Direct Shot for Dropbox User Reviews

Top reviews

Would be great.

The app would be great if you could lower the resolution of the photos. I take a lot of photos for work and do not want to waste my storage space with full resolution photos.

Response from developer

Hello and thanks for downloading the app. A couple of thoughts... a) Would you consider this more of a feature request than a negative aspect of this free app? b) Apple themselves do not allow you to lower the resolution of the photos taken with its camera app, so it is not a common or easy-to-deliver feature... especially when an app uses the iOS camera function like mine does. Hearing this, please reconsider your rating on my indie app. Rating it for what it doesn't have, as opposed to what you wish it did, seems a little tough — especially for a free app. Thanks!

Keeps me organized

I love that this app lets me keep my random archiving pics out of my Camera Roll... cool idea.

Amazing!! Except...

First of all, this app is super slick, very visually appealing, and very simple to understand. The concept is powerful, and I cannot find anything like it on the App Store (believe me, I tried). The thing that I was expecting to be a disappointment but wasn’t was that it wasn’t *necessarily* tied to the same Dropbox account as the app on my phone. After syncing with the Dropbox app, you can switch accounts in the Dropbox app and this camera app will stay in whatever account you left it, which is great. It would be great to have the option of manually selecting a Dropbox account, independent of the app, but what can you do, right? I got it to work, and that’s important for separating business and personal use.

You see, I manage the IT side of a damage restoration company, and the workers need to take LOTS of documentation photos to a shared business drive... but that’s where the problem happens with this app... you can only upload one photo at a time. It’s honestly a dealbreaker for what could have been an essential app, but the process of only taking one photo, then pressing “Use Photo”, then waiting eight seconds until it finishes, then pressing “Done” (for some reason), then pressing “Maybe Later” when it offers you Direct Shot iCloud for the millionth time (it happens every time you do this), and THEN pressing “Take a Shot” to start the process all over again!! It’s WAY more work than is necessary.

The app (I think) could have been designed to have a camera window which is always on and fills half the screen, with a little filmstrip below it to show photos that you’ve already taken (with X’s to delete them if you want), and then a little button at the bottom that says “Upload”... ALL on the same screen. Snap-snap-snap-upload-DONE! It would transform the app entirely.

Sure you can take videos, but our office doesn’t have time to watch an entire movie for every project.

And then (and this would just be a nice touch) it would be great to have slo-mo video. But we can’t have it all, can we?

Overall, it really is a great app, with just one tragic, crippling flaw for me. Direct Shot, just allow multiple uploads, and you’ve got my loyalty (and maybe even my money if you turn it into a paid feature).
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Response from developer

Hello and thanks you for your comments! 1.) Regarding the account, you CAN select a different account than the one your Dropbox app is connected to: when you are given the screen from the Dropbox app to verify your account, there is a "Use a different account" link at the bottom — if you tap that it will give you a web login to connect the app to whatever account you prefer. (To return to this screen you can use the "Sign Out from Dropbox" button on the Settings page to start the process over, but note you'll need to re-add your shortcuts.) 2.) Regarding the single photo-at-a-time and delay for uploading, that is a limitation in the Dropbox API currently. However, in my new 'Direct Shot for iCloud' app the images are uploaded instantaneously because of how the iCloud API works... maybe that might be a better solution for you? 3.) Lastly, sorry about the ad for my new app... but for a free app I need to get some value — there are no ads at all in my iCloud app. Thanks again for your feedback — feel free to contact me over any of the methods on my website if you want to chat more!

Could be very useful

..but ran into a couple of issues:

1. On iPhone 6S Plus with iOS 9.0.2, the selection buttons in camera mode, overlap the camera interface, I had to fiddle with it a bit, even just to cancel taking the shot, to get back to previous menu.

2. after taking a shot, the only options available, are selecting a folder, retake or cancel.
These are fine, but I wanted to use it as a note taker, and for that, I don't need the maximum resolution, and image size that comes with it. The problem is, there isn't any option to lower or adjust it, so it will fill up my free Dropbox storage quickly, and data (if syncing over cellular network).

3. (I may be wrong, but) Dropbox allows 3 levels of privacy, allow access to all files & folder, only folders assigned by the user, or only app specific folder. the app is asking access to all files, and I don't see a reason why I should allow it to access all my files.
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Response from developer

Hello — thanks for downloading the app. Here are some thoughts on your comments. First, iOS 9.0 is more than 2 full-releases old at this point, so it makes it very difficult to support. Have you considered updating to an Apple-supported release? Second, sounds like you make be wanting a note taking app? I know there are many great ones on the app store. This app is simply for taking photos or videos... no ability to add notes. Last, the reason the app has permissions to your entire Dropbox is so that you can upload photos to any folder in your entire Dropbox... if you want to choose a single folder you can easily do that. Hope this helps clarify things... thanks!

Useful, but read this:

Create your destination folders (aka drops) but do NOT do as I did (silly me) and think you chose the folder, then take the photo. You take the photo FIRST and then choose the destination. One star off for the confusion potential confusion. But: one star added for a super helpful developer. Verdict? 5 Star app!
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Response from developer

Glad we got it figured out — thanks for contacting me!

Good... almost great

This is a great app for organizing receipts. My only complaint is that if you have two-factor auth setup in Dropbox, you have to disable 2FA to link the app and the re-enable 2FA after you've linked the app.

Response from developer

Hello! Just wanted you to know that with the last app update we have updated to the latest Dropbox API version which includes full 2FA support!

Close but...

Files are not exactly direct to your cloud folders. Video still stores on your device until the upload has completed to your cloud folder. When taking photos and video the entire list of options is not available. Slow mo and time lapse are the main points of an app like this for a lot of people. If i could do these two things this app gets a five star: stream direct to an open folder with video and use the photography and video options and tools to their full extent.
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Response from developer

Hello... just wanted to respond to a few of your concerns. First, it is not possible to avoid buffering images or video locally before pushing them to the cloud. Second, the additional options you mentioned (slo mo, time lapse, etc.) are not actually default options available to developers, but are unique custom features that Apple built into their camera app - I didn't want to make another camera app (of which there are thousands), but a cloud archive utility. Anyway, I hope these clarifications help - thanks!

Dropbox compatibility?

OK - I found out why Dropbox would not sync Direct Shot photos to my Windows folder. Direct Shot names the photo file with comma and colons. Windows OS does not take such file names. Please patch the app for this issue then all is good! Thank you.
File check tool

Incompatible files and folders

/TEST/DirectShot Aug 27, 03:48:33 PM.png

Filename contains an invalid character

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This is an update to my previous review. Finally I found the photos (PNG format) when log in to my Dropbox online. So the app does what it is intended to do.

Still problem - strangely, these photos don't sync to my PC desktop Dropbox - whereas JPG photos from the iPhone uploaded via the Dropbox Carousel app sync everywhere just fine. I have tried recreating Dropbox folders, but still have not cracked this problem.

Will update review with new status.
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Nice looking app. But is not yet doing what it is meant to do: load photos to Dropbox.
Using the app, I was able to create folders on my Dropbox account. That is nice. But the photos I take with the app did not get to Dropbox. The Dropbox folders are there, but empty! And yet, every photo I took the app said it was loaded to Dropbox. Am I missing something or is this a bug?
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Response from developer

Hello... just wanted you to know that as a Mac user, I wasn't aware of the issue on Windows you found until your review. Thankfully, I was able to solve it in an update I made right after your comment - and I even thanked you in the notes! Anyway, glad Apple allows comments now... thanks again for finding that bug!

So useful

This does exactly what it says it does and with a great interface. Shoot a photo and goes to the Dropbox folder you've selected and no place else. I had another app that used Dropbox, but deleted it - this app is far better and current (supported). I like paying for it too - means the app will continue to be supported. If you need a photo app that saves directly to Dropbox, this is the one!
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Let's Me Keep My Photos Organized

I love that this app lets me create folders for each of our foster children. I can select which child's photo I'm taking and it uploads immediately, and I avoid filling up my iPhone!

How I wish I had had this earlier!

This is a fantastic tool! I have literally hundreds of photos of receipts, whiteboards, and other things that I absolutely need, but I don’t need to be seeing in my camera roll. Direct Shot addresses a real need — creating archives without clutter and greatly simplifying sharing via Dropbox. I just wish I had had it earlier, as it makes things so much simpler.
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Great app that does 1 thing amazingly well

Ever taken a picture and them needed to upload it to dropbox? Ya, you’ll need to switch apps, select, folders… yeck. Instead, just take the photo in this app. Job done.

Such a time saver

Having to take/share whiteboard photos was such a drag before. This makes the process so much easier. Nicely done.

Perfect. Works great.

I love not having design and work related photos in my camera roll. This is an easy recommendation to my designer friends.

Makes my life easier; works great

I try out a LOT of apps. I have three apps on my iPhone and more on my iPad for handling photos of receipts, things to remember later, and more. None of them do what your app does so well.

I often snap a quick photo of things that I want to review later in the day or the week, but I don't want the pic stored in my photo stream. I want them where I can easily review them. Just yesterday I took a photo of a book cover because I didn't have time to write or type down its details. I do this often. I also forget about those photos until I'm looking at pictures of my kids and, what's this, a photo a some random book!

Direct Shot helped me to create a folder in Dropbox for this. Now I just snap a shot, it's saved only in my "_review later" folder, and I move on. PERFECT. I can review what I need when I have time.

You've made a to-the-point app with an easily understood tutorial, great functionality, and flexibility. I like that the "Take a Shot" button is at the bottom of the screen so I can get to it without stretching my thumb.

I'm looking forward to trying the app for other purposes, too. Nice work.
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