DataCase

I mentioned earlier today that I was looking to pick up a copy of the DataCase app from Veiosoft.
It’s gotten better. I just checked out their website, and this is what I found out:

∞DataCase is designed to turn the iPhone/iPod Touch into a “handheld wireless drive,” meaning all your data is in your pocket.

∞It is compatible with both Windows machines and Macs, but looks as though it’s designed primarily for the Mac OS.  Pardon me, Windows, Macs, and Linux.

∞Ways to use it include AFP, Bonjour support for AFP, FTP, and HTTP.  My assumption is that the Mac’s use primarily the AFP and Bonjour side of things (as they’re native OS X.3+), and the PC will use FTP and HTTP (File Transfer Protocol and HyperText Transfer Protocol)

∞DataCase management is performed from a computer on the same wireless connection as the iPhonopod, and in the case of a Mac uses simply the Finder and on the PC will require using an internet browser (Josh recommends Firefox 3.0)

∞Drag and Drop is supported in OS X.3+

∞You can view your files on your iPhonopod as well: DataCase appears to support M$ Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, as well as PDF files.  DataCase bills itself as able to view Documents, Audio, Video, and Photos, although I don’t know how much of that is built in iPod media and how much of that is viewing stored files-files that you could transfer back off your device.

∞Within the inteface itself (on the iPhonopod) you can browse by directory or file type, text search, and delete files.

∞It looks like the interface is based on server sharing techniques, making your device into a tiny handheld server.  I could be wrong about this though.

∞There’s a visual interface for breaking down memory usage by file type as well as for observing file transfers

∞DataCase has the built in ability to utilize up to 16 volumes on your device, individually configurable for volume visibility, volume browse access (show contents), file read/write access, preconnect confirmation (?), and backing up to iTunes during a sync.

∞An iPhone or iPod Touch running the 2.0 firmware, a computer with a web browser (and presumably iTunes), and a wireless network connection are required.

∞Mac OS X.3+ is also required to utilize Bonjour for transfers.

DataCase will be available on the 28th of July for, according to TUAW, $6.99, although I couldn’t find that price on the Vieosoft website.

I’m excited to be able to carry almost everything I need in my pocket.  A good chunk of my data now, that cany sync wirelessly to my computer (or any computer for that matter), most of my frequented media, the ability to access the internet, email, a lightsaber, the entire works of Shakespeare (which I have on my iPod), access to Twitter, a notepad (I frequently use this for making lists of things I need to pick up or to-do lists for my day, and email them to myself to keep a copy), internet radio, a Feed reader for the latest technology information, access to the iTunes Store and App Store, a flashlight style app (makes the screen white, although I do wish it would temporarily bump my brightness to max and then take it back down after I closed out of the app), and remote control access to my computer’s iTunes.

It rocks.  The iPhone would be even better: access to the internet anywhere, as well as the ability to make phone calls, send text messages, and take photos.  Also, GPS.

All in your pocket.

iTunes

Yesterday I picked up an iTunes giftcard with some graduation money, with the intent of purchasing the DataCase app from the App Store when it comes out (July 28th). This will allow me to use my iPod as a wireless flash drive, in layman’s terms. I simply must connect to the same wireless network as the Mac from which I want to transfer files, and then it appears as a volume in and of itself. I assume/wonder if there will be a way to finangle this sharing capacity to work with Windows-and perhaps it already does.

At any rate, I also picked up the season pass for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog, because I’m a supporter of supporting Joss Whedon. And for $4 all 3 episodes wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t bad either. They were charging $2 an episode, and all the episodes will disappear (correction) on SUNDAY, JULY 20th. Which is TOMORROW for those of you playing along at home. Anyway, now I have them, for eternity. Or as long as digital data will last.

iPhone Commercial

In keeping with my recent theme of iPod Touch/iPhone coverage, I’ve scripted and cut together a brief iPhone parody commercial.  It’s based off one of the applications from the Apple App Store, called PhoneSaber.  Enjoy.

Written, directed, edited, animated, and starring Josh Williams
Edited on a MacBook Pro with Final Cut Express, Photoshop CS3 Extended, GarageBand, iTunes, and Quick Time Pro.