Help Viewing Networked Files (Images Specifically)

[UKCatFan]

We bought the SGT last night for my wife. I had already done my homework on how to access networked locations. I have been successful using ES File Explorer to view the images and File Manager HD. I have even been able flip through them like the gallery with ES. It is a little slower than I would like, but the lack of file options are what really frustrate me. It seems that to share the pic to anything, it must first be copied to the tablet. In the HD program I can share without a problem, but can only view one image at a time which is really frustrating.

So here is my question. Is there a way to make these apps work for us that I am just missing or is there another app that will work better? I tried Astro and it kept crashing. Also, is the lagging speed showing thumbnails and accessing images something that can be improved? (this is compared to a Win 7 pc on the same network using Wifi N)

If I cannot get this working the way she wants it might be a deal killer and this thing might be going back.

 

[UKCatFan]

No replies yet but I have an idea of my own. I have been thinking about using Flickr to backup all my pics anyway. Maybe having her access them through there with an app like Just Pictures might be faster since I believe it defaults to the large size instead of original. Most of my pics are 12MP converted from RAW files that average 6-7MB.

 

[tiger1john]

I use ES File Explorer. https://market.android.com/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop&feature=search_result. It works across the network - with image thumbnails - and also has FTP and Internet access (Dropbox). Works as solid as a rock on my tablet. Only thing I would change is it needs larger thumbnails. Is very usable though.

 

[UKCatFan]

I have been successful using ES File Explorer to view the images and File Manager HD. I have even been able flip through them like the gallery with ES. It is a little slower than I would like, but the lack of file options are what really frustrate me. It seems that to share the pic to anything, it must first be copied to the tablet.

I use ES File Explorer. https://market.android.com/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop&feature=search_result. It works across the network - with image thumbnails - and also has FTP and Internet access (Dropbox). Works as solid as a rock on my tablet. Only thing I would change is it needs larger thumbnails. Is very usable though.

It does work for us to see them easily, but it is slow and I cannot easily share anything with it. On local images, I have the share option, but on networked shots I have to copy it, post it local, and then I have those options. Am I missing something that would make me able to do that from the network drive?

 

[Evan2ac]

Unfortunately with Android devices you have to settle for low quality apps. ES File Explorer is the only file explorer I found that will connect to shared folders on the network. Yes its shocking that this is the ONLY single app that can do this and even so its a crude app on tablets.

 

[ccapasso]

Unfortunately with Android devices you have to settle for low quality apps. ES File Explorer is the only file explorer I found that will connect to shared folders on the network. Yes its shocking that this is the ONLY single app that can do this and even so its a crude app on tablets.

Actually, that is no where near true. There are others out there. In fact, I use the following to view network shares:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rhmsoft.fm.hd

 

[UKCatFan]

We bought the SGT last night for my wife. I had already done my homework on how to access networked locations. I have been successful using ES File Explorer to view the images and File Manager HD. I have even been able flip through them like the gallery with ES. It is a little slower than I would like, but the lack of file options are what really frustrate me. It seems that to share the pic to anything, it must first be copied to the tablet. In the HD program I can share without a problem, but can only view one image at a time which is really frustrating.

So here is my question. Is there a way to make these apps work for us that I am just missing or is there another app that will work better? I tried Astro and it kept crashing. Also, is the lagging speed showing thumbnails and accessing images something that can be improved? (this is compared to a Win 7 pc on the same network using Wifi N)

If I cannot get this working the way she wants it might be a deal killer and this thing might be going back.

Actually, that is no where near true. There are others out there. In fact, I use the following to view network shares:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rhmsoft.fm.hd

See note above about HD. It is a nice program, but this little thing about it makes it frustrating. I also believe that it is caching every image viewed, which is going to take up a decent amount of space.

 

[ccapasso]

I understand what you are saying UKCatFan. My post was more in response the the one I quoted in which they said lower quality apps and only one to do the job.

 

[Evan2ac]

I understand what you are saying UKCatFan. My post was more in response the the one I quoted in which they said lower quality apps and only one to do the job.

LOL! The link you posted to was the exact app we are talking about. As I said, there is only one app in the entire market that will let you view network shares, and its a crude app at that. If you know of any others well then please post them as I have yet to find another.

 

[UKCatFan]

I understand what you are saying UKCatFan. My post was more in response the the one I quoted in which they said lower quality apps and only one to do the job.

LOL! The link you posted to was the exact app we are talking about. As I said, there is only one app in the entire market that will let you view network shares, and its a crude app at that. If you know of any others well then please post them as I have yet to find another.

ccapasso,

It is a decent app, but it is certainly not what I would call high quality when it cannot even do what Windows Explorer does for Windows. A file explorer will not reach high quality until it can at least reach that level. I have yet to find one app that works that well. I think Astro maybe could do it, but it seems to be incompatible with the SGT. ES looks nice and does well (if a little slow though), but you cannot perform any sharing actions on networked files. You have to copy it local and then share it. That is a pain!. File Explorer HD also looks nice (and is also unacceptably slow) and it does have the ability to share, BUT it only allows viewing of one image at a time. You cannot flip through them. That is a pretty basic image viewing tool that they are missing. Also, it is caching files locally on the SGT and taking up space. I do not know if it will eventually do some self cleaning and delete some of them, but if it does not then that is going to use a lot of space. I have 82GB of images. The app caching files is not going to work for us on a device with 16GB of memory. I appreciate you taking time to respond, but you didn't add anything helpful.

 

[Evan2ac]

UKCatFan has got it correct. Android has been out for 2 years now and there still is NO quality app for network browsing and sharing. All of the current apps available are crude, buggy, and lack many basic features. Its shocking and sad at the same time.