Review: Dropbox Anywhere for iPad

"Dropbox Anywhere" for the iPad lets you easily shuttle your docs, photos and other files from your desktop, smartphone and other devices to the Internet, sometimes called the "cloud."

It’s harder than ever to keep files organized and synched across a variety of platforms. The solution for a growing number of folks is cloud storage services like Dropbox and Apple’s MobileMe iDisk.

Dropbox is like an “electronic pocket” for your documents, photos, slide shows and other files that goes everywhere you go. "Dropbox Anywhere" for the iPad (there’s also versions for Android and soon for BlackBerry) features native support for accessing, viewing and sharing files stored in Dropbox online directly from these handheld.

The first things you need to do is install the "Dropbox Anywhere" app on your iPad and the "Dropbox" app on your Windows, Mac or Linux desktop. Both apps are free. Once done, all you need to do is drag and drop files into the Dropbox folder on your desktop PC or Mac.

You can view all sorts of files stored in your Dropbox account including word processing documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, photos, slide shows, music and more. Need to review a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation your boss just sent you? Want to listen to tunes or watch videos? Sync your online account with your iPad and you’re good to go.

Files you access regularly can be starred as Favorites and at the same time downloaded to your iPad for easy viewing when you're offline, or not connected to the Internet.

Dropbox is working with other app developers so their apps seamlessly work with Dropbox running on the iPad as well as the iPhone. For example, if you want to open a file in an external app, give Avatron Air Sharing HD (file transfer) and Good.iWare GoodReader (document viewer) a try.

iPhone owners who use the "Dropbox" app will find "Dropbox Anywhere" for the iPad immediately familiar. The real difference between the two is that each is optimized for device’s unique capabilities. For example, on the iPad, docs are scaled for the iPad’s larger screen. On the iPhone, you can take photos and videos and sync them to your Dropbox account (just in case you don’t know, the iPad lacks a camera).

Dropbox offers three tiers of storage: 2GB (free), 50GB ($9.99 per month) and 100GB ($19.99 per month).

Price: Free
File Size: 5.7 MB
Release Date: May 3, 2010
Developer: Dropbox
Platform: iPad (iPhone & iPod touch versions also available)
iPadNewsDaily Rating (out of 4 stars): ★★★★