Probably not, but it is a cool idea, and it could be used for a short podcasting messaging system for a class. Drop.io advertises itself as simple private exchange.
Drop.io enables you to create simple private exchange points called “drops.” The service has no email signup and no “accounts.” Each drop is private, and only as accessible as you choose to deliberately make it. Create multiple drops, add any type of media, and share or subscribe as you want.
And I would have to agree. The site is very clean and simple, so much in fact, that I didn’t really understand how I could use the site until I actually played with it. Drop.io allows for you to make drops.
A drop is a ‘discrete’ chunk of space you can use to store and share anything (pictures, video, audio, docs, etc) privately, without accounts, personal registration, or email addresses.
The first thing that caught my attention was the “no personal registration, or email addresses.” I’m not so concerned about myself signing up for yet another Web 2.0 site on the web, but more so that if I had my students use it they wouldn’t have to sign up or register for anything.
Now how does this relate to podcasting? A drop can be audio, and with the subscription capabilities, you can easily create a podcast. But with only 100mb of space, these podcasts would have to be short. There is an option to upgrade for $10 to get 1gb of space. Most drops are meant to be temporary, lasting 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, or 1 year. You get to choose the length of time your drop will last.
With these constraints, I’m thinking drop.io could only be useful as a podcasting tool if you need a place to leave short class update podcasts for students. Here’s the scenario: You teach a class that has an online component, a CMS or blog, where students frequently visit to get information about the course. Usually you post announcements or blog posts for students. With Drop.io you could call a special number assigned to your drop and leave a voice comment for students. Once you hang up the mp3 file appears on the drop page. Because your drop is subscription capable you can feed that to your CMS or blog. Also students can sign up for email updates or subscribe using their own aggregator.
And if you find a need to add a file, photo, video or a link, you can do that as well. Here’s a snapshot of my drop.
If you’re worried about privacy, drop.io has that covered as well. You can password protect any drop, so visitors would need the password to see the content. I’ll post more about drop.io’s features unrelated to podcasting on my sister blog: The Maricopa Experience, where I blog about teaching with technology.
Filed under: online, podcasting, web 2.0 | Tagged: drop.io, file exchange
hi, thanks for the thoughts on drop.io – just read your post. One thing i want to throw out there is that within the free 100mb limit per-free-drop you should be able to record literally 100s of minutes of talk time.
When you call a drop and leave ‘podcasts’/'voice messages’ whatever you want to call them we store them in your drop as very small mp3s, so you should be all set.
Also, next week we are releasing some stuff that will make drop.io even better for your ends