Well, I'm a typical WinMo guy. So please, excuse me if this is foolish. But, according to the research I've done, I think this topic has not been touched.
Many a times, we work on desktop PC. We have some of our files which we would DEFINITELY want on our Android. And we don't always have our device tethered to the desktop computer! Its also tiresome to manually copy files to the device!
Is there any service which allows us to sync our PC as well as Android with cloud? I wish, I can just put files on a folder on PC and they will be available on my device. Yeah! I know you would shout 'Dropbox'! Actually, in Dropbox, we have to manually download the files which we want. I want the automatic sync of a folder (chosen by me) to my device, so that it syncs in background and I have my files available on the go.
Thanks in advance.
Dropbox automatically syncs the dropbox folder... why dont you just use that as your chosen folder? Im not sure but i believe you can also choose whichever folder you want to use as you dropbox folder.
Sorry if this doesnt help
Actually dropbox does _not_ sync to Android devices. Their Android client does download on demand only, which really sucks, and I complain about it a lot.
Given that their iPhone client _can_ sync selected files it's just pure lazyness on their part.
But, this thread wasn't meant for DropBox discussion. Is there anything which solves the problem! C'mon Dropbox team, you need not to worry about our storage space! Get us app like iPhone!
Okay guys, I tried to come up with an idea for Android and I finally came up with one and I'd like to ask what you think of it before I publish to the public. So, I've had a lot of files on my computer in a folder called "Copy later" and I haven't had the time to sit down, connect my phone, and wait for it to sync all the files. I also am aware of many different apps which sync through WiFi but if I travel to places, I don't have the time to wait for it to copy. So, I decided to come up with a solution...Basically, you would turn on your computer, run this super lightweight app which takes your files in a specific folder (or a system folder like "My Documents of My Music") and send it to a remote server. Now, the remote server would wait for your phone to be available (like connected to the internet and to the server) and it will negotiate a connection with it. Once the connection has been built, the remote server will start transferring the files to the phone. When the files have been processed to the phone, the server will delete its "Temp container" and will wait for the computer to tell it to copy more files.
Now, people will also want to backup the contents of their phone and sync up their files. The same process also applies for the phone's data but slightly more efficient. Essentially, you can setup (optionally) some "zones" at which you can sync the corresponding data. For example, when you are at work, you can sync up your contacts and your "Work" folder. When you're at home, it can sync up your music files and maybe your Facebook updates. This is great because it takes in your GPS location and you can set a radius so that if you are within that radius, you can be syncing up some specific folder(s) with your computer. Also, in the event you lose your phone, you would still have the last synced files. This makes your syncing much more efficient.
If you like this idea, I have already started working on it so please tell me if you want to be a beta for it. Right now, it's invite only so post in this thread if you want me to send you a link. I personally think it is useful for me because switching from school to home, to friends' house, it is handy to sync only the stuff I change. Also, Im looking for a name for this app (still haven't thought of one). A good name will get a prize....
UPDATES
-Removed the middle server - Direct pc to android connection
-Encrypted transfers
-Connects through port 4000 so if you have port forwarding done for this, you can connect from anywhere in the world!
-Sends the data encrypted now
Alpha Program 1:
-This simply transfers data from pc to android and establishes a secure connection.
Alpha program 2:
-After long hours of work, I finally got it to transfer the data safely through the web.
-It doesn't send ANY data without encypting it first and this took a while to make but it finally does conversion without much lag.
-Basically, you choose an mp3 from your computer and send it over. Once it completes, it will play on device. Check out the quality...its equal to that on the computer...
Sign me up for the beta.
I don't quite understand.
What files would you be syncing?
How is this different than using DropBox, where I already have 2GB of space?
Who controls this 'remote server'?
dropbox is different because the files "stay" in the server, but in this the server is only a middle means for data transport. The files are deleted from server once the sync is performed. You can sync whatever you want, like music/videos/data/whatever other folder you choose.
Also, dropbox is basically a "file storage"/backup solution. This just transfers the files from desktop to device and back.
Alright. I have begun work on this project. Firstly, I have now eliminated the idea of needing a 3rd party remote server. Now, it will connect directly to the phone using wifi networks and direct tcp/ip protocol. However, the difference is that data will be transfered in ssl. This way, it will be very secure.
rkrishnan2012 said:
... I have now eliminated the idea of needing a 3rd party remote server. Now, it will connect directly to the phone using wifi networks and direct tcp/ip protocol. However, the difference is that data will be transfered in ssl. This way, it will be very secure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My interest is piqued now I'm liking this alot! Would come in very handy.
im down for this!
Okay. Firstly, I would like to get a beta out today. This beta will simply send a file to and from your device and tell you if it was successful. There is a windows app and an android app which runs on your phone. Both are light but the point is to encrypt/decrypt the data sent.
I Like The Idea.... Also, If Your Open To Suggestions, I Think A Few Useful Features Would Be:
If You Had A Optional Folder On Both Your Sdcard, And Also Your Desktop, That Can Be Set To AutoMatically Send From Either End (Sdcard Or Desktop) Or Even Send To Email, Or Wherever Else When Files Are Dropped Into Either Optional Folder!!
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Ok so you're saying it should automatically sync whenever things have been updated right? I think that would be easy enough. Problem now is that the computer has to stay on when you want to sync. Is that okay?
rkrishnan2012 said:
Ok so you're saying it should automatically sync whenever things have been updated right? I think that would be easy enough. Problem now is that the computer has to stay on when you want to sync. Is that okay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes That Would Be Ok, But....
What Do You Think Of A Feature (If Possible?) That Can Detect If Its First Destination (Computer) Is Off, & If So More Or Less Have A Secondary Destination, (Email) Maybe?
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Thats great. When it does a handshake, if it fails, it can resort to a secondary target....email? Isn't that too small of a space to store large files?
rkrishnan2012 said:
dropbox is different because the files "stay" in the server, but in this the server is only a middle means for data transport. The files are deleted from server once the sync is performed. You can sync whatever you want, like music/videos/data/whatever other folder you choose.
Also, dropbox is basically a "file storage"/backup solution. This just transfers the files from desktop to device and back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're trying to compete with dropbox by offering a service that doesn't require users to trust dropbox's security. I've looked at what they say about security here:
dropbox.com/help/27 (sorry, forum doesn't let me post actual links)
Reading that makes me feel safe about storing my files there. Then again, if I had data that would put millions of dollars or lives in risk if it got in the wrong hands, I'd want more security.
If you want a successful product, I think you should target it to this latter crowd -- users who take the security of their data very seriously.
right. Which is why i decided to eliminate the idea of needing a middle server.
Great idea. I was ( just like many others) have been looking for way to sync files over the net with no server in between.
It would be even better if the app in the Phone would auto detect any file chnage and sync with the computer.
Gud luk and let me know u need another tester.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
ok. an aplha has been posted and this is merely a test to see if my method of transfer works. Please try it and reply here if it works properly. It seriously takes only 60 seconds to test it out.
This app looks great! If you need some servers for temp. file storage hit me up via PM.
Keep up the great work
Thanks, but I think I am going to not do the temp file storage thing, as some people are concerned with the security of it. Anyway, I may however make a web based login thing where you can access the files in the computer remotely. This web client will act as if it were mimicking a device. Also, how did the app go? Did the transfer work?
Wow...this actually works...
vision
Great then. I will now make one which transfers a sound file (mp3 of your choice), transfers it, then plays it on the phone.
-Another alpha may come out tomorrow or tonight....
I tried bluetoothing an mp3 over to my phone to set as a ringtone, that doesn't want to work, so I thought no problem, I can just email it.
The only option I have is to open the mp3, no option to save it.
Earlier a friend sent me an email with jpgs in it, couldn't open them or even see them as attachments.
So please, all I want is a decent mail client like the WinMo one, but with the ability to connect to two exchange accounts.
Does one exist?
I can't offer any real help with the email client as I'm very happy with the native Android one. You can try K9, available free on the Market, but I can't say whether it will resolve your problem or not.
However, if you want a simple way to copy files over to your phone, without going down the USB route, try Dropbox. It's free to open an account and get the software running on your PC (you get 250MB with a free account - I think. Could be more.) There's also an Android client - again free.
Here's the order of things I do to get a file on my phone if I can't be arsed going getting a USB cable.
I copy the file on my PC into the folder "\My Dropbox\Android" ("My Dropbox" is the Dropbox folder that you can have anywhere you like on your PC. Android is a sub-folder so I know what's in there.)
Open Dropbox on my phone and navigate to the file
Long-hold on the file and select "Download"
It's that easy. The file is now in the folder \sdcard\Dropbox\Android on my phone.
Incidentally, if you do go for Dropbox, every time you refer someone to it and they sign up using a link created for you (with a referrer ID in it), you get an extra 250MB of space free. It goes up to 10GB, which I'm happy to say I have
I hope this helps mate.
Thanks for replying John
Managed to get the file rebooting into WM and saving it from there, but I wouldn't be able to do that for my work account (WM is only set up for my exchange server at home) under android, and drop box isn't an option as I can't ask my boss/colleagues/clients to use it just so I can view a file they've already emailed out.
So I basically ran into this issue: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1477876
I want to transfer my photos from my previous device to the nexus 4, keeping the proper date, but that doesn't seem to be possible apparently. Anyone got a workaround specifically for the n4? What has worked for you so far? I tried adb and Local Sync but no luck with either.
(Also I haven't gone the dropbox route yet, but I'd like to think there's an alternative to upload gbs of photos to dropbox only to download them back just to transfer photos to the phone)
Funny, not even if downloaded from dropbox the date is preserved, at least in my case. Seriously. This is driving me nuts.
Mahnn said:
So I basically ran into this issue: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1477876
I want to transfer my photos from my previous device to the nexus 4, keeping the proper date, but that doesn't seem to be possible apparently. Anyone got a workaround specifically for the n4? What has worked for you so far? I tried adb and Local Sync but no luck with either.
(Also I haven't gone the dropbox route yet, but I'd like to think there's an alternative to upload gbs of photos to dropbox only to download them back just to transfer photos to the phone)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this same issue and was equally frustrated. I was able to get the proper timestamps by installing a ssh server and copying the files over ssh with the preserve flags. I had the best luck with sshdroid app as the server.
mattb3 said:
I had this same issue and was equally frustrated. I was able to get the proper timestamps by installing a ssh server and copying the files over ssh with the preserve flags. I had the best luck with sshdroid app as the server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip, I'm getting an error saying the upload of the file was successful, but permission to change the timestamp was denied, using SSHDroid on the phone and WinSCP on my laptop. Do I need to be rooted? I didn't really want to root the phone just yet
Still nothing. I tried this app which sounded promising, but the timestamps refuse to give in. This is terribly frustrating, any ideas, anyone?
Okay, so it's confirmed: it's impossible to do this without root on the nexus 4 (with root however forcing the timestamps via SSH or the Photo Date Correction app should work)
See here and here for more info. I won't root for now myself, but I guess I eventually will if Google doesn't react to the bug report.
Buy a Galaxy S2. It has dedicated partition for internal sdcard, so allows you to use Mass Storage Mode, which is not the case for newer devices (S3 and up).
Another possible option (not tested), is to transfer files via FTP.