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FILE HOSTING SERVICEBy: Trevor LeonardApplied Technology
What is it? Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by Americancompany Dropbox, Inc., headquartered in SanFrancisco, California, that offers cloud storage, filesynchronization, and personal cloud software. Dropbox creates a special folder on the user'scomputer, the contents of which are then synchronizedto Dropbox's servers and to other computers anddevices that the user has installed Dropbox on, keepingthe same files up-to-date on all devices.
How Does itWork & KeyFeatures Dropbox uses a freemium business model, where usersare offered a free account with a set storage size, withpaid subscriptions available that offer more capacityand additional features. Dropbox Basic users are given 2 gigabytes of freestorage space. Dropbox Plus users are given 1 terabyte of storagespace, as well as additional features, includingadvanced sharing controls, remote wipe, and anoptional Extended Version History add-on. Dropbox offers computer apps for Microsoft Windows,Apple macOS, and Linux computers, and mobile appsfor iOS, Android, and Windows Phone smartphonesand tablets.
GettingStarted When getting ready to utilize the software, go todropbox.com To use the software, you must first set up an accountusing your name, email, and a password You must also agree to the Dropbox terms of use toproceed with registration For easier, more user friendly use, you can choose todownload the Dropbox app as soon as you create youraccount and log in.– Dropbox will then create a folder on your computerwhere you can save files, and the files will be synced withthe Dropbox server so that they can be accessed almostanywhere, anytime
Tips andTricks Once you download the Dropbox app, and itsuccessfully creates a folder on your computer forstorage, the folder will contain a getting started guideon how to use the app This guide will show you how to upload files to thewebsite, how to upload items by dragging them to thefolder stored on your computer, and how to share fileswith other users.
Benefits/Challenges Benefits– Files can be uploaded from a computer, mobile phone, ortablet– Uploaded files can be updated simultaneously fromanywhere with an internet connection, and accessed onany of the devices listed above– Files can be shared with other users so that they can viewand edit them for a great way of group collaboration– An app can be downloaded onto any of these devices tomake for easier access instead of having to use thewebsite to upload items, if preferred Challenges– The free version of the application only allows for twogigabytes of storage
How can theapplicationyour team exploredsupport decisionmaking, problemsolving, andproject managementat an organizationlike UC and/or theemployers for whomthe members of yourteam work? This application doesn’t really support decision makingor problem solving This application would greatly help with projectmanagement at an organization like the University ofCincinnati because documents can be shared with oneanother easily, accessed from almost anywhere, andcan be edited simultaneously Employers could also use this for employees to sharedocuments if necessary, but most businesses wouldprobably use a technology created by/for theircompany for added security of documents andinformation
Do you havesecurityconcernsrelative to theapplicationyour teamexplored? Dropbox has been the subject of criticism andcontroversy related to multiple incidents, including aJune 2011 authentication problem that let accounts beaccessed for several hours without passwords, a July2011 Privacy Policy update with language suggestingDropbox had ownership of users' data, concerns aboutDropbox employee access to users' information, theleak of 68 million account passwords on the Internet inAugust 2016, and a January 2017 accidental datarestoration incident where years-old supposedlydeleted files reappeared in users' account If you were a student using Dropbox for nonconfidential course work, this site could be for you, butif you were a business person using it to store filesimportant to your company, you may want to thinkabout using a safer company or software with a bettertrack record
Demonstration
Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by American company Dropbox, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, California, that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, and personal cloud software. Dropbox creates a special folder on the user's computer, the contents of which are then synchronized to Dropbox's servers and to other computers and devices that the user has installed .
