Filed under: Software, Internet Tools
Dropbox now in public beta
Dropbox, my favorite FTP-free file sharing and transfer system, is now in public beta -- anyone can sign up to use the service, and you don't need an invite code.
Spokesperson Drew Houston said in a blog post that they launched the public beta at the TechCrunch50 conference in San Francisco.
I wrote about Dropbox in May, and it's still a regular part of my file transfer strategy with my clients. It's easy and fast, which makes it perfect for clients who don't want to spend a lot of time sending me files (or downloading them, for that matter).
If you need more than the free 2GB of storage, 50GB will be available next week for $10 monthly (or $100 annually).
Thanks, Josh!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jason said 2:19PM on 9-12-2008
Dropbox is the best. I'm a writer and use it to sync work files and it's such a relief to always know I have the version in the office and at home. If only MobileMe worked as quickly and reliably.
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Brian said 2:37PM on 9-12-2008
You made Dropbox sound good so I decided to try it. Unfortunately, immediately after install (and I'm almost 100% sure it must be related to the Dropbox software install as I nothing else going on), Spy Sweeper told me that it had blocked access to AD.FIRSTADSOLUTION.COM which is a known spyware site.
I'm deleting Dropbox right now -- I hope I don't have malware pop-ups that others have had...
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james miller said 3:09PM on 9-12-2008
That's odd. I don't believe its dropbox at all. I've installed it on multiple computers and have had no problems. Especially on my Mac. I say reinstall and see if it happens again.
Brian said 3:29PM on 9-12-2008
James, I installed it on Windows XP and immediately got that warning. I uninstalled it, rebooted and then decided to try reinstalling. When I reinstalled Dropbox, I did not get the warning.
Thanks for your response. I'm going to do some more malware checking but it looks like this was a weird coincidence and that Dropbox is OK. I'll post back here if I do find Dropbox to be the problem.
Jason said 5:31PM on 9-12-2008
Dude, you need to relax. This software is worth its weight in gold, but you would rather write a phobic comment at TUAW (something tells me your primary computer isn't a Mac, though) than do a little research on your Nazi web software blocker software.
Ingrate.
Brian said 5:44PM on 9-12-2008
Jason, you sound like the one that needs to relax. I merely reported what I observed. As I said already, I'm on Windows. I'm not going to comment on your "phobic", "ingrate", "Mac" and "Nazi web software" usage. I guess you think you're special.
And I am doing some more investigation...
Beerguy said 3:46PM on 9-12-2008
Have you actually read the T&Cs page?
It's a little frightening actually.
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SpinThis! said 4:15PM on 9-12-2008
Yeh, I can't imagine using a 3rd party website for exchanging files with businesses/clients. It's just bad form... especially when you're dealing with privileged information or graphics. You're not exactly exchanging nuclear launch codes, but to a client you may as well be.
Not only that but you can get your own domain and a webhost for next to nothing these days and control what goes in and out by adding a web-based interface or allowing clients to ftp stuff (if they're technically inclined). You may be on a "shared" web server but at least it appears you control it.
onefish2 said 3:57PM on 9-12-2008
I'd like to use this but it does not auto sync between my mac pro and the cloud/web site. Only syncs from the web site to me or if I quit and restart the app. Using latest client, no firewall or corp network, tried reboot...nada. Worked on the wife's intel iMac with no problem.
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Jason said 6:03PM on 9-12-2008
Ignore the wieners complaining here. Like I wrote, the software is amazing. Think about the combining the use of this software with small files and symlinks...Kind of like Mozilla Weave for all types of programs.
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BLUEFROG said 7:53PM on 9-12-2008
This disturbs me quite a bit from a copyright/business standpoint…
While you own the content contained in Your Files, you hereby grant all other Dropbox users and the public a non-exclusive, non-commercial, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, perpetual and irrevocable right and license to use and exploit Your Files in your public folder. In addition, you hereby grant Dropbox users who have been given access to your shared folder a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, perpetual and irrevocable right and license to use and exploit Your Files in your shared folder. You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary licenses, rights, consents and permissions to grant these licenses.
And why should DropBox be censoring anyone?! This is unsettling to me as well…
Post, publish or transmit any text, graphics, or material that: (i) is false or misleading; (ii) is defamatory; (iii) invades another’s privacy; (iv) is obscene, pornographic, or offensive; (v) promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any individual or group; (vi) infringes another’s rights, including any intellectual property rights; or (vii) violates, or encourages any conduct that would violate, any applicable law or regulation or would give rise to civil liability;
Interesting service but these legalities need to be cleared up.
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doug said 2:52PM on 9-13-2008
looks like pretty standard language to me. it is just CYA language for them. when you put the file in the share folder, this basically relieves them of any liability if you did not intend to do so. basically you are putting it on the internet and they do not want to be responsible if you do so. i think you can also link to images and other files they host, so they have the right to remove objectionable material. also, they will not host files that violates laws like child porn or something like that. here is the thing, if you do not like their terms of service, you are free not to sign up.
BLUEFROG said 3:05PM on 9-13-2008
I understand what they're doing, Doug but it's also a huge loophole for people to jump through if they wanted to steal something of yours and make money from it.
Also, child porn is a far cry from what they're saying. We all have the right to love or hate anyone and to say it whenever we want. If this service is supposed to be just like using our own hard drives remotely then it should not include such an umbrella clause about racism, etc.
I know… it's Business, and it's CYA. It's also very sad that that's how frightened people have become about litigation.
Thanks for your comments though.
Jim
PS: I am signed up for the service (I'm a Workflow Designer so I find it conceptually interesting for some projects I'm working on). But I also know that these clauses could limit the extent of usefulness of it if one were to take a broad look at what's being said.
Doug said 1:01AM on 9-14-2008
Don't be hatin'. I agree with you. The dropbox people probably agree with you, but their lawyers and investors aren't on board with the use of their service for any purpose. Membership comes with conditions. Just sayin.
I am using Jungle Disk as a backup right now. You or anyone else on here tried that service? Jungle Disk seems like a better backup solution whereas something like dropbox might be good for specific projects.
Josh said 11:56AM on 9-14-2008
Yay! My tip got posted. :D
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Jason said 8:44PM on 9-21-2008
While the terms are a bit disturbing, for personal use this is great. I do have one complaint—the fact that on Leopard (not sure on windows machines) it replaces the folder and document icons. I am fine with files having their proprietary icon overlays when they are within the dropbox folder, but when I take them out (say into my documents folder) I really want the green check-marks to go away. Is there a way to do this?
Jason
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