For a few months now, my friends and I have been using this software called Dropbox. It’s really cool, check out the video:
Dropbox is a service that synchronizes files between computers and the web. Once you add a computer to your Dropbox account, the Dropbox software creates a folder in your My Documents folder, the contents of which are synchronized across all computers linked to your account, as well as the Dropbox server. Whenever files are changed, only the difference in the file is updated across the network, minimizing bandwidth requirements. You can also have shared folders with other users, the files update as they normally do across all computers in the network. Finally, all old versions of the files are stored, and are accessible via a web interface at the Dropbox website. While my friends use this mostly for swapping photos and legally acquired mp3s, the possibilities for business are many.
Given the versioning, synchronizing and web accessibility, integrating Dropbox with a company wiki would fantastic. No more uploading and downloading the latest version of files, you’d just open the file in your Dropbox share and save it when you’re done. Then, if you had to grab it from another computer, you log in through the web interface and download the latest version. It basically makes every file a wiki.
This system is similar to the new Mobile Me platform that Apple has announced, and is a solid step towards the world of cloud computing and storage. The concept of Wikinomics brings about lots of potential, but software like Dropbox really empowers users to collaborate en-masse easily and quickly. I highly recommend it.
Also, I’ve got 10 invites to give away, post a comment with your e-mail if you’d like one.
Having been in the dropbox beta for quite some time (and the one who introduced the service to Jeff), I have already adapted the service into my work environment. As an application developer for a university, I often bring work home in the evenings and dropbox has greatly simplified this process. Every evening I log off with the satisfaction of knowing that all the files I need in the evening are already on my desktop at home, and my laptop. Any changes I make while away from my workstation, are automatically updated the next time I log on. No more need for clumsy USB flash memory, or the inefficient ‘email to myself’ process, dropbox just works without hassle or thinking. Having employed other ‘cloud technologies’ to better organize my life, such as having all my email redirected to google’s webmail, dropbox is another step towards complete workstation independence. I very much look forward to implementing apple’s ‘mobile me’ technology.
This has a lot of potential and is far simpler than other shared web folders. I work in IT security and we’re always struggling with sharing files across computers and numerous virtual machines. I’d love an invite. Thanks
I’ve been watching Dropbox for some time now (without a beta account). It looks very promising, and may be a great bridge to get people’s data out into the cloud. The evolution of this type of service is exactly what will be needed to really merge personal computing and web2.0.
I would *love* an invite, if you have any left! Thanks.
Would love an invite!
I’ve been trying a number of services including Foldershare, MediaMax and even WebDAV to Dreamhost… they all work, sort of, but with limitations.
If DropBox works as shown in the tour it may be the answer for our whole family.
If you have any invites left, please might I have one, it seems that there is a bit of a queue on the site, and we could do with an account for a project that we are doing.
Wikinomics and Risk Management The economic "risk bubble" has broken, and it's going to take significant changes to restore long-term confidence in the financial services market. In Risk Management 2.0: Overcoming the Current Financial Crisis and Restoring Stability and Prosperity with a New Perspective on Risk, Bob Tapscott and I outline how this industry needs to be redesigned to [...]
Seems like a great application of “the cloud” - I would love an invite.
Thanks!
Comment by Jeremy - June 30, 2008 5:12 pm
Having been in the dropbox beta for quite some time (and the one who introduced the service to Jeff), I have already adapted the service into my work environment. As an application developer for a university, I often bring work home in the evenings and dropbox has greatly simplified this process. Every evening I log off with the satisfaction of knowing that all the files I need in the evening are already on my desktop at home, and my laptop. Any changes I make while away from my workstation, are automatically updated the next time I log on. No more need for clumsy USB flash memory, or the inefficient ‘email to myself’ process, dropbox just works without hassle or thinking. Having employed other ‘cloud technologies’ to better organize my life, such as having all my email redirected to google’s webmail, dropbox is another step towards complete workstation independence. I very much look forward to implementing apple’s ‘mobile me’ technology.
Comment by Nicholas Osborne - June 30, 2008 5:57 pm
This sounds great. I’d love an invite, thanks.
Comment by Clay - June 30, 2008 8:33 pm
This has a lot of potential and is far simpler than other shared web folders. I work in IT security and we’re always struggling with sharing files across computers and numerous virtual machines. I’d love an invite. Thanks
Comment by Josh - July 1, 2008 8:52 am
I’ve been watching Dropbox for some time now (without a beta account). It looks very promising, and may be a great bridge to get people’s data out into the cloud. The evolution of this type of service is exactly what will be needed to really merge personal computing and web2.0.
I would *love* an invite, if you have any left! Thanks.
Comment by Chuck - July 1, 2008 11:20 am
Invites sent, five to go.
Comment by Jeff DeChambeau - July 1, 2008 12:50 pm
I’d appreciate receiving an invite if you still have one. Thanks.
Comment by Jim - July 2, 2008 2:35 am
Would love an invite!
I’ve been trying a number of services including Foldershare, MediaMax and even WebDAV to Dreamhost… they all work, sort of, but with limitations.
If DropBox works as shown in the tour it may be the answer for our whole family.
Comment by Jay - July 2, 2008 6:28 am
Sent.
Comment by Jeff DeChambeau - July 2, 2008 8:41 am
I’d appreciate an invite as well!
I’m really waiting for MobileMe, but dropbox seems like a very capable service!
Thanks in advance!
Cheers
Comment by Levi Figueira - July 2, 2008 3:51 pm
Please send an invite if you have any left!
Comment by Edgar Costa - July 2, 2008 4:37 pm
This looks like it’s exactly what I’m looking for. Would love an invite!
Comment by Jim - July 2, 2008 4:43 pm
Hi, Jeff
I wanna thank you for the invitation
Cheers
Comment by Edgar Costa - July 2, 2008 9:15 pm
hi there Jeff, good article there. Whoo needs time capsule! this service is awsome.
Can i have an invitation?
Comment by Célia Leocádio - July 3, 2008 6:57 am
Sent. It turns out I can add more people than I thought, so feel free to keep asking.
Comment by Jeff DeChambeau - July 3, 2008 4:23 pm
If you have an invite, I would be most appreciative!
Thanks in advance.
lesleyyeo at yahoo dot com
Comment by Lesley - July 3, 2008 4:58 pm
I too had been waiting for mobile me but this sounds better. I would love an invite bdmccabe at gmail dot com if you can spare one. Thanks!
Comment by Brian - July 3, 2008 9:12 pm
If somebody has a spare invite ! I’m here !
Comment by Luis Otavio Ribas - July 19, 2008 9:26 pm
[...] a mesma linha, conheci atrávés do blog Wikinomics o [...]
Pingback by DropBox - “Google’s Cloud” em funcionamento » Blog Fabrique ! - July 20, 2008 10:07 am
If you have any invites left, please might I have one, it seems that there is a bit of a queue on the site, and we could do with an account for a project that we are doing.
Many thanks
RobD London
Comment by RobD - August 6, 2008 2:36 pm