How to get +5GB of storage space in DropBox
What's DropBox?"
First of all, if you don't know what DropBox is or if you want to get one for yourself click this link for an explanatory video.
How to get the extra 5GB:
(only for DropBox users - click here to become one)
This will only be possible while they are testing a new version of DropBox, by using it you will be helping them, and that's why they give you the 5GB. Don't worry, it is safe, but they do recommend that you make a backup of the files you have in their site just in case.
You will need a phone or a camera that is connectable to your computer to get this bonus (edit: a usb flash drive will do as well).
This works in every OS, but some tips will be only for windows users (because that's what I use).
Here is what you have to do (skip step 1 if you are already a DropBox user):
Step 1:
Create a DropBox account.
Step 2:
After you have created your DropBox account, download the new Dropbox beta. Here are the links:
Step 3:
Enable Windows auto-play. This is enabled in windows by default, but if you are like me and you don't like it you have probably disabled it long ago. Here is how to make sure it is enabled:
In Windows Vista, open Control Panel and choose AutoPlay. In the top you can see a check box "Use AutoPlay for all media and devices". Check this and choose "Save"
In Windows 7, open control panel, go to hardware and sound section and choose Auto Play. You can see an option in the top "Use AutoPlay for all media and devices". Check it to enable autoplay.
Don't worry, after you have the bonus storage you can disable it again.
Step 4:
Connect your phone or camera to your computer and chose "upload images/videos to DropBox" in the autoplay menu.
Update: I just found out a much easier way. Just create a folder in a USB flash drive named "DCIM" and put a 4.5GB+ video there. Then remove your flash drive and insert it again. Since "DCIM" is usually the folder where cameras and phones store images/video, the option to upload them with DropBox will pop up! lol
How you will get the bonus:
As you upload the first image you will instantly get 500MB. Then, For every 500MB of photos and videos automatically uploaded, you'll receive another 500MB space bonus, up to 4.5GB total (add that to the 500MB from the first picture and you have 5GB).
Note: If you are like me and don't have 5GB of photos/video do what I did: leave your phone recording video in the top quality for a few hours lol you will get 5GB for sure.
Useful notes:
- Clients 1.3.5 and earlier had an auto-update bug. Please install this version so that your client will stay up to date!
- The photo import feature is not available on Mac 10.4 and Linux.
- For Android devices, it's best to use "Connect as Disk Drive". HTC Sync will not work.
- To import from iPhone, make sure to unlock your phone and enter your passcode before importing, otherwise it will claim to find no photos.
- If importing from your iPhone on Mac gives an import error, try hard resetting it--hold down the power and the home button for 5 seconds.
- This will reboot the phone; it shouldn't change your settings or delete data.
- On Windows, this feature relies on Autoplay. Please enable Autoplay to use this feature if you have disabled it.
- On XP and Vista, it relies on the Windows Image Acquisition Service. If this service is not started, please start the service and reinstall Dropbox to use this feature. On WIndows Server, you may have to install the Desktop Experience feature.
- On Windows 7, newer devices that rely on Device Stage (in the Control Panel) will not show Dropbox as an import option until you select "Change Program" for the default.
- The Galaxy Nexus takes a lot of time to connect on OS X because it likes to pretend that every image on the device is a photograph. We now estimate how long it's going to take and show you that in the progress bar but it's usually in the order of minutes. We're working to see if this can be improved.
That's it!
Enjoy you free 5GB of DropBox storage!
