One of the criticisms of the iPhone is that there should be so little. In particular, the fact that storing files cannot, it is a constantly recurring argument not to opt for the closed iPhone OS. But why save locally, as it is “in the cloud? One of the services that this – albeit partially – makes possible And indeed, there’s an app for that.

To use Dropbox for iPhone, you have an account needed. A Basic account with 2GB of storage is free if you want more than you can. The Pro 50 account with 50 GB of online storage, you pay $ 9.99 per month. Need even more space, then there is the Pro 100 account, indeed with 100 GB of storage for $ 19.99 per month. These are considerable amounts, especially if you compare, for example, Google Docs (which recently) where you just settles $ 5 per year for 20 GB.

Still, you can lose with 2GB of space many files as an average Word document takes as little more than a few hundred kilobytes.

Software for Windows, Mac & Linux

To use Dropbox, you’ll need to start the appropriate software for your computer. Which can be downloaded here for both Windows, Mac and Linux (Ubuntu / Fedora)?

Dropbox account

When the installation is nearly completed, you can easily create an account. Fill in the requested information and then choose which type of account you want. As always upgrade later can (and of course you want to know first if it works fine), you naturally choose the free 2GB.

Sync

Your computer will create a folder. Here you can copy the files you want to always have access to. You can also create subfolders course. Everything is in the Dropbox folder is then automatically synchronized with the online storage.

Through this site, you can indeed always at your files by logging into the newly created account. Want to share files or folders with others, it can also. But this all takes care of itself.

Dropbox for iPhone

Ultimately, this section naturally comes to apps for the iPhone. And as said: Dropbox also has a (free) iPhone app. Basically, the app provides a direct connection to your online storage. All files you have synced so you can also access through the app.

The interface is simple. When you start Dropbox, you get into the list of your folders you have created on your computer.

At the bottom, you will find three buttons: Favorites, My Dropbox, and Settings. If you have many files, it is helpful to one or more files that you often need to assign a star. These files then you can find in your Favorites. My Dropbox folder and displays the list in Settings you will find mostly about how Dropbox works. Handy is that you can see how much storage you already used here.

Dropbox in the practice

The iPhone app so mainly offers access to your online files. The only files you can save online from your iPhone, its photos and videos (iPhone 3GS only). So if you want to secure pictures or videos, it can. They will then also automatically be posted to your computer.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to send files from Dropbox via email, or you can share files. Would you such as a Word document with parts one, you can click a few times from Dropbox send a link to the document. This link will remain active for two days, after that he will automatically expire. A workaround is, of course, to copy the text from the Word file and then paste it into an e-mail.

Conclusion

Dropbox is especially useful for documents, photos, and videos stored online. These were then approaching very simple on your iPhone, to see and to share with others when and where you want. Also photos and videos from your iPhone to upload to your Dropbox and so secure backups. You get 2GB of free online storage and the app is free.