mini + iphone + dropbox = AWESOME

natedawgg · 09-08-2009, 01:12 AM

ok so i have actually been using this setup for some time now, but i thought i would pass on the idea to anyone that has not heard of it.

if you don't know about dropbox check it out here: here (yes i do get more storage if you download from that link). The idea of dropbox is that it is just a simple shared folder that resides out on a server that will auto-update as soon as a connection to the internet is found. You can get 2gb for free and then if you need more you can upgrade to more. This becomes an awesome tool for us in the carupter scene, because it lets us copy out new music to the car without having to take the mini out of the car into the house. Ever since the iphone 3.0 software dropped, this has become even easier to use. With the native tethering support in the new iphone OS, it is super easy to connect to the mini and connect to the internet.

I started using this and man i cannot imagine going back to usb drives or yanking out the mini to update my music collection. I am using NASair as my front end, and i have wrote a nice feature that will let you point NASair to a specific folder (your dropbox folder) and it will check for new music and then automatically copy that music to the correct folder in your music folder and then update your music collection. So this just really makes everything so much easier for me.

Anyway sorry for the shameless promotion of my frontend and for more storage in my dropbox account, but no matter what frontend you use, dropbox is pretty good way to get your music back out to the car.

hairyMerkin · 09-08-2009, 02:12 AM

Why can't you just use the iphone to tether to your home network, and update like that??

natedawgg · 09-08-2009, 10:17 AM

technically you could. i find it easier to just drop the new music into a folder from my mac at home or at work. Then when i get into my car all i have to do is plug in my iphone, then hit "Update" and that is it. versus sitting in the parking lot trying to access the network and work from a 7" screen. it really is just preference, i just find this the easiest way.

by no means is this the only way, if anybody has any other methods/ideas, I am sure that we would all love to hear them.

prodigalsun · 09-09-2009, 05:53 PM

Another option using the same idea is microsoft's mesh. You get 5G as opposed to 2G with drop box for free. I use both services but I prefer mesh for the car just because of the increased space. Only draw back is there's no iphone app for you iphone/ipod touch owners. I have a windows mobile phone so no difference for me.

SubJimbo · 09-09-2009, 06:02 PM

If you have unlimited upload on your Home Internet connection - You could always set up your own server to do the exact same thing (With your own amounts of storage)
Alternativly you can use your CarPC's wireless networking to connect to your Main PC whilst at home and use a batch script to copy over all your music

One touch Copy!

trader007 · 09-09-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by prodigalsun

Another option using the same idea is microsoft's mesh. You get 5G as opposed to 2G with drop box for free. I use both services by I prefer mesh for the car just because of the increased space. Only draw back is there's no iphone app for you iphone/ipod touch owners. I have a windows mobile phone so no difference for me.

thank you dude. i didnt realize there was a microsoft alternative to dropbox. bye bye drop box, you were great but i am a GB whore! btw, the only thing i notice is i cant find a way to add a public link to files like you can in dropbox... do they have that option?

btw, my truckpc can turn on by remote start. fire that up, it's wifi connects to my home network, and i just click "sync" on the server that runs a program called syncback. works really well, really easy. dropbox is more for random files and such that you want to throw out onto any pc you might need it on.

prodigalsun · 09-09-2009, 09:24 PM

no mesh does not have that external link option

trader007 · 09-09-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by prodigalsun

no mesh does not have that external link option

ouch. i guess dropbox keeps its place... dammit.

natedawgg · 09-09-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by trader007

btw, my truckpc can turn on by remote start. fire that up, it's wifi connects to my home network, and i just click "sync" on the server that runs a program called syncback. works really well, really easy. dropbox is more for random files and such that you want to throw out onto any pc you might need it on.

i wish this was an option for me. I live in an apt complex and thus i have to park my car to far away for me to connect to my own home network. I have thought about setting up a webserver of sorts with a cronjob running rsync on my mini when there is an internet connection. I just don't have a pc laying around to leave running 24/7.

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