Show HN: Dropbox Apps can be cool - BoxySign.com

by scottmotte • 14 years ago

9 10 14 years ago

scottmotte6• 14 years ago

I like the idea of Dropbox Apps. A user can consume your web service without even leaving Dropbox (almost). To demonstrate the concept I built http://BoxySign.com.

- Drop an unsigned document in your Dropbox BoxySign folder, and you receive a link.

- Share that link to receive a signature.

- The signed copy is then delivered directly to your Dropbox BoxySign folder on your computer.

You can do all this directly from your Dropbox folder, but there is also a web interface which the video demonstrates - http://boxysign.com/video

Additionally (depending on how you architect it), it saves big on storage costs. You can store pieces of data in hidden files on the user's Dropbox.

I think this has neat potential for many types of little Dropbox Apps. Thoughts?

alexchamberlain• 14 years ago

Certainly a cool app. It's a bit worrying you can store hidden files in someone's Dropbox folder though.

scottmotte6• 14 years ago

Yes a bit. It's isolated to your app folder though. Additionally, Dropbox reviews your app and approves it or not.

brianbreslin• 14 years ago

You should show the video more prominently. cool idea.

scottmotte6• 14 years ago

Thanks. I think you're right.

jerrya2• 14 years ago

Wait what?

You tell me of this service. You promote it here.

You tell me of its features.

You encourage me to "connect" it to my Dropbox account and thus authorize your app to my dropbox account.

ONLY AFTER I CONNECT YOUR APP TO MY DROPBOX ACCOUNT DO YOU REVEAL A SIGN UP FEE.

I think your methods are misleading and frustrating at best. And moving on to unethical and possibly more.

You should explain the fee prior to "connecting" to anyone's dropbox account.

Is there any reason I shouldn't complain about your practices to dropbox?

scottmotte6• 14 years ago

Jerrya, you are right. I am changing this.

jerrya2• 14 years ago

Thank you and best of luck to you and your project!

scottmotte6• 14 years ago

I apologize for it being misleading and frustrating. Thank you for your comments.

I'm updating the home page to more clearly reflect the pricing now.

I'll welcome any other thoughts you have to make it clearer as well. I'm considering plans to have the payment form and Connect to Dropbox button as one sign up form.

(I should not that connecting via Dropbox is NOT giving me access to your entire Dropbox. It only grants me access to your Apps/Boxysign folder - which you can simply delete from your machine to disconnect from my app. A lot like Twitter and Facebook Connect.)

scottmotte6• 14 years ago

Ok, I have this as a start ready to go - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/190299/new-home-page.png

I'm just waiting for https://registry.npmjs.org/ to come back online so I can push to heroku.

Show HN: Dropbox Apps can be cool - BoxySign.com

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