All You Need To Know About The New and Improved Dropbox

Just recently, Dropbox has gotten a major upgrade. With updates to the Dropbox desktop experience, dropbox.com, and even the mobile app, users will be able to get a single workspace designed to bring files, fragmented work tools and teams together.

Here’s the rundown on all of Dropbox’s upgrades, based on the aspect it’s being improved on:

Bringing content together

This upgrade brings cloud-based content into the Dropbox file system to provide one central location for all content. This includes:

• Cloud-based content like Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, which users can now create, access, and share within Dropbox. Users will also be able to open Microsoft Office files in Office Online or Google Docs.

• Shortcuts to web content including links to productivity tools like Trello boards, Wiki pages, and news articles. Users will now be able to create and store web shortcuts alongside traditional content in Dropbox.

Bringing tools together

The new and improved Dropbox will also be bringing together tools that people want to use, in order to minimise the amount of time spent switching between apps.

Last year, the company announced the launch of Dropbox Extensions, a series of integrations that let users start and finish workflows – like signing contracts and annotating videos – in the Dropbox platform. With this upgrade, users can also:

• Start Slack conversations, and send files to Slack channels directly from Dropbox (and vice versa!)

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• Join or add Zoom Meetings directly from Dropbox, and present files directly from Dropbox in Zoom

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• See Slack and Zoom sharing activities right next to your desktop.

The company has also formed a partnership with Atlassian, so expect integrations across those two platforms in the future as well.

Bringing teams together

With the new desktop app, folders now have improved capabilities across desktop, mobile and web – providing a rich workspace for teams. Users can (via early access to the new desktop app):

• Pin files to the top of a folder, to give anyone with access to the folder quick access to important content;
• Add folder descriptions to give everyone context on the files they see
• Create to-do lists at the top of a folder
• @ mention teammates to draw attention to folder descriptions or tasks (in to-dos)

• Get updates on file activity, including content shared in Slack and Zoom, from any device
• See who’s viewed files with the viewer info feature now available on desktop

• Comment on shared content across desktop, mobile and web.

If all these updated functions sound superb to you, you’re in luck! All Dropbox users can opt in to the new Desktop app via Dropbox’s early access program. Admins will also be able to opt their team in via the admin console.

All other features are now generally available to all users, and will be rolling out over the next couple of weeks.