Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store
TUAW Review: DataCase for iPhone
If you've been looking for a way to turn that 16GB iPhone into a wireless flash drive, there's a new solution available for you in the App Store: DataCase for iPhone (link opens iTunes). The developers, Veiosoft, missed their original release date of July 28th thanks to Apple's annoying application approval process, but you can now buy DataCase in the App Store for US$6.99. Unlike FileMagnet, DataCase doesn't require that an app be installed on the Mac, and it can also be used with a PC or Linux machine.Read after the break for more information about DataCase for iPhone.
To use DataCase, install the app on your iPhone 2.0 device (or iPod touch, of course), tap the icon, make sure that Wi-Fi is enabled on your iPhone, and then fire up your Mac, PC or Linux box. From your Mac you browse for the iPhone using Bonjour (see screenshot below), and by double-clicking the iPhone icon (Ratatouille) you have access to two default volumes on the iPhone -- Drop Box and Shared Files.
Drop Box is exactly that, a write-only location into which others on your network can drop files for you to view. Shared Files is a read-and-write volume, so you can either receive or distribute files. Create up to 16 volumes with individual permission settings. Coming from Windows or Linux, you can use an HTTP or FTP connection to transfer files. Once the files are on the iPhone, you can view them natively if they're in MS Office, text, or PDF formats.
The iPhone app has a very simple interface consisting of a toroidal lozenge (see below) with a folder icon in the middle. Tapping the folder icon displays the available volumes on the iPhone and their contents.
You may not like the Wintergreen LifeSaver interface (I'm not fond of it), but it does tell you how much relative space is being used and how much is available. At a recent ACN meeting in Denver, I demoed this application and just about all of the Apple consultants in attendance wanted the app for carrying and transferring files. Who needs a flash drive anymore when you have DataCase and an iPhone?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ivo Daniel said 8:14AM on 8-12-2008
There is already an app at the AppStore that does exactly the same thing, Files (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=285578660&mt=8), with the bonus of having a quite better interface, judging by the screenshots.
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Mathias said 8:48AM on 8-12-2008
No, not exactly the same thing, Files has the capability of reading documents and pdf, viewing spreadsheets and more; as far as I know this app doesn't. So, why spend the same amount of money on something without these functions?
Mathias said 9:48AM on 8-12-2008
My bad, checked the link, and they do have the same functions, didn't read the article properly.
Alex said 8:53AM on 8-12-2008
Yeah, but the thing about the application you are suggesting is that it costs a dollar more than DataCase and based on reviews it isn't playing nicely with Windows XP and Vista.
puhsitch said 9:00AM on 8-12-2008
Mathias, check out the App Store link in the article -- according to the description of DataCase, it can view files as well.
macusr said 10:17AM on 8-12-2008
not the same..
the really cool thing about this one for me is the Bonjour tecnology..
launch it and it's there in Finder... no URL, ftp or whatever...
but that's on a mac of course.
Works great so far!
totoro said 11:49AM on 8-12-2008
I'm guessing Datacase sent out a lot of iTunes gift cards for reviewers to try their app, which is why it is getting more coverage/reviews on the net than those other apps-I've seen more than one in-depth review of it just today.
Probably a smart marketing strategy for any app in a crowded field right now, as just browsing the App Store is a tough way to compare features.
puhsitch said 8:30AM on 8-12-2008
I'm curious to hear how this compares to MobileFinder, which apparently was also just released. Is DataCase worth the extra $5?
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aleenm88 said 9:04AM on 8-12-2008
I have been searching the entire app store for apps like this:
-Files
-Caravan
-File Magnet
- Regal Media
-ReaddleDocs
-Mobile Finder
-DataCase
It would be great if TUAW made a comparison of them. What i can look is that "Mobile FInder" is cheaper and can even edit files (not only view) right from the iPhone.
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niknak said 9:14AM on 8-12-2008
I second that. I've been looking for an app that can store/view files and am totally confused by the various options. Please do a comparison for us TUAW.
bkenney said 9:17AM on 8-12-2008
I need some sort of comparison too...I think I'm leaning towards MobileFinder. From what I've read, it seems as if MobileFinder is the way to go since it's $1.99 instead of $6.99 and you can also edit/create text file documents. The only feature it doesn't have that Datacase does is Bonjour support.
For jailbroken phones, OpenSSH will let you copy files to the phone (through scp) but as far as I know there aren't any free apps that will let you view those files on your phone.
Fray said 1:09PM on 8-12-2008
It's true: comparing apps in the store is not easy. TUAW would do a lot of people a favour if they could do a comparison of these apps. Even a table with what each app does and does not support would be fantastic.
Philster said 5:46PM on 8-12-2008
I agree!
TUAW -- Give Steven Sande some of that Blackberry or Verizon ad money to purchase these apps and give us a good comparison article.
Pelle said 4:05PM on 8-14-2008
I have tested a few of these and, so far, I prefer Caravan. It's bit more difficult to set up, at least if you're not running Mac OS X, since then you need to install an FTP server. Mac OS got this built in already.
The reward after setting it up, is that you can see/download your computers files even when you're on a different continent of you wish. This is because Caravan works the other way compared to the rest of them. You do everything directly from the iPhone, rather than having to sit at your computer.
Just like with some of the other apps you can create and edit text files. You can even edit files located on your computer actually.
I think the bad reviews are much undeserved. Most of them seem to be from the first version that didn't have any documentation anyway.
I had some initial setup problems, but the developer replied to my emails within hours.
Steve said 4:13PM on 8-14-2008
Second that! And Caravan is only $2.99. I think $5 is the limit for apps I don't now if I'm gonna like.
Kryptinite said 8:56AM on 8-12-2008
I wonder if you have the ability to email the files out.
Also if there is the capability to share files between iPhones.
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NG said 10:47AM on 8-12-2008
There seem to be a lot happening in this area. I have been looking at SugarSync and Live Mesh as a way of linking files between my work and home Mac and PCs and these both seem to work well.
Live Mesh (yes I know it is Microsoft!!) has a web interface that allows you to access files on your PC via the web and they are promising a Mac an iPhone client shortly. It's limited to 5gb but it is free.
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Bronson said 9:19AM on 8-12-2008
I'd like a comparison to MobileFinder. MobileFinder seems to have the same features plus some added features. Plus it's cheaper.
Anyone have some insight??
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Stephen Lang said 11:54AM on 8-12-2008
1 difference that I've found is that MobileFinder uses FTP, so you run an FTP program on your desktop instead of, uh, Finder. Of all the various apps, DataCase seems like the easiest to run for the general user, plus has pretty good file support (for viewing on the device).
I understand the gripes about wifi only, having to run the mobile app to transfer files, etc. But these apps are at heart all workarounds for a lack of storage mode on the iPod Touch and iPhone. Encryption could probably be added though.
stormlight said 9:20AM on 8-12-2008
Be nice if we could get truecrypt for the iphone. I would like to have my docs on the iphone encrypted.
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