Poll

Which app is more useful?

Dropbox
16 (44.4%)
SMS/Text Messaging
20 (55.6%)

Total Members Voted: 36

Author Topic: APPS Round 1: Dropbox vs Text Messaging  (Read 7279 times)

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PSMKay

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APPS Round 1: Dropbox vs Text Messaging
« on: Dec 01, 2014, 12:05 am »
The first match in the Apps division is between the historically strong Short Message Service, known to its friends as "Texting", against relative newcomer and fan favorite Dropbox.

Dropbox
Hailing from San Francisco, CA is the web app that revolutionized stage management teamwork and introduced a whole new section to the pre-production paperwork of smart SMs. Dropbox and its clones allow users to clone the contents of a folder between any connected computer or phone while backing up those contents to the cloud.

Dropbox's limited storage space on the free version can be a handicap on the field, but it can pump itself up legitimately through paid subscriptions or lay on the juice through referrals.

Some concerns exist about how Dropbox encrypts its stored files, but other clones give users complete control over the whole process. One clone, Owncloud, allows you to host the stored files on your own server to ensure they never fall into the wrong hands. Altogether the Dropbox team includes at least 300 similar services including Box, SpiderOak, SugarSync, Amazon and controversial large-file hosting apps such as Mega and FireDrive.

Regardless of which cloud storage app you and your team use, there's no doubt that this relatively new technology has changed the way stage managers and production teams operate. The question is, is it enough to take on text messaging?

SMS
With an estimated 3.5 billion active users, SMS has had nearly 30 years to establish itself as the leader in communication technology. Nearly every cell phone has some type of SMS app, some have many. The rise of text messaging has pretty much obliterated voicemail and fax technology and has made it far less intrusive to quickly communicate with the cast and stage management team. In a pinch it can even be used as a replacement for headset systems.

Texting has its drawbacks, with some phone carriers still charging per message. Sending images (MMS) is still shaky between carriers and the 140 character limit can lead to some crazy shorthand. Typing out texts for people without smartphones can be a labor-intensive process. The abbreviated nature of SMS has made formal conversation a luxury in some venues, and the temptation to include emoticons in business conversations has been the downfall of many eager young interns.

Even so, there's no doubt that SMS is a heavy hitter in this season's competition. Can it knock out Dropbox? Cast your vote now, discuss and decide!

Poll will remain open through Dec 3 at midnight EST.
« Last Edit: Dec 03, 2014, 08:49 pm by PSMKay »

Maribeth

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Re: APPS: Dropbox vs Text Messaging
« Reply #1 on: Dec 01, 2014, 11:50 am »
Dropbox is probably the underdog in this match but I'm totally rooting for it! To able to instantly share all of my documents with my ASMs, or the design team, or download updated score pages to print without having to deal with thumb drives is the GREATEST!

PSMKay

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Re: APPS: Dropbox vs Text Messaging
« Reply #2 on: Dec 01, 2014, 01:38 pm »
It was actually in the lead when I went to bed last night but SMS seems to have pulled ahead.

Michelle R. Wood

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Re: APPS: Dropbox vs Text Messaging
« Reply #3 on: Dec 03, 2014, 10:00 am »
Here's the thing: I think DropBox is great for specific purposes (ie sharing major files like pictures and designs). But as far as daily use, what I absolutely need to get through a day of rehearsal and meetings, text messaging pulls ahead. Sometimes people can't answer their phones for whatever reason, or you don't have time for a phone conversation, or people aren't checking their email. But my experience thus far has been that everyone will answer a quick text. Esp. useful for quick questions from the director like, "Will we be able to have that prop in rehearsal tomorrow?"
"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." -- Thomas Edison (Harper's Magazine, 1932)

BayAreaSM

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Re: APPS Round 1: Dropbox vs Text Messaging
« Reply #4 on: Dec 04, 2014, 12:59 am »
To me, this is the ultimate app throw down. For my team, these two items are two of our most important aides.

I have a paid Dropbox account, and I connect my staff through the network to my computer, by doing so, no one is in the same file at the same time, creating conflicted copies. This has created a HUGE plus in the previous ways I had been using Dropbox. Also, I am linked to my PM, Assoc AD and other Senior Staff members through various shared folders to get projects done quickly and effectively (until one of them runs out of free space).

Texting is major, even moreso in the past few days as we incorporated students into our company rehearsals. My ASM would text me the missing students from our 4th floor studio while I sat in our mezzanine office and called parents. (Linked with the iMessage app on my laptop, I could write her back while calling parents.) And, of course, I can text any member of Artistic staff to get dancers out of rehearsal for fittings, inform them of dancer absences or get questions answered.

This may be the toughest choice I'll have to make - ever.

PSMKay

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Re: APPS Round 1: Dropbox vs Text Messaging
« Reply #5 on: Dec 04, 2014, 01:22 am »
Hope you got your vote in under the wire, BayAreaSM. This was a VERY close match!

 

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