Take control of your files (Part 1)
We show you how to get your information at your fingertips
Your smartphone is your true mobile
companion. It has more computing power than it took to put a man on the moon.
It’s an always-connected PC, sitting in your pocket; yesterday’s dreams made
real. And, as such, your smartphone is the perfect device for dealing with your
precious documents and files. No other hardware has the power of internet connectivity,
push notifications, compatibility with our PC operating systems, and most
importantly, is omnipresent in everyone’s lives, ready to be called on at a
moment’s notice.
Despite the smart phone’s power to put
files and documents at our fingertips, it can be surprisingly difficult to
access them. One particular offender is iOS, which, despite being the operating
system behinds the world’s most popular handset, is totally inept when dealing
with files. We should point out that we’re concentrating on iOS in this article
merely because it’s the most restricted of the smartphone operating systems.
Grab the Dropbox app for Android and you’ll be able to do many of the things we
describe here.
Back to iOS, then. It hides its file
system, it’s unable to read files placed onto its memory using a USB
connection, there’s no MicroSD port for moving files physically, and Safari
will plainly refuse to use web versions of online file systems like Dropbox.
It’s like the anti-computer. Even if you’re able to access them - perhaps by
connecting a camera connection kit to an iPad and inserting an SD card - iOS
has little provision for reading flies natively, so that essential Word
document will be about as much use to you as an animated GIF of a gurning
Jeremy Clarkson.
Luckily, what can’t be done natively on the
iPhone can mostly be achieved though the use of apps. You can extend your iPhone’s
functionality to add features, and when it comes to going mobile with your
files, there are plenty of methods to choose from.
Stop and drop
One of the first names that come to mind
when dealing with file storage and distribution is Dropbox. And rightly so.
This online cloud storage service has rocketed in popularity over the last
couple of years due to its excellent connectivity options, fast speeds and
intuitive interface. One of the best things about Dropbox is that it’s
multi-platform - you might already use it cm PC or Mac through a desktop app or
through the browser portal, which lets you to access the files you’re storing
from anywhere.
However, fewer people are aware of the
rather excellent iOS version of the application, which really puts you in
control of your stored documents. If you’re ever away from your PC, on the move
or simply need to access an important file quickly, your smartphone can come to
the rescue. You can download the application from the API) Store free of
charge. Once it’s installed, tap it to open and you’ll be asked if you’re a
Dropbox user. If you’ve used the service before, just add your details to
access your files. If this is your first time using it, click “I’m new to
Dropbox”. There’s a short signup process, which is kept to a minimum, then
you’re taken to your storage area.
Once you’re logged into the app you can
view any file that’s been uploaded to your Dropbox and stored in the cloud from
any system; this means your files can cross between Android handsets, PCs,
email accounts, the lot. There’s also the option to view files, which is one of
the few ways you can actually read documents that have been sent to your
iPhone, given its usual stoic refusal to view anything other than PDFs and
images. Dropbox is able to natively display a host of image types, a variety of
text documents and a string of other common file types besides. Unfortunately
you can’t make changes or amendments to the documents, and they will only open
in a read-only mode.
Share and share alike
You can, however, redistribute files, which
can he a godsend when you’re on the move. If a colleague or family member has
ever called you to ask for a file while you’re enjoying a day off, it can often
mean an irritating journey to your PC to send it. Retrieving the file on
Dropbox makes the process much easier. Open any file, even if it’s in an
unreadable format, and press the icon at the bottom left that looks like two
linked chains. Choose “Email link” and a new message containing a hyperlink
will open using the iPhone’s default mail programme. Send that to the recipient
and they can download the file without any hassle, leaving you to get on with
your day.
One weakness of using Dropbox on your
iPhone is that there’s little SCOC for uploading to the app. You can add files,
but with iOS’s limited file support you can only deal with your photos.
Thankfully, there’s another way. Other apps that let you interact with your
files can connect with Dropbox, letting you save your files in a central
location. A great example of this is the email app provided with iOS. Scroll to
the bottom of an email containing an attachment and tap it. When it loads,
press the forward arrow in the top right corner. Choose ‘Open in’ and select
“Dropbox” from the list. The app prompts you to pick a location for it to he
saved in before it’s uploaded to the cloud.
Drophox presents one of the simplest ways
to control your files using your iPhone, and there’s not a lot that it can’t
do. However, mobile workers who use a host of FUP connections may find there’s
a lack of options on offer, and could be put off by the need to use the desktop
application. Locked down corporate systems won’t let you install the app
either, which means it’s a case of using the clunky web interface, which is
never a good thing. However, an lOS app called Air Sharing does offer a neat
alternative.
