Filed under: Software, Internet Tools
Dropbox: Seamless file upload and sharing
I don't know about y'all, but the beta service Dropbox has personally answered my prayers. It's an amazing piece of web software that integrates with the Finder, and allows you to seamlessly copy files up to the web for sharing -- and not use FTP.
Dropbox exists (through some kind of magic, I'm sure) in your home directory as a folder named "Dropbox." There, you can copy files to and from it just as you would any other kind of folder. File copying is pretty perky. A 1MB file took about 15 seconds over my broadband connection. As someone who still cringes at uploading files via the Finder (hi, early .Mac user here), this was a pleasant surprise.
One thing I wasn't expecting was that since the Dropbox folder appears to "live inside" your home directory, the default Finder behavior of moving files (and not copying them, as you might expect) applies. I was still of the FTP mindset that "I am copying files to the internet." So hold down that option key.
Beta accounts of Dropbox include 2GB of storage. (If you need more, SugarSync, OmniDrive, or JungleDisk might be options for you.) You can also add multiple computers to the same account, and have access to a common Dropbox among all of them.
My favorite feature, though, is being able to upload files to a "Public" folder, and have a URL automatically assigned to them. I have a Transmit bookmarklet that already does this (though, it uploads it to my own website), but I have to type out the URL manually. Dropbox's contextual-menu item saves me that trouble, and I can just paste the URL into my email.
Dropbox is still in public beta, so if you know a friend who got a beta signup code, then they got 10 invitations as well. So bring chocolates, flowers, cash, or whatever it takes to get an invitation. They will disappear quickly.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 16)
Justin said 2:05PM on 5-22-2008
Robert -- care to share an invite? :)
Reply
Robert Palmer said 2:05PM on 5-22-2008
Sadly, I'm all out. :)
HB said 6:00AM on 5-23-2008
I have invites sitting around waiting to be used. Email me at henrybuswell.junk**at**gmail.com and I'll try to send you one.
Maikel said 2:07PM on 5-22-2008
If anybody comes over an invite, please be a darling and share...
homemadefading hotmail com
Reply
Tony Pitale said 2:58PM on 5-22-2008
Anyone email me with a request. I have 6 invites left.
tony dot pitale at gmail dot com
Tim Hart said 2:12PM on 5-22-2008
I'd also love an invite at TimHartattack@hotmail.com. Thanks in advance!!
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Brandon Quintana said 2:17PM on 5-22-2008
I've been using this service too and I think it works quite well compared to the .Mac account. I usually create a shared folder for my clients and that gives them easy access back and forth to documents.
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Matias said 2:19PM on 5-22-2008
I would be great to test this service, if anyone want to send me an invitation, please?
By the way, did any of you tried using DropShare to share files without copying them to a server? Is fast and works great if you need to send something to anyone right away without using any IM service. Take a look: http://www.dropshare.net/
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gil said 2:24PM on 5-22-2008
I love, love Dropbox. Sadly I'm also out of invites. This is one program to watch for sure. Their are many Mac users in the forum and the dev's do not forget us at all.
Just to make the article clear, it's '5GB' free at this point. I'm willing to pay for this service, it's very good.
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Justin said 2:27PM on 5-22-2008
might as well put my addy up too..
jschwalbe - gmail
thanks, if anyone has an invite to spare! looks like a cool thing.
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Bruno said 2:29PM on 5-22-2008
Hi, Please I need one of those! I'm a graphic designer and this could be my saviour. Thanks in advance!!
Bruno
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welchb said 2:31PM on 5-22-2008
I signed up for the beta when this was covered over at lifehacker months ago. Still no invite *\:=
welchb%gmail if anyone has an extra.. much grac
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Ronnie said 2:32PM on 5-22-2008
Wow... this is incredible! It would save my ass so many times over! If anyone has an invite (DropBox guys... are you listening?!) please send the TUAW faithful an invite!
aronan -- gmail
:) thanks!!
Reply
Grant Wall said 2:33PM on 5-22-2008
I would love an invite to this, I am on their beta list, but nothing yet =(
fp118grant (at) vfs (dawt) com
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George said 2:39PM on 5-22-2008
Yeah I have been on the beta for months now, still no luck.
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cristiana said 2:41PM on 5-22-2008
I saw this a few weeks ago, and I thought it was great, so I also would like an invite if someone has any to share cristiana .yambo -- gmail
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jonathan said 2:42PM on 5-22-2008
I have been using dropbox for a few weeks and I love it. I could be wrong, but I don't think it appears to live on your hard drive, I think it does live on your hard drive, and it just updates a remote copy.
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Dennis Eickhorst said 2:46PM on 5-22-2008
Ditto for myself. Signed up months ago when someone posted a link to the video and the blog on the dropbox website. Still haven't gotten in and would love to use this service to manage project files between my personal macbook pro and my work computer.
dennis.eickhorst @ gmail
Thanks so much in advance if anyone can forward me a beta invite!
Much appreciated and Regards,
Dennis
Steve McKenna said 2:43PM on 5-22-2008
I too would love one. steve mckenna ca
Reply
Steve McKenna said 2:44PM on 5-22-2008
steve (.at.) mckenna (.dot.) ca