Tag: Smartphone

Name given to the new generation of phones that do much more than only calling.

Wireless Android/pc file transfer with OnAir

I recently bought a new HTC Wildfire and was looking for a way to transfer files between my computer and the phone without needing a USB cable all the time.

OnAir is an Android app that turns your phone into a wireless file server. You install it, start the service, and browse to the IP and port it shows you — from there you can upload, download, and manage files over WiFi.

OnAir Android app screenshot

The setup is really simple:

  1. Install OnAir from the Android Market
  2. Open the app and start the server
  3. Note the IP address and port shown on screen
  4. Open your browser on your PC and go to that address

You will see a simple web interface with your phone’s SD card contents. You can upload files from your PC to the phone, download files from the phone to your PC, or delete files you no longer need. It supports multiple file selection and works with any browser.

It is not as fast as USB for large transfers — WiFi is slower than a cable — but for quickly moving a few files across the room it is very convenient. No cables, no drivers, no hassle. Perfect for when you are on the sofa and just want to transfer a PDF or a photo.

Enjoy! :-)

Android vs iPhone

Let me begin by saying that I don’t own any of those phones, so I’m not going into a technical comparison. But knowing I’m an Open Source fan, you should immediately understand which side I am leaning towards. :-)

You might think: “he hasn’t tried any of them and he wants to tell me which one is better! How is that?!?” Well, as I said, I’m not going to tell you which one is better technically but I can tell you which one is better philosophically.

Here are the key points I think matter:

Open Source — Developers and manufacturers are free to implement and change Android in any way they like, which opens up the platform to tons of new ideas and innovations.

Fully Hackable — You can do whatever you want with it. It’s your phone. Try hacking the iPhone. There is nothing you can do unless Apple wanted you to do it.

Dozens of Phones to Choose From — The iPhone is a beautiful piece of hardware, but what if you want a QWERTY keyboard? Or something bigger? Or smaller? Or cheaper? With the iPhone you’re stuck with just the iPhone. With Android there are dozens of options.

Never will a software be perfect, but we should never renounce to freedom and choice. That’s what open source is about. And Android, being open source, wins on that front.

That is it! :-)