Dropbox’s Features Separate it from Cloud Service Competitors

Dropbox’s Features Separate it from Cloud Service Competitors

As cloud computing becomes accessible to the average consumer, cloud services have greatly increased in number. Services like iCloud offer a complete PC experience through a Web browser. Others, like Gmail, are mainly used for contact and calendar synchronization to mobile devices. While there are few that find the balance of simplicity and features, Dropbox is one of the best.

At first Dropbox appears to be simple file access via the cloud, but it’s ease of use and cross platform accessibility make it a powerful application. Going to Dropbox.com immediately reveals its simplicity.  A login for current users is placed at the top right of the site and big “Download Dropbox” button right in the middle. It’s available for Windows, Mac and Linux and can be accessed from every major browser. There are three tiers to choose from, Free, $10 per month and $20 per month. With them you get 2, 50 and 100 GB of cloud storage respectively. If you plan on using the cloud for office documents and a few photos, the free plan will work for most. $10 per month for 50GB is a great price point.

[login]

When you download Dropbox, you get at Dropbox folder to place anywhere on your desktop or laptop computer. Once the folder is installed, any file you place in it will automatically be synchronized to the cloud. What’s great is you don’t have to choose between uploading a file to the cloud and keeping a hard copy on your computer. Your files are still local and they’re duplicated to the cloud without having to think about it. Any change to the file made on your computer or in the cloud will also be synchronized automatically.

The automatic synchronization also makes Dropbox a great backup service. If you get in the habit of placing most of your files in the Dropbox folder, you’ll have an up-to-date backup for your files all the time. When you’re away from your physical computer, accessing these files is just as easy using Dropbox.com. Any files in the cloud can be downloaded through the web browser, and you can manually upload files as well. From Dropbox.com, you can easily share files via e-mail or make them public for collaboration, even large files.

Another strength of Dropbox is its mobile device access. With a free iPhone and iPad app, you can view, share or download any file from your Dropbox. There are other third-party apps that can access Dropbox files. “Print n Share,” available on the iPhone or iPad, can browse your Dropbox and save files locally to your device. From here, the app can print your documents to any wireless or network connected printer. Files can be exported to third-party PDF viewers, FTP apps, and iBook’s. Using the Dropbox app also allows sharing of any file via e-mail directly from the device. Besides Apple devices, Dropbox also makes a native application for all Android phones, giving you viewable and sharing access to all your files.

With its many advantages over the competition, Dropbox still has shortcomings. There is no contact or calendar sync, something that’s available through Apple’s MobileMe, Gmail and other services. It doesn’t give you a full desktop-like experience through the web. When you log into some services, like iCloud, it gives you a full desktop, start menu, music and video player, calendar, contacts, and even “installable” applications. There are office style apps for iCloud that allow you to compose full word documents while in a web browser. These kinds of features are absent from Dropbox, and while they add functionality, they also create complexity which may turn some users off.

The simplicity and cross-platform compatibility of Dropbox make it a great first step into cloud computing. Other cloud services have a free trial period and then require you to purchase access. Dropbox gives you 2GB of storage for free, forever. If you’re looking for an automated backup service, this is the cheapest you’ll find. And if you’re a mobile businessman or road warrior, Dropbox makes cloud services affordable and accessible regardless of the platform you use. This is definitely one of the best cloud services available today, and worthy of your attention.

devx-admin

devx-admin

Share the Post:
Malyasian Networks

Malaysia’s Dual 5G Network Growth

On Wednesday, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the country’s plan to implement a dual 5G network strategy. This move is designed to achieve a

Advanced Drones Race

Pentagon’s Bold Race for Advanced Drones

The Pentagon has recently unveiled its ambitious strategy to acquire thousands of sophisticated drones within the next two years. This decision comes in response to

Important Updates

You Need to See the New Microsoft Updates

Microsoft has recently announced a series of new features and updates across their applications, including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint. These new developments are centered

Price Wars

Inside Hyundai and Kia’s Price Wars

South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are cutting the prices on a number of their electric vehicles (EVs) in response to growing price competition within

Solar Frenzy Surprises

Solar Subsidy in Germany Causes Frenzy

In a shocking turn of events, the German national KfW bank was forced to discontinue its home solar power subsidy program for charging electric vehicles

Malyasian Networks

Malaysia’s Dual 5G Network Growth

On Wednesday, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the country’s plan to implement a dual 5G network strategy. This move is designed to achieve a more equitable incorporation of both

Advanced Drones Race

Pentagon’s Bold Race for Advanced Drones

The Pentagon has recently unveiled its ambitious strategy to acquire thousands of sophisticated drones within the next two years. This decision comes in response to Russia’s rapid utilization of airborne

Important Updates

You Need to See the New Microsoft Updates

Microsoft has recently announced a series of new features and updates across their applications, including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint. These new developments are centered around improving user experience, streamlining

Price Wars

Inside Hyundai and Kia’s Price Wars

South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are cutting the prices on a number of their electric vehicles (EVs) in response to growing price competition within the South Korean market. Many

Solar Frenzy Surprises

Solar Subsidy in Germany Causes Frenzy

In a shocking turn of events, the German national KfW bank was forced to discontinue its home solar power subsidy program for charging electric vehicles (EVs) after just one day,

Electric Spare

Electric Cars Ditch Spare Tires for Efficiency

Ira Newlander from West Los Angeles is thinking about trading in his old Ford Explorer for a contemporary hybrid or electric vehicle. However, he has observed that the majority of

Solar Geoengineering Impacts

Unraveling Solar Geoengineering’s Hidden Impacts

As we continue to face the repercussions of climate change, scientists and experts seek innovative ways to mitigate its impacts. Solar geoengineering (SG), a technique involving the distribution of aerosols

Razer Discount

Unbelievable Razer Blade 17 Discount

On September 24, 2023, it was reported that Razer, a popular brand in the premium gaming laptop industry, is offering an exceptional deal on their Razer Blade 17 model. Typically

Innovation Ignition

New Fintech Innovation Ignites Change

The fintech sector continues to attract substantial interest, as demonstrated by a dedicated fintech stage at a recent event featuring panel discussions and informal conversations with industry professionals. The gathering,

Import Easing

Easing Import Rules for Big Tech

India has chosen to ease its proposed restrictions on imports of laptops, tablets, and other IT hardware, allowing manufacturers like Apple Inc., HP Inc., and Dell Technologies Inc. more time

Semiconductor Stock Plummet

Dramatic Downturn in Semiconductor Stocks Looms

Recent events show that the S&P Semiconductors Select Industry Index seems to be experiencing a downturn, which could result in a decline in semiconductor stocks. Known as a key indicator

Anthropic Investment

Amazon’s Bold Anthropic Investment

On Monday, Amazon announced its plan to invest up to $4 billion in the AI firm Anthropic, acquiring a minority stake in the process. This decision demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to

AI Experts Get Hired

Tech Industry Rehiring Wave: AI Experts Wanted

A few months ago, Big Tech companies were downsizing their workforce, but currently, many are considering rehiring some of these employees, especially in popular fields such as artificial intelligence. The

Lagos Migration

Middle-Class Migration: Undermining Democracy?

As the middle class in Lagos, Nigeria, increasingly migrates to private communities, a PhD scholar from a leading technology institute has been investigating the impact of this development on democratic

AI Software Development

ChatGPT is Now Making Video Games

Pietro Schirano’s foray into using ChatGPT, an AI tool for programming, has opened up new vistas in game and software development. As design lead at business finance firm Brex, Schirano

Llama Codebot

Developers! Here’s Your Chatbot

Meta Platforms has recently unveiled Code Llama, a free chatbot designed to aid developers in crafting coding scripts. This large language model (LLM), developed using Meta’s Llama 2 model, serves

Tech Layoffs

Unraveling the Tech Sector’s Historic Job Losses

Throughout 2023, the tech sector has experienced a record-breaking number of job losses, impacting tens of thousands of workers across various companies, including well-established corporations and emerging startups in areas

Chinese 5G Limitation

Germany Considers Limiting Chinese 5G Tech

A recent report has put forth the possibility that Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community may consider limiting the use of Chinese 5G technology by local network providers

Modern Warfare

The Barak Tank is Transforming Modern Warfare

The Barak tank is a groundbreaking addition to the Israeli Defense Forces’ arsenal, significantly enhancing their combat capabilities. This AI-powered military vehicle is expected to transform the way modern warfare

AI Cheating Growth

AI Plagiarism Challenges Shake Academic Integrity

As generative AI technologies like ChatGPT become increasingly prevalent among students and raise concerns about widespread cheating, prominent universities have halted their use of AI detection software, such as Turnitin’s

US Commitment

US Approves Sustainable Battery Research

The US Department of Energy has revealed a $325 million commitment in the research of innovative battery types, designed to enable solar and wind power as continuous, 24-hour energy sources.

Netanyahu Musk AI

Netanyahu and Musk Discuss AI Future

On September 22, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with entrepreneur Elon Musk in San Francisco prior to attending the United Nations. In a live-streamed discussion, Netanyahu lauded Musk