Dropbox platform revamp aims to make users even more productive

Dropbox, the global collaboration platform, has unveiled a new integrated workspace. With updates to the Dropbox desktop experience, dropbox.com, and the mobile app, users get a single workspace designed to bring files, fragmented work tools, and teams together. The update includes early access to a new desktop app designed to provide a convenient new access point to the workspace.

"Work has become scattered—files are spread across devices, in the cloud, and on our hard drives. We're working across multiple apps that don't talk to each other, and teams are struggling to keep up,” said Drew Houston, CEO, Dropbox.

"We're focused on removing the friction from that experience, pulling everything together in a way that nobody has done before. The new Dropbox helps you quiet the noise and find focus at work.”

The new Dropbox brings web-based files into the Dropbox file system to provide one central location for all content, including:

Cloud-based content like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which users can now create, access, and share within Dropbox. Users can also open Microsoft Office files in Office Online or Google Docs.Users can also create and store web shortcuts alongside traditional content in Dropbox, including links to productivity tools like Trello boards, wiki pages, and news articles.

The Dropbox icon that sits in the Windows system tray and macOS menu bar has been updated to make it easier for users to keep track of what's happening with shared content, quickly access their most important work, and create new content within Dropbox. Users can also now access a team activity feed for updates on shared files.

The new Dropbox brings together the tools people want to use the most so they can spend less time switching between apps and more time getting work done. Last year, the company announced Dropbox Extensions, a series of integrations that let users start and finish workflows—like signing contracts and annotating videos—on the Dropbox platform. Users can also:

- Start Slack conversations and send files to Slack channels directly from Dropbox, and easily share Dropbox files within Slack conversations

- Join or add Zoom Meetings directly from Dropbox, and present files directly from Dropbox in Zoom. 

Source: Dropbox. The new Dropbox app.

- See Slack and Zoom sharing activities right next to files in Dropbox. The company has also formed a strategic partnership with Atlassian, the makers of Trello and a software provider focused on improving software development, project management, collaboration and code quality. In the coming months, the companies will integrate the Dropbox and Atlassian platforms to create a better way for teams to organise, co-ordinate and run projects.

Available via early access with the new desktop app, folders now have improved capabilities across desktop, mobile, and web, providing a rich workspace for teams. Users can:

- Pin files to the top of a folder to give anyone with access to the folder quick access to important content.

- Add folder descriptions to give everyone context on the files they see.

- Create to-dos at the top of a folder.

- @mention teammates to draw attention to folder descriptions or to-dos.

- Get updates on file activity, including content shared in Slack and Zoom from any device.

- See who has viewed files with the viewer info feature now available on desktop.

- Comment on shared content across desktop, mobile, and web.

"The proliferation of cloud files and work apps is staggering, and can make work feel scattered and overwhelming,” said IDC analyst Marci Maddox, Research Manager, Enterprise Content Strategies.

"The new Dropbox experience offers a modernised central workspace where users can access all of their files-including web-based and traditional files, seamlessly integrate popular tools, and better coordinate with team members. It's the first time anyone has natively integrated these new modes of work in one place.”


Dropbox has more than 500 million registered users across more than 180 countries, and 12 offices around the world.

Details:

All Dropbox users can opt in to the new desktop app through the Dropbox early access programme. Admins can opt their teams in via the admin console. All other features are either already generally available to all users or will be rolling out over the next few weeks.

Dropbox introduces new productivity tools

Source: Dropbox website.

Dropbox is making it easier to create, share, and collaborate with new features:

The plus button enables the creation of new Microsoft Office files, photo uploads, or scans directly via the Dropbox app on the iPhone.

The Dropbox badge identifies who else is working on the same Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel files to avoid losing or duplicating work. Microsoft co-authoring allows users to collaborate on Microsoft Office files online in real time, eliminating back-and-forth emails. Collaborators can comment anywhere on an image or document.

Collect files in a single folder from anyone, without granting them access to its contents. Dropbox allows previews of Excel, Photoshop, and PowerPoint files—even without the apps.

Secure sharing controls who can view or edit a file or folder, and version history recovers edits made to files in the last 30 days.

Interested?

View the associated video

Yahoo Mail adds to the types of content that can be added to emails

The updated Yahoo Mail app users can now send files from Google Drive or Dropbox, as well as GIFs from Tumblr when as part of their email messages. Now that users can manage multiple mailboxes from the Yahoo Mail app, the latest update helps them send emails that include content via more sources from any of their email addresses.

Source: Yahoo. Add GIFs
from Tumblr to emails.

When composing an email in the Yahoo Mail app, users can choose from top-trending GIFs around the world, courtesy of Tumblr. Tapping on the cloud icon in compose mode will lead to an invitation to connect Google Drive or Dropbox accounts, allowing instant access to all files in the cloud. Yahoo Mail will also surface items based on title or file contents for easier searching.

Additional features:

Preview large files instantly on iPhone and iPad, without downloading it first

Delete drafts permanently on Android

Android home screen widgets offer dynamically-updated information about the inbox: a preview, a badged icon, and a shortcut to the compose screen.

Interested?

These updates to the Yahoo Mail app are available for iOS (version 4.3) and Android (version 5.4).

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Dropbox and Microsoft, working better together

Source: Microsoft.

Dropbox and Microsoft are integrating their services for collaboration across Dropbox and Microsoft Office on phones, tablets and the Web. According to the companies, over 1.2 billion people use Office to get work done, and Dropbox has become home to more than 35 billion Office files.

When users choose to edit a document in Dropbox, the appropriate Office app is offered as the editing platform. The apps then work together to automatically save the changes back to Dropbox. The capabilities will first be available from within the Dropbox and Office apps on tablets and phones, and will soon be accessible via the Web.

“In our mobile-first and cloud-first world, people need easier ways to create, share and collaborate regardless of their device or platform,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Together, Microsoft and Dropbox will provide our shared customers with flexible tools that put them at the center for the way they live and work today.”

“People around the world have embraced Office and Dropbox to empower the way they live and work today,” said Drew Houston, CEO and Co-founder of Dropbox. “Our partnership with Microsoft will make it easier than ever to collaborate seamlessly across these platforms, giving people the freedom to get more done.”

Dropbox and Microsoft users can now do the following:

• Access Dropbox from Office apps to get to their files and folders faster.
• Edit Office files directly from Dropbox and sync them across devices.
• Share new or edited files from the Office apps using simple Dropbox sharing functionality.

The functionality will first be included in the next updates to the Office apps for iOS and Android. The Web integrations between the Dropbox website and Office Online will be available in the first half of 2015. Dropbox will also make its application available on the Windows Phone and Windows tablet platforms in the coming months.

These capabilities will be available to all Office users with a Dropbox account. Dropbox for Business customers will need an Office 365 subscription. More information can be found by visiting the Dropbox blog and the Office blog.