Jason David Carr

How to Get Unlimited Space Out of Your Dropbox Pro Account

Jason Carr — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:10:25 +0000

If you’ve never heard of or used Dropbox, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. And if you’re not backing up your important files on a regular basis, you’re really begging for trouble.

Everyone is in need of a good backup, and Dropbox fits the bill very well for most users. In addition, it provides excellent syncing functionality to keep your data up to date between all of the computers that you use. It’s free for the first 2 GB, and above that you can pay for either 50 or 100 GB of space. We’ll be addressing Dropbox Pro accounts (50 or 100 GB accounts) in this article.

In my experience, Dropbox is the most easy to use, mature, and trustworthy service available for online backup and syncing. It does have one caveat, however: the most space you can use is 100 GB (at least for the moment). You can’t even pay for more in a single account. Granted, 100 GB is a lot of space (especially to back up online), but if you’re like me, you have more than 100 GB of precious home movies of your little ones.

So what do you do? Find out after the break…

Here’s what I’ve figured out. It’s a hack but it’s well worth it; it’s working great for me. Dropbox allows you to pay a small monthly fee ($3.99 at the time this article was written) in addition to your standard fee, to enable an extra service they call “Packrat”. Packrat allows you to keep all of your deleted files, as well as all of the previous revisions of all of your files, for all time. This means that when you delete a file from your Dropbox folder it will still remain on the Dropbox servers, and you can go back and restore the file later, if necessary. Dropbox intends this feature to be used for backup purposes (in case files are accidentally deleted, etc.).

This incredible feature is easy to use for more than just-in-case scenarios, however. Due to Dropbox’s unlimited history for deleted files (when using Packrat), you can upload a batch of files, delete them, upload a new batch of files, delete them, and repeat this process until you’ve uploaded every file in your collection. This isn’t great for syncing because it won’t let you sync more than 100 GB at a time between computers, but it is great for backing up that 200 GB home video collection.

Say you have 200 GB of home videos in a folder on your hard disk. This is how you would proceed:

Create a folder in your Dropbox folder for the videos that you would like to upload (we’ll call it “Videos”).
Move some of the videos in your collection into your new Dropbox Videos folder. Make sure you don’t move too much to fit in your Dropbox account.
Wait for these new files to upload to Dropbox (which obviously may take a very long time).
Once the files are uploaded, move the video files back to the previous folder they were in, outside of the Dropbox folder. Dropbox will interpret these files as being deleted, but you’ll still be able to retrieve them via deleted files in your Dropbox account.
Move a new batch of video files into your Dropbox Videos folder, wait for the files to upload, and repeat the process until all of your files have been uploaded.

Once you have all of your files uploaded (or at any point in the middle of the process), you can go to Dropbox’s website and see your deleted files. Just click the “Show Deleted Files” option on the toolbar (or under More Actions), and you can restore or download your deleted files. The point is that all your files, whether they total more than 100 GB or not, are still backed up on Dropbox’s servers. In the event that your hard drive crashes, it may be a slight nuisance, but you’ll still be able to fairly easily get your files back from Dropbox’s servers. This way, Dropbox can be used as an unlimited backup service. The only catch is that you can only retrieve (and keep syncing) 100 GB at a time, so if your account is already full you’ll have to temporarily delete some other files to retrieve the files you’re going for.

There are services available that provide unlimited backup space for less money (and that don’t require a “hack” to use), but none of them provide the amazing robustness and syncing functionality that Dropbox has. Rather than subscribe to two different services (and have two different bills), I’ve chosen to take this route, and it’s working well for me.

If this article clued you in to this functionality, drop a comment and let me know how it works for you. :)

Update: I’ve been told that using Dropbox’s Packrat features in this manner is against Dropbox’s terms of service. I’ve yet to hear it officially from Dropbox, but use this strategy at your own risk. I’m working on getting Dropbox’s official commentary on the matter; as of yet they have not responded.

When Reese Met Zoe (with Grandma and Grandpa Hoyer)

Jason Carr — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 03:33:51 +0000

None of us knew what to expect when Reese first met Zoe, so we thought we’d record it and see what happens. Reese is actually really cute, and seems to understand that Zoe is a new member to our family (that’s a surprise, because he never really let on that he knew what was going on in Mommy’s tummy). So far, so good…let’s hope he keeps being delicate. ;)

There’s plenty more pictures and videos to come…

New Song – Just Like Me

Jason Carr — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 04:08:12 +0000

It’s a new song day! I haven’t eaten since breakfast this morning, and it’s because I was working on this song. It’s called “Just Like Me”, and it’s basically my confession to the world that I don’t always do everything for the right reasons. Too many people look up to me because they think that everything I do for others is done out of pure sacrifice, when most often it’s done for some form of fulfillment. Not only is this song that confession, but it’s a testament to the fact that Christ does everything for the right reasons, unlike us.

Download or play it below, and as always, leave a comment! :)

Download “Just Like Me” or stream it live:

Lyrics are after the jump.

Lyrics:
I don’t think I want a funeral when I die
I’d rather you forget my whole screwed up life
Cause everything I did for you tonight
I did it all for all the wrong reasons

And I don’t mean to be
A hater of what’s me
Cause I love myself almost as much as you

But I can’t take credit for
Everything that you adore
Most of it’s lost to my sore
Fallen heart

I try to be humble and pure
Everything that you are sure
Is the whole reason to be
Just like me

But I give to the poor just to try and get more
From the one who delivers me
And I love you so just so that you’ll show
Me your love and you’ll cherish me

I am a faker, it’s true
Everything I do for you
I selfishly do for my own
Flawed agenda

It’s not that I’m always out for me and mine
But I can’t keep my heart clean inside
It’s not that I don’t love you; I really do
But my Savior’s love is perfect and mine falls through

He’s forgiven me
For everything you’ve seen
And he loves me still despite my falling through

But I can’t take credit for
Everything that you adore
Most of it’s lost to my sore
Fallen heart

I try to be humble and pure
Everything that you are sure
Is the whole reason to be
Just like me

But I give to the poor just to try and get more
From the one who delivers me
And I love you so just so that you’ll show
Me your love and you’ll cherish me

Yeah, I give to the poor just to try and get more
From the one who delivers me
And I love you so just so that you’ll show
Me your love and you’ll cherish me

I am a faker, it’s true
Everything I do for you
I selfishly do for my own
Flawed agenda

But my Savior is true
He will always love you
He will love you for who you are
He will love you for who you are

New Song – Least of These

Jason Carr — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:21:29 +0000

It’s not quite done, but I’m posting it anyway! I can’t wait any longer! ;)

Here is Least of These, as some of you heard at the 30 Hour Famine concert. I’m planning on adding some harmonies to it yet, as well as some bass. But it sounds great already! Let me know what you think! :)

Download “Least of These” or stream it live:

Lyrics are after the jump.

Lyrics:

Oh how I long to be free from the weather
Free from the snow and the rain
Oh how I long to be free from desire
The freedom of nothing to gain

Remember, remember

Our lives are but only a moment in time
We were designed for much more

But for now I’ll serve the least of these
With all that I know they’re craving
All your love and hope is bleeding
To be brought to those who are needing

I will enjoy all the blessings you give me
I’ll play in the snow and the rain
Though I am ready to be done here
Your work over here isn’t done

So use me, Lord use me

I will fall and I’ll crack myself open
But that’s how your love will shine through

So for now I’ll serve the least of these
With all that I know they’re craving
All your love and hope is bleeding
To be brought to those who are needing

And I know that you’ll show
Me the way to be to deliver me
To the broken and outspoken
To reveal to all how your mercy calls

So for now I’ll serve the least of these
With all that I know they’re craving
All your love and hope is bleeding
To be brought to those who are needing

Reese at the Park

Jason Carr — Tue, 11 May 2010 01:55:59 +0000

Amber took some pictures of Reese at the park today; he’s learned to go all around the playground equipment now (he has for several weeks). He’s only fallen off once. ;)

Enjoy the pictures. :)

[Download this collection as a zip file]

[View with PicLens]

Old Song – Nevermind the Aftermath

Jason Carr — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:31:12 +0000

I thought I’d post this one up; this is a song I wrote back in 2003 as a response to President Bush’s actions regarding 9/11. My friend David Alberth recorded it for me and contributed some on the guitar parts; the drums are by another friend named Kyle Baker.

We never really got to polish it, unfortunately, which is kind of a shame because it’s a pretty neat little tune. It’s a good listen, regardless. Enjoy. :)

Download “Nevermind the Aftermath” or stream it live:

As always, the lyrics are after the break.

Nevermind the aftermath of war
Justify the consequence of your
Decision to get into this, this war

Look at all the dead bodies you ignore
Force yourself to realize you’re the author
Of this mess you walk through, you’re so sore

Would you teach your children this truth?
And would they grow up to be just like you?
Who would they kill?
Who will they kill?
When they grow up

Only if you could forget what’s right and wrong
Then you could run this place so strong
Take on every obstacle with your arm

Life just doesn’t work that way, my friend
And death’s what happens when you try to pretend
That life’s just one big competition
Cause only one survives then, would it be you?

So you go teach your children this truth
And watch them grow up to be just like you
Watch them kill their sons and daughters too
Watch them make the same mistakes as you

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-05-04

Jason Carr — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:45:00 +0000

Oh man…I haven't played a video game in weeks…what's wrong with me!? I must be getting old… :/ #
Cranking tunes and rocking out with my baby boy…there's nothing better. :) #
My friend Jeff Baylor video recorded himself drumming to No Other Hope. It's pretty rocking awesome. Take a looksee: http://bit.ly/bxKOuq #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-27

Jason Carr — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:45:00 +0000

Just got back from rafting the rapids and hiking out of the Grand Canyon. Had the time of my life. I'll post pictures soon. #
Everything you know is wrong
Black is white, up is down, and short is long
And everything you thought was just so important doesn't matter #

Grand Canyon Photos

Jason Carr — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:26:10 +0000

I hope everyone enjoyed our trip as much as I did; it was truly an incredible experience. I keep going through various forms of withdrawal; I miss the tight community we had and the lack of distractions from the outside world. Once more, thanks to everyone who went on the trip for such an amazing experience.

As I receive them, I’ll be posting everyone’s pictures (and maybe videos?) here (with their permission), to make them easy to share. Below you’ll find all of the pictures for easy viewing online, as well a zip file download for each collection.

Photos are after the jump. Feel free to comment on this post, too, if you’re craving some discussion from the trip. :)

Larry Lufkin's Photos

[Download this collection as a zip file]

336 Photos

Tom & Laura Hickey's Photos

[Download this collection as a zip file]

47 Photos

Jason Weaver's Photos

This album contains sub-albums.

Larry Carr's Photos

[Download this collection as a zip file]

143 Photos