There are numerous automated download managers for Windows supporting major file-hosters like Rapidshare, Megaupload and Mediafire, but if you are looking for something which gets the job done on other platforms like Linux, open-source utility "Tucan Manager" would be the answer, developed in Phython the cross-platform utility lets users upload and download files on Rapidshare, Megaupload, Gigasize and Mediafire supporting both free and premium account functionality.

The fast and simple to use utility supports plugins making it easily extensible with other services, the application is in ALPHA stages and definitely posses a lot of potential considering its open-source multi-platform nature.

We have shared quite a few automated Rapidshare file-downloaders on this blog and here is yet another download manager for Rapidshare free users, free utility Rapidshare Auto Downloader lets you manage and download a group of Rapidshare links one after another without user intervention.

The interface is not intuitive and can definitely be worked upon for better navigation and ease of use, if you are looking for a decent Rapidshare download manager this will get the job done.

In an interesting development leading one-click file-hoster Rapidshare.Com announced public release of Rapidshare Application Programming Interface (API) meant for developers to create Rapidshare based applications, As per the official statement the Rapidshare API is now completed and will get released to public for external beta testing soon once comple

Free automated Rapidshare download utility Rapidshare Plus is now updated to version 3.1 with several new features, the new version supports automatic queue saving, support for Rapidshare link list, improved clipboard paste functionality, new minimize to tray function and advanced error handling capabilities to name a few.

You can now also configure Rapidshare Plus to auto-execute applications conditionally this can be helpful for executing IP renewal applications like automatic router re-connector.

Firefox extensions like RSFind makes copying Rapidshare links from webpages fast and simple, but it lacks the essential feature to check Rapidshare link validity, but no worries as the new extension named Unofficial RapidShare Tool takes care of small annoyances related to copying and validation of Rapidshare links automatically, apart from copying Rapidshare links to Clipboard, Text File, HTML and XML formats the free Firefox addon can also check validity of the links automatically with fully customizable color coding options to distinguish working and non-working Rapidshare links on a webpage.

Rapidshare.Com has decided to decrease the download limit for new premium customers to 80 GB per month from 300 GB earlier (10 GB per day), old premium account holders will continue to enjoy the earlier limits until they extend their premium account after the policy change.

Here is some good news for Rapidshare premium and collectors account users having lots of RapidPoints, Rapidshare has now started "RapidPoints Rewards" program allowing redemption of Rapidshare points for physical product gifts besides the option of converting them for premium account, the gifts include USB Missile thrower, Star Wars R2-D2 pepper mill, the Dalek helmet that deforms your voice and mini

In an on-going legal battle with GEMA, Rapidshare received an huge blow when a German court ruled that

RapidSpread is another free file mirror service similar to Uploadjockey but supporting even more file-mirrors, while Uploadjockey supports Rapidshare, Badongo, Easy-share, Zshare, Megaupload and Depositfiles, RapidSpread also supports Uploaded.to,Mediafire, Zippyshare, Sendspace, FileFactory and Imageshack.

Bad news for Rapidshare Premium users, the file-hoster has decided to cut back daily download quota for premium users to 4 GB daily from 10 GB earlier, which means a reduction from 50 GB per week to 28 GB per week.

In an official press-release the company announced: