We have referred to Amazon’s S3 storage infrastructure in past reviews of Jungledisk. If you are searching for a more direct method of using Amazon S3 for file storage and retrieval then you should try Bucket Explorer.
Bucket Explorer is exactly what the name implies. The explorer means that you will be able to upload, download, and perform common file operations on an Amazon S3 bucket. The operations are somewhat similar to Windows Explorer except much more powerful and intuitive. By the way, a bucket on S3 is simply a folder. For some reason Amazon decided it was up to them to change the vernacular. They could have just stuck with share or something a bit more universal. Amazon does not have a trademark on the word “Bucket” They could possibly do so though. LOUIS VUITTON of France tried to trademark the word in relation to a purse. The application died on July 30th, 2008.
You can download the software for a free, 30-day trial. After the trial, you will need to purchase a copy for $49.95 per user. This includes versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux. There are not any volume discounts. You will also need an Amazon S3 account of course to utilize the software, because Amazon does charge for the storage based on the amount stored as well as upload and download.
The Bucket Explorer web site does have some great demonstration videos on not only how to use the software, but also how to use S3 as a web site host. They walk you through how to create a URL to your Amazon hosted files, sharing to users, and even how to enable bucket logging so you can count visitors.
Another feature of Bucket Explorer is the ease to setup shared buckets. This would allow you to share files with another S3 user that you choose. Great application for large collaborative projects such as large print files or such. Just remember that the party sets up the shared bucket will also be responsible for any upload, download, or storage fees associated with the bucket. Your friend will also need an Amazon account. You will use their Amazon identity email to share the bucket. This is a lot like having a server share without all of the upfront costs, setup hassles, and electric bill for a constant running server.
Jungledisk now also offers ostensibly what is supposed to be a similar service called Jungledisk Workgroups. I have not tested it, but I hope to do so soon.