Dropbox Indeed Balked at Major Acquisition Offer from Apple

[thewitt]

What makes you guys think Apple wanted to buy DropBox to kill it. You don't spend 800,000,000 without a solid plan.

It looks more like they were after a jump start to replace iDisk with a fully cross p,affirm solution.

ICloud offers an API that will enable other platforms by the way. Any Android developer could integrate his app with iCloud today - just like iOS, MacOS and Windows developers are dong.

Apple will replace iDisk with storage in iCloud. They would have had a leg up by purchasing DropBox, but it will come in time either way.

 

[samcraig]

What makes you guys think Apple wanted to buy DropBox to kill it. You don't spend 800,000,000 without a solid plan.

It looks more like they were after a jump start to replace iDisk with a fully cross p,affirm solution.

ICloud offers an API that will enable other platforms by the way. Any Android developer could integrate his app with iCloud today - just like iOS, MacOS and Windows developers are dong.

Apple will replace iDisk with storage in iCloud. They would have had a leg up by purchasing DropBox, but it will come in time either way.

I think it's very safe to say that by making it Apple/iOS only - Dropbox would be "dead" in comparison to what it is now.

Apple would not have kept their cloud storage technology agnostic.

 

[FFW]

Apple doesn't have something they consider to compete with Twitter, though.

Well there is that well known social network called Ping

You don't see Apple integrating Kindle or the Google suite of apps. Google is only as integrated as email and maps (and I wouldn't be surprised if maps goes away...and youtube was always kind of a gimmick app from 1.0 to wow people with video that wasn't over Flash).

The difference is that they see Amazon and Google as serious competitors attacking their music and iDevice businesses. Is Dropbox serious competition for Apple? At the moment iCloud doesn't offer a comparable service and it would make better sense to work with them to me.

 

[HiRez]

I find iDisk very useful to me. I'll likely be getting a Dropbox account very soon and moving my iDisk files to Dropbox.

I've already done that, even though I'm technically still paying for iDisk. DropBox just works so much better in every way. I would personally like to have it built into the OS and iCloud because it just makes things easier like updating and avoiding conflicts between OS and app versions, but DropBox works well alongside iCloud too. It integrates into the Finder well and on the iOS side, apps can log into your DropBox account for Documents in the Cloud style functionality, or you can use the app to open them in other apps when they don't.

If Apple doesn't buy DropBox, one thing they could do is form a partnership with them whereby the user could enter his credentials once on the system (which could be synced via iCloud to other devices) and then all apps on the system would have access if you enable it without separately logging in to each, similar to the Twitter integration in iOS 5.

 

[Rafterman]

The thing is, I've always seen Dropbox as a feature, just couldn't put it into words before. iCloud is more of a product, that's for sure. Wonder where Dropbox is going to be years from now.

Dropbox is simple and works well. While Apple is minimalist in its hardware, they always over engineer their software products.

 

[jncoanalog]

(...)
I guess they are working on more products but who knows. Probably API's and the ability for 3rd party to integrate which would be great but they better hurry up before Apple or Microsoft does it for them.
(...)

I believe Apple already did... if I'm not mistaken 3rd party developers are able to integrate their applications with iCloud, in such a way that the user of their applications would not even need to perform a command to save his files, they will be automatically saved and synced between devices.

The only thing I believe you can dislike in this approach it's the fact that (probably) it is an Apple-only kind of solution. In my opinion that IS the best possible solution to the end-user; because you should have microsoft, samsung, hp, acer, dell, etc, etc, etc. doing the exact same thing - developing products (both the software AND the hardware dimension of their products) and services that enable this products to interact both with each others and with the end-user needs.

What I personally believe is that for the services part of the equation, in order for the end-user needs to be completely satisfied, the solution should be cross-platform (as iTunes for Windows for example). That way you should be able to choose different products of different brands that can happily interact with each other.

Although as of today I would probably choose every one of the available Apple products over non-Apple competitors. Not because of brand fidelity, or worship, but because I believe they suit my needs better than what everyone else has to offer right now... should Samsung develop such an ecosystem, that suits my needs better than Apple's, and I would happily use their solution instead.

That being said I believe Dropbox made a good decision. They see themselves as a software-only company, and so they offer a product that's cross-platform and offers both free and paid options. What they have to offer doesn't suit my needs for now, because I don't need it (cloud storage and sync) so badly that I'd put up with a not-perfectly-seamless experience.

But as of right now Apple doesn't deliver it for me either, so I use neither of them, let's see who can fulfill my needs first

 

[Akzel]

I'm not sure Apple would have kept the cross platform support of Dropbox...

In any case, I still use Dropbox everyday, my colleagues do too, and many many friends. We still use and love it. But I still haven't seen a single person relying heavily on iCloud for work duties, and without a sharing feature I don't see a reason why they would...

 

[Schmye Bubbula]

All I know is that Dropbox's contextual menu quit working under plain-vanilla Leopard with every version after a release earlier this year, and no amount of pleading on their support forum gets a rise out of the powers-that-be. It used to work, now it doesn't any more. I'm pissed. And I'm stuck on Leopard because Apple refuses to update AirPort Utility beyond Leopard for my "flying saucer" AirPort Extreme. (Don't tell me to get a new Mac or a new AirPort; I'm unemployed, Apple products are built to last, and I still have just under a year left on my AppleCare, ferchristssake!)

 

[Datalinks]

Dropbox is the most useful cloud based solution, because it is based on being able to sync a folder and not an application. Thank God Apple did not purchase them, they would turn them into some silly look at my pics here and here and there. We have documents to manage , pdfs, word and excel files, at work, home and on the road. Being able to view them through a proper file manager and not through an application is what I like most. It is not as if we spend our lives on holidays, taking pictures and making movies and then going around the house viewing them on different devices.
go Dropbox.

 

[ecib]

What makes you guys think Apple wanted to buy DropBox to kill it.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/04/apple-kills-lala-music-service/

 

[bigpics]

bad move by dropbox,

iCloud is now competition and will beat it

why should you be interested in dropbox after iCloud release?

Price for large amounts of storage. Platform agnostic. Real file management for those who want/need/expect it. Etc.

However, while this has all been DropBox or iCloud here, for big amounts of storage I've chosen SugarSync - cheaper than either and lots of good features - plus a better use model and features than Mozy, Carbonite, etc.

So I will be using both. Photostream sounds good (dunno how not being able to delete within the 1000 will work, and how much I'll have to remember to do to not lose stuff after what is it? the 1000 pics or 30 days?? And will probably pay Apple the $25/year for the way they store my music plus access to all my iTunes purchases (which will cut back on my SugarSync needs).

I do believe DropBox is no sure shot to succeed/survive long-term, but I don't believe they're imminently threatened to go the way of say, Konquistador and other companies whose key features Apple decided to make part of their "ecosystem."

Good product. Just works. (Tho I think SugarSync works better.)

 

[belltree]

Dropbox turning down Apple...smaller shades of Groupon turning down Google's ~8 billion USD offer (which was the biggest mistake in history and I am sure some folks there are beyond despondent over it).

 

[Dhelsdon]

What's everyone using DropBox for aside from the obvious file storage solution.
Currently I use DropBox with PkgBackup for my jailbroken devices, but aside from that I don't use it that much. By the sounds of it I am blind to many of it's other uses, please enlighten me!

 

[dethmaShine]

Good decision.

 

[SockRolid]

You make the call

If you own a technology that Apple is willing to pay nine figures for, one thing is certain: your technology will become an Apple feature. If you sell it to Apple, they'll implement that feature with you (e.g. Siri.) If you don't sell it to Apple, they'll implement that feature without you (e.g. iCloud.)

Up to you. One way or another, Apple will get it done.

 

[mtbgtr]

What's everyone using DropBox for aside from the obvious file storage solution.
Currently I use DropBox with PkgBackup for my jailbroken devices, but aside from that I don't use it that much. By the sounds of it I am blind to many of it's other uses, please enlighten me!

Encrypted Espionage backup

CADD file backup

too much to really mention all

----------

If you own a technology that Apple is willing to pay nine figures for, one thing is certain: your technology will become an Apple feature. If you sell it to Apple, they'll implement that feature with you (e.g. Siri.) If you don't sell it to Apple, they'll implement that feature without you (e.g. iCloud.)

Up to you. One way or another, Apple will get it done.

Nothing is CERTAIN.

 

[RTee]

I think Drop Box is absolutely a product and it's iCloud that's an Apple feature, not saying it's a bad one of course.

There are several businesses and individuals I know that pay dropbox for their product to move files around on multiple platforms whether it be from office to office or from colleague to colleague ie: the graphic designer to the web guy is just one example.

Good on drop box for wanting to make it on their own, I know if it was me I'd be completely star struck by meeting Steve and would have probably sold and retired!

 

[toddybody]

"I mean, Steve friggin' Jobs," remembers Houston, now 28. "How do you even prepare for that?" When Houston whipped out his laptop for a demo, Jobs, in his signature jeans and black turtleneck, coolly waved him away: "I know what you do."

This is gold. Small fry thought Jobs was either new or dumb. He really didn't know who he was dealing with, or the magnitude of the offer that was made to him.

He *did* however, get some press out of it. Look who said no to Steve Jobs! Wow! What balls!

But will any material rewards for this newfound fame be enough to keep his service running when the big fish release (inevitably) theirs?

Sorry man, thats not how it appears to most. This only conveys Steve's arrogance and tendency to belittle folks.
I totally dig his chutzpah when it came to things like slappin' the Mobile Me folks around("Then why doesnt it f$#$#$@ do that". LOL)...but his attitude here was lame and inappropriate. His Billions and undisputed stature dont merit a single ounce of that.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Houston was genuinely trying to be informative and not patronizing Jobs. A wise person would have shut up, listened...and then decided upon "what they knew". No wonder Houston was offended. Take care yo

PS: It doesnt matter anyways, Im pretty sure Steve is in Brazil right now, laughing at all this hubbub

 

[Spiritgreywolf]

I dunno...

$800 Million is a LOT of money. My personal buyout limit is significantly less than that. As an owner at least getting a couple hundred MILLION from that one and still have a tech job - with no worries? In a heartbeat. Having ONE single moment be able to secure the financial future of myself and my family (considering I just invested and lived off the interest) would hold LOTS of appeal to me.

Personally I am glad he stuck to his principles. I use DropBox and love it. I don't think I would have been that strong.

 

[tigres]

If you own a technology that Apple is willing to pay nine figures for, one thing is certain: your technology will become an Apple feature. If you sell it to Apple, they'll implement that feature with you (e.g. Siri.) If you don't sell it to Apple, they'll implement that feature without you (e.g. iCloud.)

Up to you. One way or another, Apple will get it done.

As I agree with you from a business sense; Apple is absolutely showing how weak they still are at iDisk, and the cloud.

MM, down 4 times this week (and a lot over this past year)
iDisk- Slow, but functional- at best
Siri, down often when I want to use it.
MM asking for passwords/ or incorrect passwords much of this week. On and on- there are a boatload of threads on it.

So, if Apple does want to dropbox performance; my bet is to acquire them w/ more $, because they ain't cutting it currently, or even in the past.

Or better yet- hire the Amazon cloud team that does whispersync solutions.

 

[samcraig]

If you own a technology that Apple is willing to pay nine figures for, one thing is certain: your technology will become an Apple feature. If you sell it to Apple, they'll implement that feature with you (e.g. Siri.) If you don't sell it to Apple, they'll implement that feature without you (e.g. iCloud.)

Up to you. One way or another, Apple will get it done.

If Apple wants to pay that much for something - it's because you're doing something RIGHT. And whether or not Apple implements it is irrelevant because the entire world doesn't revolve/use Apple products. If dropbox sold to Apple - kiss cross-platform goodbye. No thanks.

 

[Dhelsdon]

Sorry man, thats not how it appears to most. This only conveys Steve's arrogance and tendency to belittle folks.
I totally dig his chutzpah when it came to things like slappin' the Mobile Me folks around("Then why doesnt it f$#$#$@ do that". LOL)...but his attitude here was lame and inappropriate. His Billions and undisputed stature dont merit a single ounce of that.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Houston was genuinely trying to be informative and not patronizing Jobs. A wise person would have shut up, listened...and then decided upon "what they knew". No wonder Houston was offended. Take care yo

PS: It doesnt matter anyways, Im pretty sure Steve is in Brazil right now, laughing at all this hubbub

I agree completely with this statement and couldn't have put it better myself. He could've at least pretended to be interested, who knows what Houston might've ranted about while showing it off to Jobs', giving him inside info or something to actually catch Steve's attention. That was just rude and a bit "IN YOUR FACE" on Steve's part.

 

[alent1234]

I think Drop Box is absolutely a product and it's iCloud that's an Apple feature, not saying it's a bad one of course.

There are several businesses and individuals I know that pay dropbox for their product to move files around on multiple platforms whether it be from office to office or from colleague to colleague ie: the graphic designer to the web guy is just one example.

Good on drop box for wanting to make it on their own, I know if it was me I'd be completely star struck by meeting Steve and would have probably sold and retired!

might be a product now but in 3 years or so it will be a feature.

 

[Digital Skunk]

If Apple wants to pay that much for something - it's because you're doing something RIGHT. And whether or not Apple implements it is irrelevant because the entire world doesn't revolve/use Apple products. If dropbox sold to Apple - kiss cross-platform goodbye. No thanks.

That's pretty much the best reason for not selling a company. I am sure Groupon thought the same thing. It would have been a tragedy to sell if one of the biggest tech companies wants your company.

Sure, getting that large sum of cash upfront is nice, but imaging how much more could be made in the long run.

 

[pubwvj]

Mmm... I don't use or need either DropBox or iCloud.

I don't like the loss of control of iCloud.

I already have my own web sites to host files on.

Neither is necessary. We have had the functionality to share files across the net for decades. No need for something new just for the sake of new.