DropBox Puts a Refreshing Spin on Online Storage Backup & File Syncing
By Alexander Grundner |
March 19th, 2008
Comments (2)
Imagine if you could sync files between your Windows and Mac PCs, backup all those files to an online storage service, get instant updates to modified files, be able to access content from any web browser, and have the ability to “roll back” files to previous versions. Well, soon you will from an early stage startup called DropBox. So, if you thought FolderShare was where it’s at, have a look at the following demo produced by DropBox’s own, Drew Houston.
GigaOm reports the service ties into Amazon S3 for its online storage faculties and Wired notes that the trick Windows and Mac desktop clients are written in cross-platform Python, so a Linux port may still be in the stars when the service goes public. Price: free to private Beta users, but word is DropBox plans on charging a nominal subscription fee of some sort in the future (makes sense since storage on Amazon S3 isn’t free).
March 20th, 2008 at 4:49 am
I hope they don’t charge a fee…I use JungleDisk, which also uses S3. I paid a one time fee for lifetime upgrades to JungelDisk, but I have to foot the bill for my S3 space. Unless DropBox plans on footing the S3 bill for EVERY USER, charging a subscription fee would be adding insult to injury.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Good point, Scopique. You might be right… a rev model like JungleDisk makes more sense for both users and software developers — plus it’s more transparent. However, if DropBox did handle the Amazon S3 stuff on their end as well in the background, that might make things easier for all levels of users. It will be interesting to see what their final approach will be.