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Forum Discussion
Improving Dropbox video preview quality - thinking outside the box
The poor quality of the Dropbox transcoded preview has been discussed over the years, particularly between 2015-2017.
Over the last six years, internet speeds have changed remarkably and online streaming is now commonplace.
So our clients are unforgiving in their distaste for the Dropbox preview product.
Dropbox has made it plain, that as far as they are concerned the solution is just download. However many many clients want to be sure the product is right for them before they download.
Thinking outside the box, if we load two versions of each video, one optimised for preview, of smaller file size etc.(so clients can be sure its the product they want- but we can be certain that for instance, the preview won't be out of audio/vision sync) and the full res version for them to download.
Surely the Dropbox engineers who work on the auto transcoding know the optimum specs for the preview file?
Can that please be shared with your clients? ( after all we are supposedly on the same team)
I just upgraded my account pro plus and it appears to me playback quality online seems low res.
The file dowloads full resolution and looks great but not during playback online thru dropbox. Is there a setting for this?
You are correct However I have some clients that would preffer to use dropbox so I was trying to appease them.
I would rather have know this first, this just adds another step for my process.Please Please. The video quality is so bad that I am ashamed to send the link to clients.
It would be great if the qualitiy would be improved - even just a little bit. Also audio is very crappy.
On google Drive you can play videos in full resolution!
I'm shure dropbox can find a way.Video quality is soo poor that we are forced to use Vimeo and set up new portfolios on a weekly bases in order to send videos to clients so that they can preview files. Dropbox still has not improved video playback in the 3 years i have been using it
StefanieDropbox Staff
Hi all,
Just wanted to thrown in an explanation about video preview quality. Dropbox actually transcodes several versions of your video for you with different level of quality. Depending on your internet connection at the time of the request, Dropbox will serve the preview in the most appropriate quality. We don't want to serve a very high quality preview if you are on a flaky internet connection because it would take a very long time for the video to buffer. This is why if you're on a slow internet connection, you may see a lower quality preview.
Like Mark also pointed out before, please keep in mind that these are only previews of your videos. Happy to take your feedback back to our product managers and let them know you'd appreciate having a banner/button asking the recipient to download in order to get the file in its original quality.
Best,
Sofia
I'm sorry but I did try watching videos on two different computer with wired connection in two different networks and both presented the same low quality video
I have asked this question via Support lines twice and zero response
- MeganHey Robert K JSS Tech, happy Wednesday!
Your feedback regarding our previews and files has been very valuable, and I will endeavor to make sure your voice is heard.
We listen to your needs because it allows us to fully appreciate how Dropbox fits into and influences your daily routine.
By the way, do you refer to a specific platform or all of them?
I'll forward your feedback to the appropriate areas so we can continue to improve.
If you need anything, I'll be one post away.Across all platforms, the quality of preview videos is woeful.
On desktops, you can improve Dropbox compressed video preview watchability with VLC.
But sadly it does not work on Apple devices because the Dropbox/VLC enforced default is download. Duuhhh.
What I am asking for is not for Dropbox to embark on a project, I am just asking for information.
Why is that so difficult?????
Hi @Rob Kothe, Video previews take up an extra space on the Dropbox servers and this space is not paid by you directly (indirectly, of course, you still pay for it). The worse the quality of the video preview, the less space it takes up. The less space the video previews take up, the less costs the Dropbox has.
We finally left Dropbox. Having seen time after time they don't care about customers.
Quality and customer service from Vimeo is outstanding.
- Why my videos on preview on iPhone Dropbox app are still in low resolution? Everything is in pixels. My internet connection is fast and stable and I’m a Dropbox plus user. Any ideas?
