Mobile Ask An Expert Day Discussion - Join in! [ Edited ]

[KatieBall]

The Ask an Expert Day is starting! Ask away!

[cmac0122]

how do i send a large file

[PriyankaT]

To start off the Ask and Expert Day I wanted to talk a little bit about my thoughts on YouSendIt’s mobile strategy. As a leader in content collaboration and file sharing, we want users to be able to get their work done no matter what device they are using. We have created applications for the major mobile platforms - iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8.

Our newer releases focus on two things -

1) Frictionless productivity - allows people to get in, get their work done and get out

2) Compelling user experience – easily send, share, sign, and view your cloud content, enjoy the experience of doing work! 

Tell us more about how you interact with YouSendIt Mobile apps and what you want to see in our apps-  

What is your favorite device to access YouSendIt and why? Also, any feedback on our current apps? Any ideas for features in future apps/updates?

[PriyankaT]

Hi cmac0122,

If you already have the file in your YouSendIt cloud folders, you can use the send functionality to send it out. If not, you need to upload the file to your cloud folder and then send it out. 

We are working on flows where you will be able to send a file without uploading it to your cloud folder. 

[Cathyb4]

How do I send a video on my Android?

[PriyankaT]

Hi Cathy4,

To send a video on your Android device using the YouSendIt app, please upload the file to your folders first and then select the video. After it has uploaded, you can send it out. 

[PhotoGuy27]

Just have to say I love using my iPhone app to take photos of receipts and docs and store them into my cloud space on the fly!  Super easy way to submit my expenses and saves a ton of time. 

Would love to see more features added to the app though, any updates coming out soon.

[PriyankaT]

Hi PhotoGuy27,

Thanks! I am glad to know that you love our app.

We are launching an update to the iPhone app soon. This will have many cool features, so stay tuned!

Is there anything specifically that you are looking for?

[swace]

I love the ability to share a single file and be able to add a password to it and be notified when it has been downloaded. But if I share a folder that has files in it, it doesn't look like I have nearly the same type of options. It looks like I can request that the guest verify their identity by requiring them to create an account. But I also then have no way of knowing if they looked at or downloaded any of the files, right? And to have someone sign a document, I have to create a folder to share, since the sharing of a single file does not allow the other person to sign it?

[PriyankaT]

Hi Swace,

Thats an intersting idea. Can you elaborate more on what all information would you want to see for their folders - would you also want to know if they synced the file using the Desktop sync app or simply see if they downloaded it from the website or mobile device?

The best way to request signature would be to add it to a shared folder. The other option is you could send the file out but the recipient will have to open it using their YouSendIt account and can then sign and send it back to you. We are looking at improvising this process and would love to know your suggestions on the same.  

[swace]

Thanks for the quick response. I just played around with the sharing of folders and it does at least send me an email to let me know if a recipient has clicked on the invitation to view their folder for the first time. That happens whether I request that they verify their ID or not. So that is helpful.

But I still won't know if they downloaded/viewed the file that was in their folder, or likewise if and when I add additional files to their folder, I will never know if they logged in or if they viewed those files. Something like that would be extremely helpful. If I had the option to be notified by email or online somehow that would be great. Otherwise I put files into their folder and I have no idea if they ever view them. You're right though, not sure how to know if they looked at a file if they use sync. I guess the best option then would just to be told they synced the file to their desktop.

The signing part is still tricky. It does look like the best way is by using a shared folder. But I wish there was a way to put flags on the document to sign here, date here, etc. Right now it is pretty primative. It would again also be helpful to be notified when they have signed the document. Add some things like that, as well as mobile (iPhone/iPad) signing, and it would be great.

[newarkdiver]

A friend of mine, it's not me, honest has an issue.  He's a financial planner and is constantly running around to his clients.  Inevitably he has 100's of financial forms in his library (insurance forms, investment forms, etc., etc.) - in fact, everyone at his firm has the same set of forms. 

I understand shared Folders, and I suggested he get an admin to maintain this master set of forms in a Shared Folder that is shared with all of the CFP's in his firm.  It's a great use case for your product; but I'll be dammed if it didn't work. 

He pulled up his iPad while talking to me in a parking lot, and didn't have access to the forms because he wasn't connected.  Why can't he access these forms while disconnected?

If this worked, he could then also have clients sign the docs right on the iPad without having to push a  bunch of paper around.

Sounds like your product is almost perfect for the Financial Planning industry, but you have one big blocker on the mobile side.

[PriyankaT]

Hi Swace,

These are great use cases. We have some of these on our roadmap and will add the others too. Thanks for the insight into your use cases! 

If you were not aware of it, we have had the ability to sign files on the mobile devices for a while. Check it out! 

[PriyankaT]

Hi Newarkdiver,

That is a great feature for our iPad app. We want people to be able to access their saved files at any point in time, even if they don't have internet access. You will be happy to know that its on our roadmap and we will have this update coming soon, so stay tuned!

Also, did you know you can share folders with others and give them view-only access.

[KatieBall]

Below is the e-signature video, just as a high level view of how to use our e-signature app

YouSendIt - Sign Documents from YouSendIt on Vimeo.

[PhotoGuy27]

Thanks Priyanka,  Looking forward to checking out the new app once it's ready!  For what I would like to see it would be great to see my sending history and tracking information.  I send a lot of files through your Express app and it would be cool to see who downloaded the files and when

[campbellguy]

Pryanka,

What are some of your favorite mobile apps other than YouSendIt? 

[MsMin]

I have Word Perfect x5 2010.  It claimed that I could file share from an open file.  However, when I tried to do so, it asked for an association.  Inside that they only provided certain choices, none that I could use.  My file is not compatible with Microsoft Outlook.

I need to send a large file 'what you see is what you get' through email.  However, the recepient does not accept attachments, which rules out pdfs.  Using your program, how do i do that?

[PriyankaT]

Hi campbellbuy,

There are a few aspects which make a great mobile app:

- Compelling User experience 

- Enticing Graphic Design and visual feedback on interactions

- Useful Features

- Application performace 

All these need to be delivered for a very small screensize.

The interplay of these varies depending on the category of the application. An emmersive application like a game needs to be super engaging however a productivity app like YouSendIt needs to be highly functional yet interesting. 

Some of my favorite apps besides YouSendIt are Flipboard, Cut the Rope, Awesome note, 1000 Ultimate Experiences. 

[morgankeys]

Hi MsMin,

I'm one of the Product Designers here at YouSendIt. It sounds like we can help you!

It sounds like you're having trouble sending a file using our Outlook plugin? Also, it sounds like you can't send file attachments because the recipient's mail server does not allow it. Am I correct?

I've never heard of any restrictions on file-type for our service, so it sounds like either Outlook or your opperating system are having problems. As a workaround, I would suggest sending directly from the YouSendIt website.

1) Go to http://www.yousendit.com and click "Login" in the top right.

2) Login using your YouSendIt username and password.

3) Click on the "Send" tab.

4) Use "Upload from Desktop" button to upload your file.

5) Enter your intended recipient in the "To" field and use the Subject and Message fields as if you were writing an email and enter.

6) Choose you options and click send and your done!

YouSendIt will send your recipient an email with a link to download the file you uploaded—since it's just a link, the mail server won't recognize it as an attachment. So you can send anything you want!

Also, if your recipient has a YouSendIt account, they can save the file to their YouSendIt folder and use our built-in preview functionality to view certain files (including PDFs, .docs, and jpgs)—no software installation necessary!

Hope that helps!

[Dipper12]

Just got a new Windows Phone 8 and I would like to use YouSendIt. When the app is live what are some features I can look forward to?

[PriyankaT]

Hi Dipper12,

Congrats on your new purchase! The YouSendIt app on Windows Phone 8 has all the cool YouSendIt features. 

You will be able to send files, upload content to your cloud folder, sign files on the go and share folders with other people. You will also be able to track sent files if you have a paid account. If you have a Nokia device, you can use the NFC feature to send a file. 

I hope you enjoy using our app on your new phone. Let us know if you have any suggestions or feedback!

[campbellguy]

Thanks for the personalized response, cool.  I'll have to check some of these apps out.

iCloud keeps pissing me off - when will YouSendIt iPhone app just grab all my pictures and video's from my phone and upload them automatically?  I ultimately want these pictures in YouSendIt anyway.

[PriyankaT]

Hi PhotoGuy27,

We are in the process of adding this feature across different apps. Stay tuned!

[PriyankaT]

Hi Campbellguy,

Thats a cool idea. We have evaluated the scenarios for this - using the phone bandwidth by uploading when you are on wifi v/s 3G/ 4G, using your cloud storage space, etc. We will keep you posted on our plan of action on that. 

[KatieBall]

Thank you to everyone who particpated in this Ask an Expert Day! We had a great time!