FX File Explorer: a "desktop-class" file/media manager

tliebeck

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Feb 6, 2010
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Hello all,

I’m the author of SystemPanel and WebSharing and would like to ask for help from testers to get feedback for a new application, “FX File Explorer”. FX intends to be an uncluttered, everyday-usable file manager for Android. The primary development goal has been to create the same level of usability, intuitiveness, and efficiency as that offered by the file manager on your desktop computer.

This is a free/paid application. Local file management features are free and will NOT contain ads. There will be two separate paid add-ons, one to add network/cloud/media functionality and the other to add root functionality.

During the beta period, everything is free. The beta root module must be downloaded separately though from our site (link at bottom, does not require registration).


Here’s a quick Youtube video I’ve put together for the beta:

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPQG7asocNw[/YT]

When you start FX, you’ll see the “home screen” that presents a list of “catalogs” containing files, media, and network locations:

Home1.png

Home2.png


You can browse and manage files directly by opening the media card item:

DirectoryCopyItems.png
. . .
DirectoryFileMenu.png


Local media files can be browsed/indexed by their media type, i.e., photos, music, and videos. When browsing media, the media is logically categorized by its purpose. For example, the audio catalog is browseable by artist, album, all tracks, or playlist. Shown here are the album view and playlist view/editor:

MusicAlbums.png

MusicPlaylist.png


The images catalog is browseable by “camera roll”, by individual folders which contain images, or by viewing all images at once. This is an image folder view (displayed as thumbnails and as a list):

ImageBrowsingThumb.png

ImageBrowsingList.png


FX has the ability to transfer files to/from Windows network shares, FTP sites, SSH servers, via Bluetooth FTP, and to online cloud storage services (Dropbox, SugarSync, and Box). Working with network files does not appear significantly different from working with files stored on your media card. Network bookmarks can be created for quick access to your computers/servers, with (optional) encrypted password storage such that a single “keyring” password is used to access them from your device:

NetworkCloud.png

NetworkFtp.png


FX also supports sending files over Bluetooth via OBEX Push...with a twist. You can (*optionally*) have FX send files over WiFi rather than Bluetooth when both sending and receiving phones are using FX and both phones are on the same WiFi network. This can significantly improve the data transfer rate.

Bluetooth.png

BluetoothDiscovery.png


FX also supports browsing with multiple windows. Just tap the Window menu to switch windows or create/destroy them. The "Operations" item shows you all currently running, completed, and failed operations.

Windows.png

Operations.png


The root module (available as a separate download, free-to-use during beta) adds the ability to manipulate file systems as root, remount file systems as writable, and change permissions and ownership. The root module is purpose-built for Android's modified Linux (e.g., the set ownership dialog allows you to assign ownership to installed applications).

RootBrowsing.png

RootSetOwner.png


FileSystemManager.png

RootDetailsTop.png


Full documentation is available in the app (tap “Tools”, then “Help”) and also online here: Documentation | android.nextapp.com

Many more screenshots can be found here: Screenshot Tour | android.nextapp.com

The beta is out now on the Android market, just search for “FX File Explorer”, or click here. As usual for NextApp products, everything is free while in beta. Once it hits 1.0, a full paid version is released and the beta expires to become the Lite version. Both versions will have NO ADS. You can also turn off the paid features in the beta entirely *right now* using the very first option in the settings. The free Lite version is still a full-featured file manager, but without the media and network catalogs.

Root-specific features will be available in a separate paid add-on module. A free version of this module is available which will allow you to use root features during the beta period. The free module will only work during the beta period.

I would greatly appreciate bug reports, feature suggestions, and generally any recommendation about how to make it better. Minor issues/nitpicking/subtle tweak suggestions are equally appreciated: what annoys you may annoy others as well. The goal here is that this product be as convenient and straightforward to use as a desktop file manager.

Thanks for trying it and for any feedback!
--Tod

Download via Android Market

Visit this page for information on downloading the root module: Root Access for FX File Explorer | android.nextapp.com
 

simoness

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Mar 27, 2012
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I recommend you to take a look at this explorer file manager. You can set up your own file server for managing and sharing files through web browser. It's like DropBox but self-hosted so that you can keep all your confidential files on your own server. The web based UI looks and feels like Windows 7 Explorer. It offers features that are not possible with a FTP server such as zipping files, downloading multiple files and folders in single download etc. It's also easier to set up and administrate than a FTP server.