Dropbox optimizes app for Android 4.0

Cloud storage company Dropbox has added offline storage and bulk upload to an redesigned version of its Android application, which has been optimized for Android 4.0.

The favorites feature in version 2.0 allows users to make files available offline by clicking on a star in the menu, while the bulk upload means users no longer need to upload files one at a time. Instead they can select multiple photos and videos and upload them in the background, Dropbox said in a blog post on Thursday.

The bulk upload feature is already available in the iOS version, and is something users have been asking for on Android Market.

Users can also rename files and folders. Additionally, the company has improved the gallery view, and made a numerous bug fixes and stability improvements, it said.

Cloud storage has become one of the hottest smartphone application sectors, with a growing number of applications to choose from, including Amazon's Cloud Drive, Apple's iCloud, Box.net and Microsoft's SkyDrive.

One way vendors are trying to lure users is by increasing the amount of free storage. For example, SkyDrive comes with 25GB of storage and recently Sony Ericsson signed a deal with Box.net, which gives owners of its smartphones access to 50GB of free storage, while Dropbox only includes 2GB.

Also, more large software vendors are looking at entering the sector. In October, Citrix Systems acquired ShareFile for an undisclosed sum, in an effort to break into the cloud-based data sharing market.

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