[Yr7-10it] file sharing on mobile devices

Mon Feb 6 18:35:26 EST 2012

At this point in time I suspect the best cross-platform collaboration tools would be a mixture of dropbox type solutions for file sharing, and google docs/apps for word processing/spreadsheets etc. Locking yourself into the iWorks suite is likely a limiting move if collaboration in a device independent way is part of the end game.

In the spirit of openness I will admit that using the iPad did not change my life in any deep and fundamental way.

Cheers,

Greg

Greg Neil

ICT Systems Manager
St Margaret's and Berwick Grammar Schools

-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Paul Chandler
Sent: Mon 06/02/2012 4:25 PM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] file sharing on mobile devices

Hi Kevork,

New job for you (pathways manager)?  My position is still a bit fluid for
this year (and beyond), but working on a project supporting 'better
teaching' at Melb Uni Education in semester 1.

The issue is exactly the one of sandboxed apps - particularly the iWork
suite.  Dropbox works find for viewing apps created somewhere else, but if
you're actually going to work on the file - or create it - on the idevice,
then that's problematic, unless its an image.  I struck this with my son's
ipad last year - how do you back up the critter when iTunes is
misbehaving?!  We tried all manner of things including dropbox, but they
were not bidirectional.  Then I found a simple webdav server, and it runs
on the home PC, and backup is easy.  So I'm very familiar with the
sandboxing problem/architecture.

Which doesn't really help what my colleague here at Melb. wants to do -
which is facilitating collaboration amongst pre-service teachers using
multi-way file-sharing; and of course it shouldn't matter whether they have
an idevice or an android or whatever.  Nor can we rely on the university
actually having ports open.

I came across this app called "webdav navigator" which is cross-platform,
webdav or bluetooth - and which seems to fill the requirements.  I was
really posting just to check if there's an error in my logic or if I've not
encountered the "magic app" which 'everyone' is using.

Seems that my thinking is on the right track.  Thanks for your input.

Cheers,

On 6 February 2012 15:04, Kevork KROZIAN <kkrozian at ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au>wrote:

> Hi Paul,
>
>  It is more to do with the way apps are written and the nature of the
> device is it not  ? One of the early concerns with iPads was how do we get
> files on and off ?
>
> Android allows access to a range of storage options
> http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/data/data-storage.html including external HDD and network drives. My yahoo mail app on my android
> phone allows attachments to be added from the SD card for example as well
> as external USB HDD.
> I am not using iphones or ipads but I know dropbox is the preferred method
> of sharing files. However, when collecting from dropbox the file type
> downloaded is matched up or checked for compatibility with the apps that
> will be able to use it and loaded into the app chosen from that selection.
> Incidentally, I heard only last week that dropbox is not allowed in some
> education jurisdictions like WA.  I don't know as to why that is.
> Many apps seem to have access only to a "sandboxed" memory space where
> only files created by the app is available to that app.
> I expect you are looking for something more than a Bluetooth type wireless
> connection ??
>
>
> Kind Regards
>
> Kevork Krozian
> IT Pathways Manager
> Ringwood Trade Training Facility
> Tel: 0419 356 034
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:
> yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Paul Chandler
> Sent: Monday, 6 February 2012 2:41 PM
> To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] file sharing on mobile devices [Scanned] [Spam
> score:8%]
>
> Definately.  I like dropbox.  I was hoping to identify something which
> would simply require a local LAN, and not require full connectivity to the
> internet.  (Working within a university context does not guarantee
> open-slather connectivity)
>
> On 6 February 2012 13:55, Tim Kitchen <tkitchen at strathcona.vic.edu.au
> >wrote:
>
> > Dropbox works well for us
> >
> > http://www.dropbox.com/
> >
> > Ta
> >
> > Tim Kitchen
> > Strathcona
> >
> >
> > On 06/02/2012, at 1:24 PM, Paul Chandler wrote:
> >
> > > Hi everyone,
> > >
> > > Has anyone had experience with students transferring files (eg
> > > images, as part of a classroom activity) between mobile devices (ie
> > > among ipads,
> > ipods
> > > or android phones)?
> > >
> > > Initial investigation suggests that a little multi-platform product
> > called
> > > "WebDav Navigator" might be a way to go, but interested in other's
> > thoughts.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > ---
> > > Dr Paul D. Chandler
> > > Adjunct Research Fellow
> > > School of Education, University of New England
> > >
> > > e-mail: chandler.paul.d at gmail.com
> > > Ph: 0400 198 187   |    Skype: paul.d.chandler
> > > LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldchandler
> > > Academia: http://independent.academia.edu/Chandler
> > > [image: pdchandler] <http://www.delicious.com/pdchandler>
> > > pdchandler<http://www.delicious.com/pdchandler>on
> > > Delicious <http://www.delicious.com/>
> > > [image: delicious] <http://www.delicious.com/network?add=pdchandler>
> > Add me
> > > to your network <http://www.delicious.com/network?add=pdchandler>
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> > Head of Learning Technologies
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