On Friday, Dropbox launched an updated desktop client that includes a new file-sync technology called "streaming sync." This technology is optimized for large files over 16 MB, like HD video, so that it can be retrieved by the user at a faster rate.
"Before streaming sync, file synchronization was split into distinct upload and download phases," stated Dropbox's Nipunn Koorapati. "This meant that a file needed to be uploaded in its entirety before other clients even began the download. While this was pretty fast, we were determined to make large file syncing even faster."
However, with streaming sync, Dropbox can overlap those phases and stream data from the Dropbox servers to the user's device. Customers should see 1.25x faster downloads, perhaps even 2x faster. In a chart, the company shows that a 500 MB file will download in just under 300 seconds when using streaming sync, compared with nearly 400 seconds without the technology.
In addition to streaming sync, the new desktop client supports four new languages. It debuts scrollable menu notifications so that users can better monitor what is going on with the Dropbox account. Users can also now open the Dropbox menu to create a shared link to files and accept folder invitations.
Additional details regarding the new streaming sync technology can be accessed here.
News of the upgrade arrives after Amazon introduced Zocalo on Thursday, an enterprise-focused storage and sharing service with administrative controls and feedback capabilities. Customers can use any device to store, share, and collect feedback on text files, PDFs, images, webpages, documents and more. Amazon Zocalo is priced at $5 per user per month, which includes 200 GB of storage.
Dropbox introduced a tool called "Project Harmony" back in April, a new service for collaborating that is expected to arrive later this year. Once launched, collaboration tools will be made available as customers edit documents in Microsoft Office using Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
The online storage market is heating up, pushing the likes of Dropbox and Box to continually introduce new features that will keep customers engaged. However, Amazon's Zocalo seems to be targeting Google and Microsoft in the enterprise sector, not Dropbox.
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