FREE cloud sync using Dropbox
New iPhone apps have shown up offering free cloud sync via dropbox - all you need is a free dropbox account. If MLO could sync via dropbox it would be free and one less thing for us to worry about keeping up payments on!
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Francesco commented
No need Dropbox.
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Sp commented
What I like about current sync option, is that is a paid one. That gives me some reassurance that the great product / service that I like has some periodical funding aside the app itself.
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John Hughes commented
i have been a user of MLO cloud for a long time, and it has never been a problem. Dropbox is becoming just another paid cloud service, and it has not been a transparent service for me. I will stay with MLO cloud and I don't need Dropbox sync.
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Paul Baxter commented
Discussion here have centred on the issue of file vs record sync. There is a solution for this, not that I'm advocating it, and that is to sync each record as a separate file in an MLO folder. That approach could work for any cloud store but I'm sure there could be significant issues I've not thought of and a dedicated cloud solution has to be the best solution for precious task data.
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AbeG commented
Synchronization options should be considered a basic feature that is included in all platform versions.
Since the cloud offering involves a monthly fee, it should be treated as software as a service which has features that would be difficult/impossible to implement on the desktop/mobile devices as is common practice with other software vendors.
Cloud service could include things like -
Anywhere access via web version of software
Online backups
Create tasks via email as is available with nozbe
Collaboration with guest users who do not have MLO
Premium support option where MLO staff could view someone's account (with the person's permission of course) for the purpose of troubleshooting, training, etc. -
Nunya Bidness commented
I wish I could vote AGAINST this also, so many other things are more needed.
Jeezus people, let Andrey and team make some money for Chrissakes. I'm sure he has a family to support.
How much is MLO Cloud? It's only like $10 for 6 MONTHS. Now I am a confirmed cheapskate, but even I don't mind paying that paltry sum.
Especially not for such an engaged developer that not only actively works on the project, but takes such care to not only consider the end users wishes, but also implement them in the product roadmap!
And how useful is MLO? Personally, I could not live without it, it is the lynchpin of my entire organizational system. So what's a few bucks compared to that peace of mind? That's like, a couple lattes!
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Emily Williams commented
I wish that negative voting was allowed, because I would view this as an ANTIFEATURE - I think MLO should focus on making their cloud sync as good as possible, and not waste time on this; it's not what Dropbox was designed to do, and it can't be good at it, esp. for the case of >2 devices or certain usage patterns; for the product that holds and controls my life, I don't want something that will "probably work, most of the time".
It's not like users really gain a lot by this being "free"; the money MLO would lose on cloud sync licenses plus the programmer hours expended would mean less time and money to work on features that can help all of our productivity.
I'm constantly amazed at how annoyed people get with apps that cost over say $5 or internet services that cost more than $0 these days; if MLO can implement a feature that saves you 10 seconds a day, that's 10 seconds * 365 days = 3650 seconds = a bit more than an hour. I'd wager most people who use MLO make more than $14.95 an hour.
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Warren Meads commented
I agree with Aleksei. I have my own synology NAS and use their cloud solution to sync all my files etc
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Aleksei Novikov commented
I don't see why MLO cannot sync via any server (email, FTP, dropbox, gdrive, gtalk, etc) record-by-record.
Device 1:
1. Find a changed record.
2. Create a file for that record.
3. Encrypt and upload / email.
4. Check the uploaded file. Reupload if necessary.Device 2:
1. Recieve the file list.
2. Find the proper records to download.
3. Download, check file integrity, decrypt. Re-download if necessary.
4. Write to the local database. -
dmclarke commented
Free is best of course, but if i had to choose between no dropbox and dropbox with a charge (perhaps a one off to cover development - some iOS apps do this) then I would pay.
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Joe Freeman commented
Good idea. However, why stop with just Dropbox? There are many cloud services. I suggest the option to sync via any number of them. Some of my apps on my Android device give me a list of 10 or so Cloud options. Plenty of users don't favour Dropbox over some of the other options, and I suggest MLO doesn't either.
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xray3 commented
PLEASE find a way to enable/facilitate encryption BEFORE having the data enter the clutches of Dropbox - don't want those guys snooping around.
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Jim Daniels commented
I use Dropbox for my primary MLO file and then sync to the cloud. I don't mind paying a few bucks to support the ongoing development of the MLO product line. I am an Ecco Pro user, and after seeing that amazing product (from 1997!) get dropped by clueless management (and continue to live on via an enthusiastic user community), MLO looks like the only thing that even comes close and appears to have the competent management to be successful for the long haul. So let's all pay our few bucks a year and be happy about it, that the MLO team has some funding to hire capable developers, marketers, and project/product managers.
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martin commented
Yes, that's the point! You can use several sync options for PC (also sync to own FTP server, which is much better than Dropbox), but on mobile devices you can use MLO Cloud only. Am I right? So it's more the question about possibility to use free sync for mobile devices, or fee based subscription only.
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Alex Sherbakov commented
Yes, Dropbox already works but not on mobile devices. Anyway, I got my votes back.
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Adminmlevison (Admin, MyLifeOrganized) commented
Martin - better phrased my point is that Dropbox already works the way you described. Nothing further can be done. All votes on this feature are wasted.
Cheers
Mark -
MH commented
Dropbox will work now for free as-is, as Alex mentions. It is great if you ALWAYS know exactly which file has the latest updates and NEVER make the mistake of editing before a Dropbox sync is made. Considering that Dropbox isn't an active sync on the Android or iDevice, and that there is little to no notification on Dropbox's part as to which device has the latest copy, the ability to control the updates is only going to be aggravating to say the least.
Consider the case where you update your PC, sync your mobile and then do edits on your mobile device. Later you set up your laptop and it starts doing its automatic Dropbox sync. You can end up in the situation where your unedited PC copy is newer than your edited mobile copy, particularly where you have multiple PC's. You might have it all straight in your head, but your PC's are working against you behind your back. I'm speaking from experience here.
If you need to move large completed MLO files, you can use Dropbox as the file app it is designed to be.
It won't take very many instances of lost data or unwanted overwrites and you won't be able to trust your task management system. That's one of most under appreciated and insidious ways to cause you stop using your system to its fullest.
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martin commented
Anyway, I am not sure, if I can agree with that. It seems that Dropbox could be a good solution if you don't need to synchronize several devices in one time, as for example Alex wrote already....
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Adminmlevison (Admin, MyLifeOrganized) commented
Because of the record by record vs file by file thing (as pointed out by both Dwight and MH) Dropbox could never work as a true sync.
In addition we would be stripping Andrey of his ongoing revenue source which would give him a disincentive to keep working on the app.
I'm going to ask Andrey but I will recommend marking this feature as declined since its **impossible** to do what is being asked.
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Alex Sherbakov commented
MH, you're right and you're wrong in the same time. I already use Dropbox for MLO sync and it works fine for me. But it works fine only if I update ONE file at a time, not two or more. I'm using Dropbox to sync between home and office PC, and, because I can't be in both places at the same time, it works.
So, if I lost Internet access and Dropbox can't sync, and I do MLO sync on the both ends, there will be conflict in Dropbox after Internet connection up again. The game will over with TWO different Dropbox copies of MLO files. It's bad, but it's acceptable for my usage scenario.