Live Photos, a feature allowing users to capture a few seconds of movement before and after a photo is taken, can now be viewed and shared directly within the Dropbox iOS app. This long-awaited update, version 416.2, brings Dropbox in line with other platforms like Facebook and Tumblr, which adopted Live Photo support years ago.
Viewing and Sharing Live Photos
With this update, sharing Live Photos to Dropbox is seamless. Simply upload them directly from your iPhone’s photo album. Both you and anyone with access to your Dropbox files can then interact with the Live Photo just as you would on your iPhone: a long press reveals the brief animation captured alongside the still image.
Saving Live Photos as Still Images
Dropbox also provides the flexibility to save Live Photos as static images. Navigate to Image Preferences, tap Live on, and select Still image. This can be particularly useful for managing storage or sharing with users on platforms that don’t support the Live Photo format.
HEIC File Conversion
Occasionally, Live Photos might be uploaded as HEIC files. If this occurs, Dropbox offers a simple solution: within Image Preferences, select Save as JPG to convert the file to a more widely compatible format.
A Late Arrival
While Live Photos debuted with the iPhone 6s in 2015, Dropbox’s integration comes nearly a decade later. The reason for this delay remains unclear, especially given the early adoption by other social media and sharing platforms. Although Live Photos is a popular feature, not all iPhone users utilize it regularly, which might have contributed to Dropbox’s delayed implementation.
Conclusion
The addition of Live Photo support on the Dropbox iOS app is a welcome update, albeit a belated one. It enhances the user experience by allowing for seamless sharing and viewing of these dynamic images. The inclusion of options for converting to still images and handling HEIC files further demonstrates Dropbox’s commitment to providing a versatile and user-friendly platform.
