who allow you to use images. Some have built-in security features, protecting your data. Next, some clipboards are important programming tools, as they allow coders to share code snippets with the press of a key. His race is large and varied. Here are seven that I picked:
iClippy is a desktop client with a well polished interface. iClippy could be your faithful image capturing clipboard as it can capture anything from the screen, camera or scanner and make it searchable. iClippy has three types of accounts; The free account we are interested in allows you to store 100 images, but the image resolution is automatically reduced to 800 X 600 (enough for normal uses). You can make 1000 transfers per month, but they will travel with a small signature. iClippy installs as a desktop sidebar. Any image you crop can also be instantly shared to Twitter.
Characteristics to consider:
ControlC is also a similar desktop application that monitors your clipboard activity and automatically stores any copied text, images, PDF documents, etc. in the corresponding ControlC web account. Every time you select a piece of text and copy it somewhere, your desktop clipboard is synced with the protected ControlC account. You can configure ControlC to keep clipboard data private or make it public and available to other ControlC users. Advanced settings give you powerful search and management features.
Characteristics to consider:
From the iClippy, which comes with all the features, we come down to the simple use of WePaste. WePaste is an internet clipboard, where you type a word, create a link to share, and create a new page. As you can see in the screenshot above, I've created a page, pasted in some text, and now I can make it quick shareable by turning on link mode. You can also save it if you don't want to share it now. Formatting functions are provided.
Characteristics to consider:
With CopyTaste you can create your own private URL to share notes like WePaste. But the difference is that this service gives you an option to text, photo, video or just share a URL with your friends. You can keep the note public or private. Sharing public notes makes you part of the community by allowing comments, but if you want to remain anonymous, check the box next to - Make it private.
Characteristics to consider:
Pastie is a specialized online clipboard, and I think coding gurus will love it. Pastie is the one to go to if you want to paste, save, and share code snippets. Pastie has syntax support for a long line of languages from ActionScript to YAML (and more in between, I haven't even heard the names of). The service is built with Ruby on Rails and comes with advanced features like syntax highlighting and even IRC integration that may not be apparent at first.
Characteristics to consider:
Pastebin is another online code sharing clipboard that is useful when you need something in a hurry. It's also considered pretty well by programmers, though anyone else can use it to store any kind of text. You can set your own Pastebin account to public or private and keep what you store online anonymous. You can use Pastebin without registration, but then you are limited to 10 pastes daily. Free members with an account can use 20 pastes per day. There is a paid PRO account that allows up to 250 pastries per day.
Characteristics to consider:
ClipSync automatically syncs your Android clipboard with your Windows clipboard and vice versa. The Android app works with its sister app (ClipSync Server) that is installed on your Windows computer and communicates with it over the network or Wi-Fi. Both devices must be on the same network for clipboard sync to work. You can connect multiple computers or phones on the same network and share your clipboard. You just need to press CTRL + C on your computer and you can send the copied text to Android phone.
Characteristics to consider:
Any other online clipboard or clipboard sharing app you find or know of will come pretty close to the features showcased by these seven apps. Online clipboards give you another way to share something quickly, and are an extension of our use of old emails and social networks. But the big question as with any means of sharing on the web today is security. How secure are these online services?
Almost all of these services offer an option to keep things private or voluntarily expose them to the public. As I've mentioned with a service like ControlC and WePaste, password protection is another layer of security. Setting an expiration date for automatic deletion of pasted content is a viable alternative that you should always keep in mind. I couldn't find any mention of encryption standards on any of the services, so we just have to take their word for it. With that, of course I wouldn't keep my plans for world domination there. There are much better options like encrypted cloud storage for that sort of thing.
But if you're looking to share harmless clipboard content and other files quickly without bouts of paranoia, these services should be worth a favorite or two. What do you think? Do you use online clipboard to share snippets? And what kind are they? Share only your thoughts in the comments.
