Folders are shown in a slightly different manner than files. Items in a shared folder may be previewed individually and downloaded from the preview window via a tiny link shown in the lower right-hand corner. But the folder can be copied as a whole only via the Add to My Dropbox link, encouraging people to create accounts who don't have them.

The Public folder remains in place at this writing, and you can still select Copy Public Link from the contextual menu to get an old-style direct link with no preview. The Photos folder is managed separately, and while you can create a link from the main folder, you cannot create links to individual files in the folder. Control-click a folder in the Photos folder, and you can select Copy Public Gallery Link, which provides an album-style view.

Dropbox's mobile apps were also updated. In , the app appears identical, but a link icon is now available for any individual file; folders can't be shared in the current release. Tap the link icon, and you can select to copy or email the public URL. Dropbox hasn't optimized its preview for a mobile device, however.

The ability to share any item is a distinct advantage, making Dropbox more useful to its users by making it easier to share files without requiring recipients have an account or are logged in. However, requiring a round-trip to the Web is awkward, and Dropbox should work to provide better lightweight options directly on the PC or Mac.

[Glenn Fleishman is one of the writers of the Economist's Babbage blog and is a contributor to Macworld and TidBits.]