Dropbox
When we build websites our client’s often have large photos to send us. Most of you have probably discovered by now that emailing that large photo, say 10MB doesn’t work.
“Why not?” I hear your cry! Well there are a couple of reasons:
- When non-textual “content” is emailed, it gets “UUEncoded”. This is the technique that turns no-text into a stream of text – goobledegook, but text non the less. This process typically increases the email size by 50% so your 10MB file becomes 15MB.
- Most mail servers limit email size to 10MB so now your email with the image is way too big.
- Most people are connected to the Internet via ADSL which has a “phat” pipe bring information down but a skinny pipe sending it back. Microsoft Outlook struggles with this unless you increase the mail timeout and this can sometimes result in people getting your larger emails 2 or 3 or even 20 times! YAY
Fortunately there is a better way: Drop Box!
Drop Box is a website that allows you to upload and download large files for free. Even on skinny ADSL connections, Drop Box only uploads 1 copy to the website.
Once uploaded, you can share a folder with others who can download your files.
There is even a desktop program and an iPhone application if you want to get really serious.
The way we use Drop Box is to create a folder for each client and share it with them. Drop Box will email our client a link when they can upload their files.
Once our client has uploaded their files, they will email us telling us to check their folder.
If you need more storage space, your free account can be upgraded…
Drop Box is a fantastic tool for any company moving large files around.
