The default file manager that comes with your Nokia is pretty basic. It is just about usable if you need to install an app from your memory card or if you need to delete a file to make room for something, but a productivity tool it most certainly is not. ActiveFile is a file manager for S60 5th Edition phones that aims to be a bit more usable and useful and - for the most part - it succeeds. Find out how we got with it in our ActiveFile on Nokia N97 review.
Some of you may be wondering why you even need a file manager app on your phone. Indeed,if you manage all your files via your PC and only download apps from the Ovi Store then the chances are that you don't. If you like to install apps from other sources, though, and if you need to flexibility of being able to move stuff around your phone's memory while away from you computer, a file manager might be just the thing.
By default, ActiveFile just shows you a list of the 'drives' (e.g. internal memory, memory card, etc) on your phone, along with a few 'virtual file systems' representing your phone's running processes, your inbox, etc. you can navigate either by tapping a folder or filenames or by using the D-Pad (assuming you have one) to move around and select files.
Just like on your computer's Explorer or Finder app you can select files and cut, copy 'n' poaste them between locations. To make this easier you can open multiple tbs showing different folders and switch between them with a tap. Double tapping on files will open them if there is an appropriate viewer app, although beware - we crashed our test N97 by trying to open a large (500 KB) text file that was seemingly just too big for the app to handle.
The file management functions all work as you would expect and you can use the app to install other apps from JAR, SIS and SISX files just as you can with the default file manager.
ActiveFile also comes with a few extra functions including a battery monitor (which creates a CSV file sowing battery usage) a memory indicator and the ability to browse a list of currently running processes. You can close active processes too - potentially useful, especially for developers, but also a good way to crash your phone if you don't know what you are doing.
There is a file search function and files can be encrypted and decrypted if you are feeling security conscious. A messaging applet lets you search and read mail and SMS and export them to text files.
Weirder - although still useful, maybe - is an applet that will create fake SMS messages. You can even get it to display fake contact details. Handy for practical jokes if nothing else.
ActiveFile is a great little file manager. It is a little buggy, but the number of functions and the flexible user interface (plus the price) make up for any glitches. It covers all the basics well and could genuinely be used as a drop in replacement for the default file manager app.
Details
Price: Free
Size: 178.2 KB
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