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Android App to access files on my home PC

Hi all,
I'll start with what I want to do. Basically I want to be able to access my files on my PC at home from anywhere where I have a network connection, either over 3G or Wifi.
I don't want something like dropbox where I have to sync all my documents/music/videos to dropbox online. That means I have copies on dropbox and on my PC. Plus I am restricted to the space dropbox provides (I think it is 2gb).
I have searched the internet and the market to try and find an app that will help with this but I can't find anything. I don't want to stream anything I simply want to be able to browse my files on my home PC and then copy anything I need from my PC, using my phone, to my phone.
I have heard of Orb but that sounds like it streams the data. Take this scenario... I am in the office and realise I need to show a client a video. I show it streamed from my PC. Someone else comes and wants to see the video but I'm in an area with no data signal, I can't stream! If I could have copied the file to my phone from my PC remotely the 1st time then I wouldn't have that problem.
I hope I've explained this enough. Thanks in advance for any answers, it is much appreciated.

Take a look at this : ES File Explorer
Also take a look at this, too : FileLinx 3G Print or Transfer
Also some interesting articles:
howw-to-accesstransfer-files-on-your-android-phone-wirelessly/
transfer-files-to-android-phone-via-drag-and-drop-using-awesome-drop/

I use Windows Home Server to get this functionality. It also gives me automated backup and lots more such as music streaming.

1. set up a ssh/sftp server on your home PC
w w w.digitalmediaminute.com/article/1487/setting-up-a-sftp-server-on-windows
2. use ASTRO, ESfileexplorer, or CIFS manager to mount/access the share remotely. Start by setting up inside your LAN, and makesure it works. Then move to WAN (will probably need to make sure your ISP provides you with a static WAN, and port forward the port the server is using to be able to access it "out in the wild".)
3. access your files whenever you want (as long as PC is on, and server running, and connected to the net)

I have installed Teamviewer on PC and Android version on HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy Tab, working great.
I have tried to use a bluetooth mouse on Desire during such remote connection, which was a bit funny.

I'm using cifs manager, works perfect for me!
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

LogMeIn does that also
https://secure.logmein.com/welcome/android/

Just found out that I can access my wifi laptops using ES File Explorer app

The app ES File Explorer allows me to access my Laptop/Desktop PC files via wifi. All I had to do was run ES File Explorer, menu-show Tabs, select LAN, select New, scan, and pick my wifi PCs, which are already setup to share files. A quick entry of username and password, and I have full access to my PC files.
I have been wanting to do this for some time, and had searched for adhoc, wifi, wifi direct, etc. But hadn't found the solution. So this post is to aid those like me who want to access their PC files but weren't aware that it was possible.
Personally, I think the OS should be providing this functionality. To be honest, it's hardly new technology to connect wifi to wifi (adhoc has been around for about a decade).
The ES File Explorer solution is sufficient, but it works by downloading the entire file, rather than permitting streaming. I would rather have a streaming-capable solution, so that I can watch films that are on my PC hard drive.
So my final part of this thread is a question. Has anyone found anything superior to ES File Explorer for accessing PC files over wifi?

This feature has been available for a long time. There are other file managers that allow this as well.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

File Expert has built in Windows/Samba sharing as well as allowing you to access your phone via FTP. Pretty handy app.

You can access Dropbox and Sugarsync as well, just swipe left or right to change the different connections and copy files easily from one to another. Beats the default Dropbox app hands down IMHO.

Thanks, I have downloaded file expert as well, and will consider using es file manager to manage dropbox. This is my first Android phone so for me all features are new.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

For those with unlimited data, i use TONIDO
which is AWESOME.
It uses wifi OR data. I can access ALL and I mean ALL files on my computer including windows folder etc....
Free app by the way, just need to download tonido app for computer , i set it up months ago, but it was super easy, and doesnt require to ever login again unless you decide to protect it.

Flanimal said:
The app ES File Explorer allows me to access my Laptop/Desktop PC files via wifi. All I had to do was run ES File Explorer, menu-show Tabs, select LAN, select New, scan, and pick my wifi PCs, which are already setup to share files. A quick entry of username and password, and I have full access to my PC files.
I have been wanting to do this for some time, and had searched for adhoc, wifi, wifi direct, etc. But hadn't found the solution. So this post is to aid those like me who want to access their PC files but weren't aware that it was possible.
Personally, I think the OS should be providing this functionality. To be honest, it's hardly new technology to connect wifi to wifi (adhoc has been around for about a decade).
The ES File Explorer solution is sufficient, but it works by downloading the entire file, rather than permitting streaming. I would rather have a streaming-capable solution, so that I can watch films that are on my PC hard drive.
So my final part of this thread is a question. Has anyone found anything superior to ES File Explorer for accessing PC files over wifi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're confusing technologies. This isn't ad-hoc networking, it's just using a file browser that can read samba shares. I use ES in conjunction with MX Video Player and Dice Player for what you want to do. MX seems to stream best if you select software decoding.

Check out splash top for streaming
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Thank you for this awesome tip of using ES with MX to stream video.
Ill check out that last recommendation another time, as I now happily accessing my PC files.
Makes me wonder why people still use the USB cable aside from charging...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

Not sure if this is what you guys want, but there are several apps for streaming stuff on your phone (from a PC or Mac). Just go on the market and search for "DLNA" or "UPNP".

Check Tonido (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tonido.android&hl=en). You can access the data using Wi-Fi as well 3G.

Wifi Direct for desktop

Is there a way to transfer files in mass via WIFI Direct to desktop? I don't want to use AirDroid that has some relation to someone else network...
I like the 1080p video and pics...and want to transfer them via wifi direct. I can't seem to find anything out there for it. Is hardwire the only way?

love to know this too...i have a carpc and a laptop and some desktops that i would love to push files to from time to time

camo.b said:
love to know this too...i have a carpc and a laptop and some desktops that i would love to push files to from time to time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a good one. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smarterdroid.wififiletransfer
I prefer this one though. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dooblou.WiFiFileExplorerPRO

I use AndFTP

I use this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theolivetree.ftpserver&hl=en

Bluetooth is another option. A Bluetooth adapter can be had for a USB port cheap. I have a USB 4.0 adapter I got from a local office supply store for my desktop at work. This also allows me to stream Pandora through the speakers on the desktop PC, among other helpful things.
At home I have a NAS drive that is connected via FTP using ES file explorer. Works fine. Also, DLNA is an option, that works for me too. I can enable DLNA on the phone and copy to and from the device using my PS3 and laptop, or play music off my phone through my PS3, do photo slide shows, etc.

[Q] Sending files to FireTV w/External HD connected

I have a rooted FireTV with a connected external HD (1.5 TB WD) that I use for watching shows and movies via XBMC. Previously I had the hard drive connected to my laptop that sits next to the FireTV via an ethernet bridge connection, but that became cumbersome and I had to move the laptop to a new area. My router doesn't support connecting the drive as a network drive, so I figured out how to connect the HD directly to the FireTV and none of the buffering issues are present like they are over wifi with the HD connected to my ancient laptop.
Problem is, I'm not sure how to easily connect to the drive (wirelessly) from the laptop to the HD while it is connected to the FireTV so that I can move new media to it. I might be overthinking this, but is there an easy way to do this through Windows 7 on the laptop or will I need to use an FTP service or other program to connect to the HD? The FireTV comes up as a device in Network and Sharing Center but I can't double-click and see the HD like you could for other computers.
Thanks!

For me personally the easiest way I found to move files from pc to the AFTV/AFTVS is to install an app called Web PC Suite. In a nutshell it allows you to move files from your pc's web browser to the Fire TV.
Install the app on your Fire TV, run it & type in the ip & port into your web browser on your pc, accept the connection & move your files. The caveat here is, as to whether this app will recognize external storage but if your run StickMount then theoretically it should, your device has to be rooted though, for StickMount to work.
I have the Stick with no external storage attached but moving files from pc the the internal storage is a breeze.

EL TEJANO said:
For me personally the easiest way I found to move files from pc to the AFTV/AFTVS is to install an app called . In a nutshell it allows you to move files from your pc's web browser to the Fire TV.
Install the app on your Fire TV, run it & type in the ip & port into your web browser on your pc, accept the connection & move your files. The caveat here is, as to whether this app will recognize external storage but if your run then theoretically it should, your device has to be rooted though, for StickMount to work.
I have the Stick with no external storage attached but moving files from pc the the internal storage is a breeze.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This worked, and I was also able to FTP into there after going through some tutorials I found online for moving items to the internal storage. It took me awhile to find where the USB drive was hiding, but I did finally click through enough folders to find its path and was able to move a video file there over wifi that played via XBMC. It did, however, take about 40 mns to move a 2GB file so I'm not sure that it's best for moving files quickly but it will be nice not to have everything physically plugged into each other. I do have root and I use stickmount to mount the drive; looking forward to adding ROMS this way and using the FireTV as an emulator. I appreciate your help!

Wow, 40 min for 2 gigs? I can't say if that's a limitation on the connection, the Fire Tv or a combo of both but yeah I can see how that can become a nuisance. Anyhow, glad you found a temp. solution for now.
At that rate of transfer, you're probably better off disconnecting the external hdd & connecting it directly to your pc, at least for files that large. Smaller files you should be good to go as is.

No root. No HDD usage. Alternative?

So, I cant root the fire tv obviously and I bought it so someone i know can use it offline to watch offline movies instead of dvds. No way around this problem? I sideloaded KodiTV but its no use since I cant even use a flash or HDD

Can you sideload ES Explorer and connect to an SMB share on a NAS or Windows/Linux Server? it sounded like some people are doing that.

lowridincrew said:
So, I cant root the fire tv obviously and I bought it so someone i know can use it offline to watch offline movies instead of dvds. No way around this problem? I sideloaded KodiTV but its no use since I cant even use a flash or HDD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a PC with spare hard drive space on the same network?
Kodi/SPMC/XBMC has the ability to make an SMB connection to a windows file share and play files from it. I do this with my Fire TV (box) and Fire TV stick to connect to my Win2012 server with many hard drives in it (holding all my movies converted from my blurays).
If a "Browse Master" isn't available on the network you wont be able to "browse" to find the computer and shared folder, and will instead have to manually use IP address and folder info for the "server" machine into Kodi/SPMC/XBMC when trying to setup the SMB connection. Extra info see -> http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=133624

Offline usage.
I have this Dane-Elec Media Streamer for hooking USB and SD cards that lets me connect to it through the FireTV's internet menu.
If you can sideload a matching app for one of these streamer doohickies,you should be able to connect straight to one.
There is one downside where it can stupidly auto-connect to a different remembered internet connection when you are using the streamer's connection.
I wonder if there is an offline cloud box for accessing files via "offline internet" or maybe even bluetooth?

She doesnt have a computer. I'm thinking I gotta keep this for myself since I got a few hard drives on my computer

There are quite a few Video Add-ons for XBMC/Kodi that make local storage a thing of the past. Between those and IPTV configs, you may not even notice. Although, most USA ISPs don't like streaming only households. Overages, etc may hurt the pocketbook...