iPhone 4 file system browser

Question

Level 1

8 points

iPhone 4 file system browser

Hi All,

I am aware that there are some file system apps available in the app store, such as iStorageApp ( http://istorageapp.com/), however I have a question I was hoping someone would be able to answer -

Does anyone know if an app exists (or if it is even possible with the security model of apps) for an iPhone 4 app to be able to access and browse the iPhone filesystem locally? What I am after is the ability to download a file in one app (for example, Pogoplug - http://itunes.apple.com/app/pogoplug/id306217576?mt=8), and then use my "root" access filesystem app to view the files that were downloaded in the Pogoplug app?

Many thanks in advance,

James

iOS 4

Posted on Aug 9, 2010 11:55 AM

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Answer 1

arandall85 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 9, 2010 1:31 PM in response to Steve Sussman

I don't want to "root" the iPhone, I simply want to have the equivalent of Finder on my phone, with the ability to view files that are stored on my iPhones harddrive - that's not too unreasonable is it?

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Answer 2

Aug 9, 2010 1:45 PM in response to arandall85

For a windows based PC there is something called "iPhoneBrowser". I think it's from Google labs. There is another one for OSX, but I can't think of the name. iPhoneBrowser will let you see your "root" folder to copy/cut/paste.

Yes, this is not an app to browse you iPhone locally. You have to connect to a PC to browse your root folder.

Message was edited by: molotovito

Message was edited by: molotovito

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Answer 3

arandall85 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 9, 2010 2:30 PM in response to Steve Sussman

Thanks for the info molotovito, bit I really am looking for something that will run on the iPhone. I'm guessing that just doesn't exist, although I'm interested in finding out if an app could ever have that kind of access.

And in response to steve, it seems stange that apple would have any issues with me accessing my own files on my phone, that doesn't make any sense. I'm not trying to jailbreak or do anything malicious, I simply want a file browser for my personal files!

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Answer 4

max90034

Level 1

0 points

Aug 9, 2010 3:02 PM in response to arandall85

I agree. The luck of such browser is one of my biggest complains about iPhone. Right now every tiny program that needs to receive/send files runs its own version of Bonjour type application or so and stores files in its own local folder with no way to move files between those folders. Fortunately there is an easy solution at least till 4.1 is out.

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Answer 5

Aug 9, 2010 4:29 PM in response to arandall85

JamesTurner84 wrote:
Thanks for the info molotovito, bit I really am looking for something that will run on the iPhone. I'm guessing that just doesn't exist, although I'm interested in finding out if an app could ever have that kind of access.

And in response to steve, it seems stange that apple would have any issues with me accessing my own files on my phone, that doesn't make any sense. I'm not trying to jailbreak or do anything malicious, I simply want a file browser for my personal files!

I'll try one more time and then give up. If your goal is to actually solve your problem, post the question on a non-Apple message board.

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Answer 6

arandall85 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 11, 2010 12:23 PM in response to Steve Sussman

Thank you to everyone for your responses, and it's reassuring to see that some other people also would like this functionality.

A couple of points - firstly to "TechFrenzy", I would just like to correct you with your point "the iPhone is not a computer". It 100% IS a computer. A computer with a 1GHz processor, internal storage and RAM, a multi-input device, display, multiple network connections, (and a sim-free price tag of £500) - this is definitely a computer. And being able to view my files on my computer that I have purchased.... not unreasonable.

Second point - to "Steve", you have an incredibly rude and sharp tone in this forum. This is my first thread and you haven't made the official Apple forum very appealing to me. I asked a technical question and you could not provide a technical answer - if you are unsure it's best to be quiet (or say you are not sure).

Anyway, back to the original (technical) question. I did some more research and it turns out that the Apple's developer APIs do actually support accessing the file system. However, most applications remain in their own security domains, or as Apple refer to them, "designated container areas". Few applications are allowed through the "app verification" process that make use of the API calls outside of the app sandbox (although some are allowed passed, clearly Apple developers get to decide which have legitimate uses for file system access).

So in answer to my question - "No", no application exists at present.
Is it technically possible with the current Apple development framework? Yes.
Will it happen? Maybe. I guess this depends on demand.

Kind regards,

Aj

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Answer 7

Aug 11, 2010 1:09 PM in response to arandall85

JamesTurner84 wrote:
Thank you to everyone for your responses, and it's reassuring to see that some other people also would like this functionality.

A couple of points - firstly to "TechFrenzy", I would just like to correct you with your point "the iPhone is not a computer". It 100% IS a computer. A computer with a 1GHz processor, internal storage and RAM, a multi-input device, display, multiple network connections, (and a sim-free price tag of £500) - this is definitely a computer. And being able to view my files on my computer that I have purchased.... not unreasonable.

Second point - to "Steve", you have an incredibly rude and sharp tone in this forum. This is my first thread and you haven't made the official Apple forum very appealing to me. I asked a technical question and you could not provide a technical answer - if you are unsure it's best to be quiet (or say you are not sure).

Anyway, back to the original (technical) question. I did some more research and it turns out that the Apple's developer APIs do actually support accessing the file system. However, most applications remain in their own security domains, or as Apple refer to them, "designated container areas". Few applications are allowed through the "app verification" process that make use of the API calls outside of the app sandbox (although some are allowed passed, clearly Apple developers get to decide which have legitimate uses for file system access).

So in answer to my question - "No", no application exists at present.
Is it technically possible with the current Apple development framework? Yes.
Will it happen? Maybe. I guess this depends on demand.

Kind regards,

Aj

Apple has already removed posts of mine because I have offered information they don't want on their board, so that's that. I could provide you a technical answer, but Apple's forum moderators would immediately delete it.

Which is why I keep telling you that you can find EXACTLY what you want; you are just looking in the wrong place. You seem more preoccupied with scoring points (with whom, I have no idea) than getting what it is you want. That's your business, but you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.

SS

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Answer 8

Aug 11, 2010 1:13 PM in response to TechFrenzy

TechFrenzy wrote:

that's not too unreasonable is it?

yes actually it is. The iphone is not a computer. Therefore you can't 'explore' the file directory. Plain and simple.

actually it IS a computer... it's not however a desktop computer.

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Answer 9

Daeden

Level 1

0 points

Aug 11, 2010 1:17 PM in response to TechFrenzy

TechFrenzy wrote:

that's not too unreasonable is it?

yes actually it is. The iphone is not a computer. Therefore you can't 'explore' the file directory. Plain and simple.

o'rly!!! iPhone is not a computer?? What is the definition of a computer:

*+a computer is a programmable machine. This means it can execute a programmed list of instructions and respond to new instructions that it is given+*

iphone sounds like a computer to me. Maybe you don't like that answer... maybe we should then look at the characteristics of a computer, those being:

+Speed, Arithmetical and Logical Operations, Accuracy, Reliability, Storage, Retrieving data and programs, Automation, Versatility, Communications, Diligence, No Feelings, Consistency, and Precision.+

The iPhone still fits.

****, if some new watches out there are computers. Just because there's no mouse attached and the viewable area is not 32", doesn't mean it's not a computer. Even some servers have no physical monitor, keyboard, or mouse attached, it doesn't make it any less a computer.

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Answer 10

Aug 11, 2010 1:32 PM in response to Daeden

Daeden wrote:

TechFrenzy wrote:

that's not too unreasonable is it?

yes actually it is. The iphone is not a computer. Therefore you can't 'explore' the file directory. Plain and simple.

o'rly!!! iPhone is not a computer?? What is the definition of a computer:

*+a computer is a programmable machine. This means it can execute a programmed list of instructions and respond to new instructions that it is given+*

iphone sounds like a computer to me. Maybe you don't like that answer... maybe we should then look at the characteristics of a computer, those being:

+Speed, Arithmetical and Logical Operations, Accuracy, Reliability, Storage, Retrieving data and programs, Automation, Versatility, Communications, Diligence, No Feelings, Consistency, and Precision.+

The iPhone still fits.

****, if some new watches out there are computers. Just because there's no mouse attached and the viewable area is not 32", doesn't mean it's not a computer. Even some servers have no physical monitor, keyboard, or mouse attached, it doesn't make it any less a computer.

By that measure my Texas Instruments calculator is also a computer, and I can't browse its file system either. 🙂 Whether it's a computer or not has little bearing on what Apple's Terms Of Use are, right?

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Answer 11

Aug 11, 2010 1:46 PM in response to Daeden

o'rly!!! iPhone is not a computer?? What is the definition of a computer:

look bud. You all know what I am trying to say. Ok, it is not a laptop computer, or a desktop computer. Ok? happy now? Therefore, you can't browse the file system. And Apple doesn't want you to.

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Answer 12

arandall85 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 11, 2010 2:14 PM in response to Steve Sussman

Hi Steve,

Thanks again for your response. I apologise if it sounds like I'm trying to earn "points", I'm not interested in that at all - I'm just interested in finding an answer to my post. I understand that your post could be removed, is there any chance you could private message me if you has some advice for me? That way the Apple forum admins won't have any reason to worry, you're not posting anthing to the public domain.

Kind regards,

An

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Answer 13

Aug 11, 2010 7:33 PM in response to arandall85

JamesTurner84 wrote:
Hi Steve,

Thanks again for your response. I apologise if it sounds like I'm trying to earn "points", I'm not interested in that at all - I'm just interested in finding an answer to my post. I understand that your post could be removed, is there any chance you could private message me if you has some advice for me? That way the Apple forum admins won't have any reason to worry, you're not posting anthing to the public domain.

Kind regards,

An

I think this forum only allows that if you supply an email address in your profile... and I don't think you did that (hey, neither did I).

I can say this much here... hold off on that iOS 4.02 update.

SS

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Answer 14

Aug 9, 2010 1:19 PM in response to arandall85

You can't get information about rooting an iPhone on Apple's message board. Try someplace else, is my suggestion.

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Answer 15

Aug 9, 2010 1:44 PM in response to arandall85

Doesn't matter what you and I think. To Apple, it's unreasonable.

Again, I would suggest you reask the question on another msg board.

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