- Image via CrunchBase
Dropbox (see previous CloudAve coverage), the cloud based storage vendor, announced the release of Version 1.0 of their product. Ben wrote about Dropbox in the early part of 2010 and I have been following them ever since they came out in open. I am a Sugarsync customer but I have a great opinion about Dropbox because they were one of the few cloud storage providers who offered a Linux app. It is not just a command line app but a plugin well integrated with Nautilus File Manager (of GNOME desktop environment). Not just that, they are the most versatile of all cloud providers offering API for third party app developers to play with and even offering access through webDAV.
They have stayed below version 1.0 for a long time. They have a freemium model. Even though their free plan is just 2 GB, their premium plans are aggressively priced and I expect them to reduce the price sometime soon because Box.net has already set a standard on how low the pricing can go down. The cloud storage space is too crowded and we will soon see a shakeup in the space. It will be interesting to see how Dropbox maneuvers itself against the competition from the likes of Sugarsync, Box.net, etc..
Dropbox is now confident about the quality of their code and it could be the reason for their move to Version 1.0 of the app after launching it long back in beta. Some of the functionalities of this new version includes:
- Very high performance – Increased speed and a reduction in memory usage by 50%
- Better user experience – Made more intuitive and their Mac version was completely rewritten to use only Cocoa so Dropbox looks and feels much more native on the Mac
- Selective Sync – A new feature that will come handy for users of netbooks and Macbook Air where they may have a smaller hard disk. Even though this feature was available for Sugarsync and few other services, this is a new one for Dropbox
- Extended Attribute Sync – Syncs file attributes stored like resource forks in Mac where files contains a secret area where apps store important data
Even though I am not a big user of Dropbox, it has gained lots of traction among the users. In a way, it has become synonymous with consumer cloud storage. It will be interesting to see where they go from here.
Related articles
- Dropbox hits 1.0 (dropbox.com)
- File Sharing – Dropbox v1.0.2 RC (lockergnome.com)
- Dropbox For Mac Hits Version 1.0 (macstories.net)
- DropDAV Lets You Access Your Dropbox via WebDAV [Dropbox] (lifehacker.com)
“Even though I am not a big user of Dropbox, it has gained lots of traction among the users.”
Krissie boy, I hardly think people use or don’t use certain services because of you.
I do think it interesting that Dropbox has built quite a recognizable brand name despite so much more funding that has gone to competitors like SugarSync. Krishnan, what do you make of their API? I say that’s been a big driver in their wider applications.
I am actually a critic of Dropbox however. I basically do not trust putting my sensitive information in the hands of ‘consumer cloud’ storage. I prefer to sync/backup everything over my own WiFi.
Syncables, while less funded, has a much better product for this use-case, in my opinion. I have everything I need (from videos to emails) in sync between all of my computers. And, I can sync media between my computers and my Droid.
Lauren, I am not a developer but I have heard good things about their API from my conversations with developers.