Dropbox & Data Usage

[Budza]

TLDR: Can you selectively download files from Shared Dropbox folder, or do you have to sync all contents

I have Dropbox installed on 3 PCs and my Android Phone.

I need to share some photos with family- about 4GB worth (my account is on 6GB free storage).

If I upload it from PC #1, do all other PCs and my phone automagically sync (IE, download) what I've just upped?

Ideally, I'd like to avoid that. I see there is an option to set certain folder to manual sync/selective sync. Does this do the trick?

Also, some family members are stuck in the stone age- think dial up, or 500MB 3G accounts. Obviously, they'll get nailed if they sync all contents of these folders.

Are they able to view what's in these folders before choosing to download the photos (thumbnails). I can't see any preview options in Dropbox, or mention of it in their FAQs.

As there are a few people accessing the shared folder, I'm uploading photos that might not appeal to all- does Dropbox insist you download the lot? Most would prefer to cherry pick pics relevant to them...

There's no mention of data usage anywhere on their site- 1st world people just don't have that worry

If M$ Skydrive or similar is a better option here, please let me know.

 

[bwana]

Why not set up a new dropbox account and then share the details with everyone? Dropbox does have a gallery so it should work.

4gb of photos sounds like a lot though. What resolution are the images?

EDIT - with the latest beta version of Dropbox they're giving away storage for people who test the new photo upload service - up to 4gb iirc.

 

[Budza]

Why not set up a new dropbox account and then share the details with everyone? Dropbox does have a gallery so it should work.

4gb of photos sounds like a lot though. What resolution are the images?

EDIT - with the latest beta version of Dropbox they're giving away storage for people who test the new photo upload service - up to 4gb iirc.

I'll try that now- thanks. Sounds like the public link allows you to choose what you want, whereas if it's the installed version you're using, it syncs everything. Apparently I'm a "Dropbox Guru" :erm: hence the 6GB. Think it's 'cause I have it across multiple devices...

Images are from a 600D, with a few videos. Going back over the last few family outings, so it's more the number of pics than size per pic

 

[PsyWulf]

To be honest,i'd create a skydrive account and just upload it there and share the folder link to them,they can browse the gallery online

 

[Budza]

To be honest,i'd create a skydrive account and just upload it there and share the folder link to them,they can browse the gallery online

I think I'll need to play with both and see what the techno-troglodytes are most comfortable with. I just wish Skydrive integrated as well as Dropbox. It's amazing that it doesn't :wtf:

 

[PsyWulf]

I think I'll need to play with both and see what the techno-troglodytes are most comfortable with. I just wish Skydrive integrated as well as Dropbox. It's amazing that it doesn't :wtf:

It's on purpose They want you to buy space on the "desktop sync" version
I got a workable android app and windows app,dump anything that i don't critically need available for myself on it,lots of free space,and the web ui is probably the best between them all

 

[rorz0r]

TLDR answer: Yes. Preferences > Advanced > Selective Sync...

 

[Elimentals]

Personally I use Picasa https://picasaweb.google.com for my pictures. (Copy my photo's to my phone's SD Card)

Much better than dropbox as I can set my pictures to share with link, public share or totally private by album. If you use the Google+ Android app all photo's uploaded from your phone does not eat the available space so you can sit with 50+ gig of pictures online at no extra cost, just as long as its uploaded with the phone. Small workaround but it works.

If you use the Picasa App or web it does eat into the 1 gig space, but you can either buy more or tell the App to Auto resize for web to limit usage.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

If they are on the same network, then they sync on the network and not the internet