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FTP, SFTP, SMB and WebDAV client test

P

padersync

Lurker
Hi,

I am in the process of porting my file management application to the Android platform and am looking for people interested in testing it. The application is basically a FTP, SFTP, SMB and WebDAV client and has a BlackBerry/Java ME background.

http://www.pader-sync.com/PaderSyncFTP.apk
http://www.pader-sync.com/PaderSyncFM.apk

For a detailed description of the apps just check the product page: FTP, SFTP, SMB and WebDAV Software for BlackBerry and Java ME . Would be great to hear what you think.

Regards,
Thorsten.
 
Hello Thorsten, I took your app for a spin and I really like it. I'd be happy to test future versions. Here are my comments, you can take them or leave them of course and if you have any followup questions for me just me me know.

  • SMB browser and file ops seem to work well, with and without passwords.
  • The general UI doesn't look like Android at all, which I am positive is because you are porting it over from the simpler JavaME stack. I also know that you already know this. Let me know if you have any interest in a second contributor to help.
  • The double-click is clever but not very discoverable. I am thinking that a dropdown next to each entry with the available ops or some such interaction would be good. Let me think about this one a little more.
  • I think the copy target choice between clipboard and "root" is interesting but only if you let the user configure that list. I can't think of any reason I would ever want to copy a file to root of any device, but if I could put my 4 favorite directories in that list, that would be a nice way to save time and clicks.
  • The big one - perhaps only once the file is local, you should have a way to launch it such that Android pops up its "which program do you want me to use to launch this" dialog, which would mean that copying pictures or movies over would be dead simple since I could launch them without even leaving the software.

Keep up the good work and like I said, let me know if you are interested in continued QA or a contributor. Thanks.
 
Hello Jasper,
many thanks for your reply and your effort to test the application. I really appreciate it.
I have read your information and I will try to improve the UI based on your suggestions. I really like your suggestions. Some of the things mentioned are already implemented but are not intuitive enough. For instance, the copy target is not fixed to the local file system root but depends on the currently open directory of the second(third,++) file system view.

I welcome anyone to test the apps. They can be downloaded without the need to register first, so no hassle there. Or contact me directly at contact at pader-sync dot com if you are interested in testing future versions/products.

As far as code contribution is concerned there is no way to contribute to the product directly but I am allways looking for support on the UI library at work here. I have written a basic port of LWUIT to the Android platform and this could use some Android folks willing to help. Here are some links for the interested:

https://lwuit.dev.java.net/
https://lwuit-incubator.dev.java.net/
java.net Forums : Android implementation ...
Shai's Java & LWUIT Blog

Kind regards,
Thorsten.
 
Hi Thorsten & Jasper,

I'm new to this forum. I know a lot of people - myself included - are in search of a ftp/samba app for Android and came across this thread. I think you've got exactly what we need, and wondering if you've got a newer version coming?

I code mainly in scientific/engineering applications. I'd love to contribute but I'm not familiar with Java. I'll be happy to test, tho'!

Thank you!
Sam
 
Hi Thorsten,

today I've found this thread and I instantly downloaded your latest prerelease version as of today for testing it's WebDAV functionality on a Samsung Galaxy with Android 1.5 to connect to a personal WebDAV server with self-signed SSL certificate over 3G, no WLAN. Here a short feedback:

  • GUI is interesting. Refreshing, but maybe a little irritating
  • the webdav settings text input dialogs are probably set to wrap content, because the dialogs are very small when empty and wider when filled
  • don't know if "host" value needs "https://..:" prefix or not. Tried without and setting the SSL option, worked.
  • Warning for my self-signed SSL certificate, and it works. Great!
  • After some seconds of idle and new actions I get the message "You are about to open a TCP/IP network connection. ..." repeatedly. Though I only answer with "Yes" and not with "Never ask", this might by a little bit annoying for on session.
  • Downloading a single file with long-click menu item "open" is little bit unintuitive
  • OK, "open" was the inappropriate action for downloading a single file. "Copy" seems the action I need, but where has the copied file been gone to?
  • When I choose common menu item "disconnect", it shows me my WebDAV connection and a connection "MOBILE". What is this? A little bit confusing.
  • OK, "MOBILE" seems to be my phone. When I look at it's contents with entry from the main menu item "Bookmarks", I can only return to the main menu by disconnection "MOBILE" again. That is different from the usual file managers navigation behaviour.
  • Maybe it would be nice to decide wether a copied file should be saved in the default copy target folder or into an individual one which can be selected by a browse dialog
Anyway your application seems to implement a lot of functionality and despite of the gui behaviour it really does what it promises, and that's a really great job.

Thanks for your efforts:
Klaus
 
Hello Klaus,
thank's a lot for your detailed feedback. I will certainly take it to heart and improve the documentation and maybe add some tips and/or graphical hints to the application. Possibly rethinking things along the way.
I just wrote a short quickstart guide and added it to the project page at Pader Sync - Mobile File Manager for BlackBerry, Java ME and Android
This should give an understanding of how to navigate and prevent other users from getting lost.
Best regards,
Thorsten.
 
Glad to see Thorsten and pader-sync have been well received. Both the padersyncDAV padersyncFM apps work well with SwissDisk. SwissDisk is a 100% secure webDAV powered online storage service. Sync your android and stay safe our there in the wild wireless world. Don't trust your data over an unsecure link. Your link to SwissDisk is always end-to-end encrypted. Try a FREE SwissDisk account!
 
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