Enhanced Dropbox

[SimpleSi]

I love dropbox but sometimes I'm on a computer without it(friends/parents/other schools than mine/admin computers at my schools) where it would be handy to be able to save a file to my dropbox account (to work on later) or to able to access my public/downloads folder where I've already stored something useful that I now need and I don't want to have to re-search the internet to find it again)

 

Now I can logon via web and do an upload/download but that is a lot of faff sometimes.

 

What I'd like is to be able to run a simple app (via web or pendrive) that temporarily gives me virtual access to my cloud file system

 

e.g to save a file - I just run an app (from web or pendrive) enter my password and I now have a drive letter (or something with same functionality) so I can just save the file and it gets uploaded to the cloud (and synced with my other computers)

 

To download - just run the app, enter password and be able to browse my cloud storage (as if it were local) and then open/run a file from it.

 

Dropbox doesn't do this at the moment (AFAICT) but do any of the other cloud/sync services do this?

 

regards

 

Simon

[mac_shinobi]

something like so :

 

DropboxPortableAHK - Portable Dropbox App

[SneakyBeaky]

Gladinet

GLADINET - Cloud Storage Access Platform & Solutions

Backup, access, sync, integration, connect and share solutions for cloud storage.

Runs when you start your computer and acts as an extra drive. Mine is synced with Skydrive.

[hit]

Definitely +1 vote for DropBoxPortableAHK. You can run multiple instances of it as well, I have a XP VM which runs all the SLT's Dropbox accounts as services using which means that they can log on anywhere, drop a document into their Dropbox folder on the network and the VM will deal with it for them so they don't have to worry about having to be logged into their own PC for the sync to happen.

[SimpleSi]

@mac_shinobi

No - not quite

I don't want to have to carry around a 50 GB pendrive copy of my cloud files - I want to run a portable app and then have my cloud files automagically appear as a normal windows folder/drive letter

@SneakyBeaky

seems to requires a full install

 

Si

[hit]

Oh, I see where you're going, the only thing I can think of is Otixo: Use all your cloud-based files from a single login which I have seen in use and worked pretty well, never used it myself though

[Arthur]

I don't want to have to carry around a 50 GB pendrive copy of my cloud files

Dropbox has selective sync so you don't necessary need a massive flash drive.

[hit]

Doesn't the selective sync thing only then give access to the files/folders you select. I think Si want functionality more like on an iPad which would be cool! Most of those appear to be app dependent though. Cloudon, quickoffice etc.

[Arthur]

Doesn't the selective sync thing only then give access to the files/folders you select.

It does, but I was thinking that you could use the selective sync feature to download only what you need and then go back into the preferences and disable the syncing for that folder or files so that they do not get synced when you next use Dropbox on a different computer. It is a lot of hassle though.

[Arthur]

Just had another idea. You could sign up for a free 50GB Box.net account and then access it via WebDAV (https://www.box.net/dav). Since practically every operating system includes WebDAV support (even XP ), you will be able to upload/download files no matter which computer you are using and without installing additional software.

[SimpleSi]

Close but no coconut

I mainly use XP machines and they won't map a drive letter to an https webdav thingy

 

Si

[hit]

I guess it's down to this then... Dropbox - Developers - Simplify your life anyone fancy a crack at it?

[Arthur]

I mainly use XP machines and they won't map a drive letter to an https webdav thingy

There's a workaround mentioned here which might be worth a try?

 

anyone fancy a crack at it?

FileStork?

Edited February 26, 2012 by Arthur

[mac_shinobi]

FileStork?

 

Is it all web based or can that run off a memory stick or what exactly ??

[Arthur]

It's entirely web-based. To upload files you would drag-and-drop them into your browser.

[SimpleSi]

Tried Gladinet today (on an admin staff room computer) and it worked fine to save a file to a Box account via a drive letter.

 

And just found this post Gladinet- Access Without Boundaries so I'll be giving that a go to see if it works.

 

Si

[Arthur]

@SimpleSi. Dropbox added a new feature to their website yesterday that you might be interested in.

 

Wanna see something awesome? If you use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, you can now upload files by dragging them from your desktop onto the Dropbox website. After Dropbox detects the upload, it’ll work its magic to get your stuff wherever you need it.

 

http://blog.dropbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/mac_drag_drop1.png

[SYNACK]

Pretty sure Skydrive has a simple drag and drop feature when silverlight is installed (probably has by windows update). Besides isn't web based cloudy transparency supposed to be the future.

[Arthur]

Pretty sure Skydrive has a simple drag and drop feature when Silverlight is installed

SkyDrive supports drag-and-dropping files without Silverlight in the browsers mentioned below...

 

Microsoft has also introduced drag and drop functionality for SkyDrive to allow users to upload files and photos using the HTML5 file API. Internet Explorer 10, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari all support this functionality. (Source)

 

What's disappointing about both SkyDrive and Dropbox is the file size limits when uploading through their websites - 100MB and 300MB respectively.

 

Besides isn't web based cloudy transparency supposed to be the future.

Supposedly.

[SimpleSi]

its a nice feature but not that great - more of a showing off exercise

 

I wonder how long before some company does what I want - 6months? a year??

 

Si