MobileFinder - Bringing the filesystem to the average user

[Tam]

Hi all,

I'm writing a Finder application for the iPhone. Now launches GUI applications (Thanks Launch.app dev team!). Also executes scripts and other text exes in the background. Bringing the filesystem to the average user!

Version 1.2.0 is out!

http://code.google.com/p/mobilefinder/

[Macoa]

Hi Tam,

great idea. Keep it up, would be great to see your work on our screens :-)

[hubbards]

Good luck on the dev. effort. What do you think of the name "iFind" instead of "mobilefinder"? Just an idea.

[iMags]

What about "Finder"?
mobileterminal is called "Terminal" on iPhone...

[Tam]

The app is called "MobileFinder", but the icon shows up as "Finder." This is the convention for all of the applications on the iPhone (MobileCal, MobileMail, MoblieMusicPlayer, etc.) Just keeping with convention. :)

[Tam]

Added Application Launch feature. Launches command line and GUI applications.

The command line apps don't have anywhere to output, but commands like "screenshot," or scripts work just fine. You can make scripts to do just about anything, and launch them from MobileTerminal!

The GUI applications launch just fine, but you can't get back to Springboard using the home button. A reboot fixes this, but is an awful bug. Working on it...

[pogi]

good job so far man! keep it up!

[phattie]

Nice work Tam, keep it up. Do you think that it will ever progress to a more 'Desktop'-type Finder? As in, background, moveable icons and double tap to open, etc?

Either way, loving the work and keep going!

[cybergreg]

Hi all,

I'm writing a Finder application for the iPhone. I hope to expand it to have file images, standard file operations, and an app launcher/MIME-like system as well. Bringing the filesystem to the average user!

http://code.google.com/p/mobilefinder/

Here's three icons, App, File and Folder (you asked on the google code page)

Edit, sorry I am unable to upload, here I'll put them on my iDisk:
Link Here (http://homepage.mac.com/gregmeach/iPhone/Finder_icons.zip)

[mattlach]

The average user really ought to learn how to use the console. :p

[Tam]

Here's three icons, App, File and Folder (you asked on the google code page)

Edit, sorry I am unable to upload, here I'll put them on my iDisk:
Link Here (http://homepage.mac.com/gregmeach/iPhone/Finder_icons.zip)

Thanks for the icons, but we have identical ones already! :)

[Tam]

Nice work Tam, keep it up. Do you think that it will ever progress to a more 'Desktop'-type Finder? As in, background, moveable icons and double tap to open, etc?

Either way, loving the work and keep going!

Version 0.7.0 has some of these features, and we are headed that direction, yes.

[phattie]

Version 0.7.0 has some of these features, and we are headed that direction, yes.

Brilliant, cant wait. Also, have to say that I do prefer the new double tap in the latest version, instead of single tap!

Keep at it!

Matt

[aidensocal]

You should create an installer package for this.

http://iphone.nullriver.com/beta/

you can run updates through there also, would make it much more convenient for people.

[stuartjmoore]

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7420/folderke4.png

Leopard's folder icon looks much better on the iPhone...

[jasonsmith]

Here is a different MobileFinder icon for anyone if they like. Very simple.

http://members.shaw.ca/onlinemail/icon.png

[lychee]

Hi there!
I just made a new icon for MobileFinder.

Preview:
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5517/iconfc4.png

If you like it put it in "Applications/Finder.app/" and replace it with "icon.png"

There you go:
http://**********.com/files/50289234/icon.png.zip

[Tam]

Thanks for the icon ideas! Visuals are one of the main changes on the TODO list, so keep them coming!

[eddy123]

You should create an installer package for this.

http://iphone.nullriver.com/beta/

you can run updates through there also, would make it much more convenient for people.

:) Just give them sometime:D

[ElBob]

I had a few ideas on how to replace the buttons at the bottom, freeing up a little screen space and making it generally cleaner. Here's a demo of what I mean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEM9EItsI4w

[zyprexa]

So I updated my iPhone to the latest firmware (1.0.2) and reinstalled everything fine.

The problem I have is with the latest version of mobilefinder, i can only see the "/Applications" folder. when I hit back, nothing happens. when i hit home, i get "~" as the listed folder containing Library and Media. I can navigate those subfolder just fine and back up to "~".

If cannot get to the root folder level, nor can I rename folders. I was able to create a new folder, but was unable to rename it.

Is this a known issue or is there something wrong with my reinstall.

PS. I have the latest versions of mobilefinder and BSD subsystem installed via installer.app.

[RVN84]

did you return your phone to jail? I think thats the thing...altho i could be mistaken,,...

[isaardz]

Go under Setting in MobileFinder and turn off Protect System files

[zyprexa]

thanks!

I turned off the protect system files and now i am able to fully navigate and rename folders.

Thanks again.

[dogzilla]

Does this integrate with TextEdit yet? When I try to open a file in TextEdit, it launches the Finder, but then nothing happens. Is it just too early in TextApp's cycle still?

[lychee]

Hi!
I just made another icon. This time it looks more iPhone- like.
Preview:

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2899/iconyj8.png

If you like it connect via ssh to "Applications/Finder.app/" and replace it with "icon.png"

You can download it here.
http://**********.com/files/51011354/icon.png.html.

[weston]

The text edit app seems pretty slim at the moment.

Is anyone actively working on this? I have a text editor that I've poured a lot of time into. I was going to name it mobiletextedit until I realized that had been taken. If no one is really working on mobiletextedit I'd be glad to donate my source. I was hoping to release later tonight and I really didn't want to have to name it something stupid ;)

PS - Is there a planned mechanism for how to get back to mobiletextedit from Finder when you do an open from the editor? Obviously mapping .txt files will work but what about other file types. My editor just has a file path input box for opening/saving right now.

[dogzilla]

hey, if your app opens and saves files, compile and release it. Doesn't even need to do formatting.

[sftl99]

A couple of icons if you like, tried to go with the iPhone style.
http://www.jasonpcarroll.com/icon.png http://www.jasonpcarroll.com/icon2.png

[nnolasco]

Don't know if this is the right place for this question. I had binkit, terminal, Finder, etc... installed, but I could never get Finder/Preview to open any .png or .plist file. I just installed 1.0.0 of Finder and thought it might fix the problem.

I got the warning message saying that BSD Subsystem had to be installed.

So, I installed the BSD Subsystem, then Finder 1.0.0.

Now, my term looks like this:
http://system.gocampaign.com/enron/a-term.png

I think it switched me to "zsh".

My prompt has got a bunch of characters in it and backspacing doesn't work right. I tried set prompt="%d:" and it doesn't affect anything.

When I used "csh" it all clears up and I get back my "#" prompt.

I also lost the aliases (sound/nosound) in my .profile. It doesn't look like my .profile gets executed automatically now.

Now I have to type:

source /var/root/.profile

... to get my .profile to execute.

When I go into Finder:
http://system.gocampaign.com/enron/a-finder.png

I try to double tap on files that Preview should open, but it doesn't do anything. I try opening Preview directly and all I get is the "FooBar" button in the upper left and the "Open" button in the upper right.

I tried doing a restore, jailbreak, etc... and installing everything again. I get the same result.

Any suggestions?

[dogzilla]

Don't keep messing with your phone trying to get this app to run - it's just not done yet and the features you describe don't work. At least they don't work on my phone.

[nnolasco]

Ah. That makes sense. I didn't realize that this was a "work in progress".

What about the BSD Subsystem install? My terminal is wacky now. Is there just some setting in some file I need to fix? Or do I just need to uninstall BSD and switch back to plain-old binkit?

Oh yeah, and is there an official bug reporting/issue tracking thread? I'd be glad to beta anything. I just wish I could help code. :( <-- windows/.net programmer

[dogzilla]

I'm not convinced that there is any fundamental difference between binkit and the BSD Subsystem. The "More Info" link for the BSD Subsystem takes you to natetrue's page, which is where the binkit comes form, and I'm pretty sure that the BSD Subsystem package came out after the latest rev of the binkit. I think it's just a repackaged version. I've asked several times on here if anyone knows for sure what the differences are, if any, and never gotten a response, so until someone proves differently I'm going with the evidence and assuming it's the same thing.

As for probs with ssh/pico/terminal (assuming you're seeing weird characters), check out this thread: http://hackint0sh.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3210

[nnolasco]

Thanks very much! I went ahead and installed vt100. I was wondering how to ^C. I tried pinging other servers on the network and the only way I could get it to stop in Terminal was to get out of the app.

MobileTerminal, on the other hand, let's you use the arrows and ^C.

My aliases (sound/nosound, primarily) work too. Thanks again.

[Tam]

Great ideas! I'll see when we can put them in. Please, put all development ideas in the "Issues" section of the dev wiki: http://mobilefinder.googlecode.com

[Tam]

The text edit app seems pretty slim at the moment.

Is anyone actively working on this? I have a text editor that I've poured a lot of time into. I was going to name it mobiletextedit until I realized that had been taken. If no one is really working on mobiletextedit I'd be glad to donate my source. I was hoping to release later tonight and I really didn't want to have to name it something stupid ;)

PS - Is there a planned mechanism for how to get back to mobiletextedit from Finder when you do an open from the editor? Obviously mapping .txt files will work but what about other file types. My editor just has a file path input box for opening/saving right now.

We are always open to ideas! Could you email me your source? matt.stoker [the sign spammers love] gmail.com

Yes, the return feature has been implemented with a "mandatory open" feature in MobileFinder. When MobileFinder detects that another MobileStudio app launches it, it will open all files double clicked (except folders) in the calling program.

[Tam]

Don't know if this is the right place for this question. I had binkit, terminal, Finder, etc... installed, but I could never get Finder/Preview to open any .png or .plist file. I just installed 1.0.0 of Finder and thought it might fix the problem.

I got the warning message saying that BSD Subsystem had to be installed.

So, I installed the BSD Subsystem, then Finder 1.0.0.

Now, my term looks like this:

I think it switched me to "zsh".

My prompt has got a bunch of characters in it and backspacing doesn't work right. I tried set prompt="%d:" and it doesn't affect anything.

When I used "csh" it all clears up and I get back my "#" prompt.

I also lost the aliases (sound/nosound) in my .profile. It doesn't look like my .profile gets executed automatically now.

Now I have to type:

source /var/root/.profile

... to get my .profile to execute.

When I go into Finder:

I try to double tap on files that Preview should open, but it doesn't do anything. I try opening Preview directly and all I get is the "FooBar" button in the upper left and the "Open" button in the upper right.

I tried doing a restore, jailbreak, etc... and installing everything again. I get the same result.

Any suggestions?

The BSD package is not maintained by MobileStudio. For the moment, we require just /bin/mv and /bin/cp. This dependence will be removed in a future release.

As for the MobileTextEdit and MobilePreview links, they are being updated now. MobilePreview was just a skeleton app. It now opens png, jpeg, gif, and tiff images, and sizes them correctly. Get MobilePreview from http://mobilepreview.googlecode.com or wait until Installer.app picks it up.

[Tam]

I had a few ideas on how to replace the buttons at the bottom, freeing up a little screen space and making it generally cleaner. Here's a demo of what I mean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEM9EItsI4w

This is wonderful! I hope I can find time to put this in with school starting. When we do, Ill be sure to credit you!

[Tam]

Here is a different MobileFinder icon for anyone if they like. Very simple.

http://members.shaw.ca/onlinemail/icon.png

Congratulations jasonsmith! We've decided to go with your icon. Thanks to everyone who submitted icons. Keep it up, as we always go with what is best, despite precedent.

[jasonsmith]

Congratulations jasonsmith! We've decided to go with your icon. Thanks to everyone who submitted icons. Keep it up, as we always go with what is best, despite precedent.

Awesome! Its a great app.

[Tam]

I'm happy to announce the release of MobileFinder 1.2.0!

Some quick news (its late...)
* We have 2 new developers on the MobileStudio team improving MobileRSS and MobileTextExit, and writing a new app: MobileTetris!
* MobileFinder now runs in a suspended mode, which makes relaunch occur in a matter of milliseconds. It also remembers were you last were (as an option), as well as remembering this separately for other applications in "open" mode.

[jasonsmith]

1.2.5 the row size setting is SWEET! :D

[zenazazel]

Yep, the row size setting is awesome!
However I''m still having a copy buttom where the paste buttom should be. Is anyone else getting this?

[jasonsmith]

Yep, I just pretend once its highlighted its a paste button.

[lolec]

can someone ban iscanscan??? its anoying

[Solembum]

How do you copy and move files? Whenever I copy a file and then navigate to where I want to paste it I see no paste button or anything. When I hit move it never asks me where I want to move it, or if I navigate to where I want it moved I see no button or anything that says move here. So how do I perform the copy and move commands? I have been unable to find any kind of instructions or read me for this program. I have the latest program build. These kinds of commands should be easy to perform if they're going to be offered. Please, any help would be appreciated. The main reason I installed this program is because of the copy/paste capabilities.

[zenazazel]

for some reason when you click copy instead of getting a paste button you get another copy button. however that second copy button is in reality the paste button. Ignore the fact that it says copy and use it to paste. I use it all the time, with no problems :)

[Solembum]

Ah, crazy. I wonder why they dont fix that? Thanks for the help, that was driving me insane.