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An iPad edition of Mailbox is in development, as are Android and desktop versions, tweets by the app's development team indicate. The iPad app is said to be "coming soon," while the Android and desktop apps are on a longer-term roadmap. Support for other platforms may also be possible.
We live in a world positively soaked in data nowadays. Fortunately, the capacity to store that data has gotten bigger in volume, smaller in physical size, and cheaper per gigabyte as time progresses. Gone are the days where you'd have to lug a Zip disk around (remember those?) or stick your iPod into disk mode. At worst, you're carrying a USB drive with you -- though really, you should be relying on the cloud for by now. The issue is figuring out just what you're going to be keeping up there.
More than two months after its original launch, the Dropbox-owned Mailbox iOS app is now available without a need to wait in line. Thanks to Dropbox's acquisition, the developers have been able to scale the Mailbox service to deliver more than 100 million messages per day, giving them the confidence to remove the reservation system. Mailbox looks to improve upon existing iOS email implementations via a gesture system that simplifies common actions, such as archiving or trashing messages.
Dropbox has rebranded its group-based offering, in order to pull in more corporate business. The change from 'Dropbox for Teams' to 'Dropbox for Business' comes at the same time as the cloud-based storage provider introduces a single sign-on feature, as well as overall support for five new languages.
In fashion, trends come and go like breezes: quick, occasionally refreshing, and usually leaving little trace that they were there in the first place. It's the same in the world of computing, where we've gone in the space of a few years from desktops and iPods to ultrabooks and smartphones. One thing has remained constant amidst the ever-changing standards of computer form factors, though: you need a place to hold your stuff. Thus, among the fleeting fads there's one computing trend that looks like it might have staying power: cloud storage.
Microsoft may name its upcoming operating system refresh Windows 8.1, if a leaked image is proven correct. A screenshot posted on WinForum.eu and confirmed by sources of ZDNet shows the leaked Windows Blue build adding a suffix to the Windows 8 name instead of using Windows 9. The RT edition will be known as Windows RT 8.1. Though unlikely, it is still possible for Microsoft to give the OS update a different name, as a firm release date has yet to be set.
Following on the heels of its acquisition by cloud storage provider Dropbox, the iPhone-only app Mailbox (free) has announced that it has reached the one million user mark as part of its slow rollout of the application, which organizes email using a "to-do" style approach that essentially turns email into a checklist, with a variety of options to date or put off a window when the email will be replied to or acted on. To celebrate the user milestone, the company issued a minor update to the app that adds a "shake to undo" feature.
Cloud storage service Dropbox has absorbed Orchestra, the developers of the iPhone app Mailbox, according to an official blog post. Neither party has disclosed any details of the arrangement, such as whether a buyout was involved, or if Dropbox simply agreed to hire the Orchestra team. Dropbox says, however, that it's "looking forward to making Mailbox even better and getting it into as many people's hands as possible."
Cloud storage service Dropbox has released a significant update of its Mac client, bringing the software up to v2.0. The core change is the addition of a new drop-down interface, as accessed from the Menu Bar. The app should now also offer faster filesharing, including the ability to accept or reject shared files from the software, instead of having to visit dropbox.com.
Cloud service Dropbox has announced a new platform feature, dubbed Documents Preview. The option lets people get a glimpse at the contents of files without having to open them in their native apps. At present, only some filetypes are being supported, such as .doc, .docx, PowerPoint, and PDF; Excel is a notable omission. So far, only the web and Android versions of Dropbox have been upgraded to include the new feature, and full web deployment may take several months.
BitTorrent has announced plans to offer a new service that utilizes peer-to-peer technology to synchronize personal files between multiple devices. The project, which is still in its pre-Alpha testing stage, aims to directly synchronize content without relying on cloud caching, accordingto details posted by GigaOM.
An unusual photo was posted to Facebook showing a CEO dinner gathering -- hosted by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer -- that included a significant number of tech CEOs from a wide array of companies, and notably included Sir Jonathan Ive, Apple's SVP of Design. Ive was perhaps the only non-CEO at the table, but was seated next to Mayer in the rare, candid shot. Attendee Mike Cassidy -- of Google X, the experimental project arm of Google -- posted the photo, which includes executives from Dropbox, Path, Twitter, Yelp and more.
Cloud-storage service Dropbox has acquired Snapjoy, a photograph aggregation site. Snapjoy collects together images captured on a camera or phone, as well as those posted on social sites such as Twitter, Instagram, and Flickr, and allowed users to view their entire collection through an app for iOS or the service's website.
Popular cloud-storage provider Dropbox moved to further differentiate itself from competitors today, acquiring Seattle-based music streaming service Audiogalaxy. While Dropbox has not yet commented on the acquisition, Audiogalaxy, in announcing the deal, said its team was excited to bring "great new experiences" to Dropbox's more than 100 million users. The peer-to-peer streaming service is no longer accepting new users, but its current users can continue to use the personal streaming features of the service.
Microsoft has issued a software update for its Surface RT device, the first for the device since it launched last month. The update is said to improve app launch times and to patch a number of known security issues with Windows RT. It does not apparently, though, address an audio stuttering issue that has been pointed out on the device.
Microsoft has sold over four million upgrades for Windows 8 in the first few days after its launch. Speaking at the Build developers event on the Microsoft campus, CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed the number in his keynote speech, alongside announcements for more Windows 8 apps, such as PayPal, Dropbox, and ESPN.
The Dropbox app for Android received an update today, bringing changes to the user interface as well as a number of bug fixes. The new app allows users to view preview thumbnails of their uploaded photos and videos under a new Photos tab. Uploads have also been moved to the menu in the file browser. The new version is available as a free download in the Google Play Store.
Dropbox has released a major update for its pre-release Experimental Edition software. The v1.5.27 release has been rebuilt using Python 2.7, which should result in improved performance, and includes new Retina-ready graphics. It is also bundled with a simple installer and offers support for Mountain Lion's Notification Center. As this is the first release of a major new build, Dropbox has stressed that users should backup all of their data before installing. One major issue has also already been found, resulting in slow startup times on OS X.
Cloud storage provider Dropbox has faced a security breach on Tuesday, where users' accounts received spam messages. The users report that Dropbox may have leaked the addresses themselves, since the claim to have made up ones solely for use with the service. Dropbox has hired a third party to investigate these allegations and any leak on its part.
The beta version of iCloud.com is now displaying Reminders and Notes apps, users observe. At the moment, the regular iCloud.com site is limited to Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Find My iPhone, and iWork. 9to5Mac notes that the beta code contains hidden strings asking a person to "first sign in to iCloud with the iOS 6 Beta," which may hint that iOS 6 and an updated iCloud.com will premiere simultaneously, possibly at WWDC in June.
We've given Google Drive a quick tour to gauge how well it works as well as give a preview for when the eventual iOS app arrives. It promises relatively tight integration between Google services, but does it work well, and is there anything to make Dropbox users switch? Read ahead for a quick look.
Google as hinted has launched Google Drive, its own turn at cloud storage. The platform focuses on not just accessing files but working on them, including live collaboration through Google Docs on formats it supports. Drive makes details searchable and will convert scanned-in documents to text as well as check images for recognizable landmarks that can be searched later.
Dropbox has updated its cloud storage service, adding new ways to share files. As noted on the company blog, users can now share files and folders anywhere in their Dropbox using newly created links.
The often-rumored Google Drive might have at last settled on a more definitive launch plan that would include true cross-platform access. A draft press release sliped to The Next Web had the service more closely following the Dropbox formula, where files were stored in a syncing folder or folders on a Mac or Windows PC. Although widely suspected, it's now believed to have an iOS app to match the Android and desktop components.
Later this month, Dropbox plans on launching a promotion giving HTC phone owners with devices that include the HTC Sense 4.0 app 23GB of online storage free for two years. Some industrious individuals found a work around that would let anybody, whether or not they owned such a phone, to leverage the deal. Dropbox has now issued an advisory that it is on to the scheme, and anybody who signed up for the storage in this manner will soon find themselves without it.
Signs that Google Drive is near ready mounted late Thursday with leaks promising more features. A screen cap of a pre-release download page for a Windows app has shown TalkAndroid that it should have 5GB of free space, not the 1GB rumored at one point. The same page also mentions phones and tablets in a sign mobile is a core part of Drive.
Google's long-upcoming Google Drive might be close to a real launch after leaks on Tuesday. The cloud storage service was slated by GigaOm sources to be coming during the first week of April. It would potentially be a step back from Dropbox, providing 1GB for free instead of 2GB and thus bringing more people into the paid version.
Cloud storage provider Dropbox has just launched a newly redesigned website for members. The focus is on user's contents, with tools to access them readily accessible from the action bar at the top of the screen. It can be used to organize files by date, name, size, and type. Clicking on a file will change the bar to offer more specialized, immediately relevant options.
Following the release of a beta version of its Dropbox for Android that automatically syncs users photos to their cloud-based Dropbox storage space, Dropbox has now released the app to the Android Market. Although very similar to the way that Apple’s iCloud-based Photostream service, or the equivalent Google+ service works, Dropbox CEO Drew Houston holds the view that neither service is currently in wide use. Further, most people still don’t use Macs and the Google+ service downscales photos, where the Dropbox service does not.
Google is said to be close to launching its own cloud-storage service that is set to compete with Dropbox. The tip-off was offered to the Wall Street Journal, which says that it has talked to ‘people familiar with the matter.’ The long-rumored service dubbed 'Drive' will offer users the ability to store all types of files and make the sharing of those files simple by allowing them to stream a video directly from the cloud, for example.
Online storage space provider Dropbox has just released an experimental release of its Android app that will automatically upload videos or photos in the background. The Camera Upload feature allows for unlimited file sizes (previously limited to 180MB), and the first photo uploaded automatically gives users 500MB of free space. Any interrupted uploads can be resumed as well without having to restart them from scratch.
Sony's Android-powered PRS-T1 e-reader has been found to enable a fast refresh rate, which makes the screen behave more like a touchscreen rather than a slowly refreshing e-paper screen. The eBook Reader's Nathan found a way to enter the device into a semi-permanent partial page refresh state, which makes scrolling through non-Sony apps like the Dropbox app and root explorer much easier. It's said to make Android apps work more fluidly as well.
Software developer Insync is offering a free front-end to Google's cloud-based storage service. The company claims that its app in conjunction with Google storage provides enhanced sharing capabilities at a lower cost than rival Dropbox. Insync hopes to derive its revenues through offering value-added services such as secure remote wiping of local Google Docs at a premium.
Dropbox has introduced a test build of its desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux machines. The beta release now enables users to automatically import photos and videos. The system initiates the upload process when a camera, phone or SD card is connected to the computer.
Following the preview of the updated version of Dropbox with Android 4.0 optimizations, Dropbox 2.0 (Free, Android Market) for Android is now live on the Android Market. The popular cloud-based file storage and sharing service has been given a UI overhaul along with is Ice Cream Sandwich compatibility. Early user reviews, particularly those running ICE have been positive, although some users are complaining about changes to the way the delete function now works.
Dropbox has announced that it is set to release an updated version of its Android app, which brings a range of optimizations for Google's latest Ice Cream Sandwich builds. The interface has received a number of tweaks, including an improved gallery view, single-tap acces to file and folder actions, and separate tabs for 'Dropbox', 'Uploads' and 'Favorites'.
Sparrow, a lightweight IMAP e-mail client that boasts a clean, minimalist style and a variety of views to please users has grown to version 1.5, which adds Dropbox support in addition to CloudApp support to make attaching files faster and easier. The new version also offers the option to block images to help with spam control (images can be restored on a case-by-case basis) and a "dramatically improved" search function.
Pogoplug has released Pogoplug Cloud, an online storage service for smartphones, tablets and computers. The company is currently running an introductory promotion which offers subscribers up to 5GB storage. Mobile users can download a free app to access the service (free, App Store, Android Market).
Dropbox founder and CEO Drew Houston has used an interview (embedded below) to outline his plans for the future of the popular cloud-based file syncing service. Currently, the service enjoys the patronage of over 45 million users who use its current system of online folders to keep whatever files they drop into them in sync across devices. Houston, however, sees the future of Dropbox as moving well beyond its existing approach.
HTC on Monday expanded its free 5GB Dropbox plan to come with "all" its Android phones. The Facebook update revealed that all its future Android phones will come preloaded with the Dropbox app and qualify for the 5GB free plan. It had previously focused on the Rhyme and hadn't said it would preload the app.
Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs offered a massive amount of cash to buy Dropbox, but was rejected, a new Forbes piece reveals. In December 2009, Jobs invited Dropbox founders Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi to his office at Apple's Cupertino headquarters. Houston recalls being intimidated. "I mean, Steve friggin’ Jobs," he comments. "How do you even prepare for that?"
Apple and Dropbox took rare political stances Thursday by joining Digital Due Process. The coalition, which includes technology firms like Comcast and eBay as well as the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation, is primarily interested in toughening laws barring law enforcement from snooping on computers and mobile devices without a warrant. Recent campaigns have focused on modernizing the ECPA (Electronic Communications Privacy Act), a 1986 bill that doesn't account for many modern Internet components.
HTC has just concluded a partnership with Dropbox to bring 5GB of cloud storage service to owners of its Android smartphones with HTC Sense 3.5 skin. The scheme will go live in October and applies to the maker's latest smartphones, such as the HTC Rhyme. Those who are eligible and sign up for a Dropbox account with the new phone will get 3GB on top of the free 2GB Dropbox offers anyone who signs up.
Eltima has launched an update of its sync tool, SyncMate 3.1. The software syncs data from Macs to other Macs, PCs and a wide variety of mobile and external storage devices. Version 3.1 adds syncing of images, videos, contacts, calendars, Entourage and Mail notes, folders and Stickies to iOS devices -- any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad running iOS 3 or iOS 4 -- and can mount iPhones as a Mac disk for access to the call history and SMS messages on the phone. Dropbox sync has also been added.
Dropbox has had a complaint (PDF) filed against it with the FTC by a well-known security researcher. The cloud-based file storage site, which recently clocked up 25 million users, is alleged to be falsely advertising the security of its services. The allegation comes against the backdrop of the Sony PSN data breach fiasco that exposed the personal information of over 77 million users, the result of apparently lax security. Since Sony’s woes emerged, along with privacy concerns with Google and Apple, many have questioned the integrity of the masses of personal information stored on data servers around the world.
Dropbox has just announced that it reached a milestone 25 million users for its cloud-based storage service that lets users stream their own music from the web. The service is available in 175 countries and Monday also marks its newfound availability in Spanish, German, French and Japanese in addition to English. The company grew significantly since just four million subscribers one year and three months ago.
We had the opportunity to get a quick test of a new service from Gogobeans at the ShowStoppers event at CTIA on Monday night. The Android, iPad, and Android app gives you a cloud locker, much akin to Dropbox, but is both more flexible and more interesting to use. It can not only share media but also shares what would normally be a URL; a contact, a website or even an App Store or Android Market title becomes a "bean" that you can push to a friend, who downloads it from your locker rather than from your device.
Aimed at close-knit circles of friends or workmates who need to be able to reliably chat, share links and files, Aptonic's Frenzy is a miniature social network app that uses a hidden folder on the popular Dropbox cloud-storage service to host a simple chat service. It features a Twitter-like stream of feed items, a easy-access menubar item and works with popular Mac browsers to make it quick to share a link or file along with an optional message, and then return to the application users were working in.
Dropbox today ended a long beta phase and posted Dropbox 1.0 with new features in tow. The cloud storage app now has selective sync and can share just certain photos with the Internet service. Performance has also been given a lift both in response and efficiency, as it only uses half as much memory as it did before.
Dropbox, which provides apps for mobile devices that let users share files and documents, today released its first app for BlackBerry phones as well as Android and iOS updates. The new Dropbox for BlackBerry app can be downloaded today and includes core features such as upload progress, file sync and more. It should cooperate with any other Dropbox-supporting platform and connect over both 3G and Wi-Fi.
