[tweetmeme]I was all ready to bitch about this app. I was a beta tester for a while on it, and it was probably the roughest beta I ever participated in. Typically, betas have a few minor flaws here and there, and the testers are just checking for niggling bugs. Overall, they’re pretty much ready. Here, File File! however had no such problems with the app’s main function, which is to let you access your files from anywhere through your iPhone. Once you had your files pulled up on your iPhone, they loaded fast, the UI was beautiful, and the link and attach file options were great. The problem was the connection to my computer. At first only Bonjour worked. The main reason I wanted to use this app was to access my files while I was away from home. If I couldn’t do that, I didn’t see much use in it. Then there was a long period of silence. No updates for weeks, until finally they seemed ready to show something extremely close to the final product. Still, I could only access my files through my home network. Adam, who I talked with a lot about the beta was really helpful. We ran through my situation, and he came back in a day with a new build that promised to let me connect over 3G. And it did! But now Bonjour didn’t work. And then there was another build where the problems were switched. It wasn’t until probably the fifth try where both options worked. So when you fire up Here, File File, and it all works flawlessly, you’re welcome. I suffered through it for you.

But boy does it work well now. Connections are a breeze. You set up a server on your Mac that runs in the menu bar, and you can get your IP address that you need from there. I love how the iPhone app will show your specific model of Macintosh and the actual wallpaper you have on it. It’s totally unnecessary, but it’s the icing on the cake of an already great package. The first tab in the app starts at the root directory of your hard disk, and you can drill all the way down to get plist files in the library if you need them. You can star directories and individual files for quick access (Don’t expect this to be a replacement for Air Sharing Pro though), and you can use spotlight on your Mac to search your drive—it uses the Mac’s horsepower to drive results to your iPhone. To make it even easier, you can filter the results by file type by tapping on the button next to the search field. I was able to find text notes with the phrase “smoking apples” quickly even over 3G. Photos, video, and audio also loaded pretty quickly. Your speed will vary depending on your data connections of course. Luckily, Japan’s got fiber lines in every building now. The more specific you can be will obviously result in better searches. I wish the app would let me move and delete files remotely though. There’s always hope for future updates.

You don’t need to worry about security it seems. The server creates a connection for you, and only allows outside connections if someone’s looking for the exact randomly-generated file name. You can attach files to email folks, but creating a link that stays live for 48 hours is just easier. Might even be better than MobileMe’s sharing solution.

The only thing I don’t like “Here, File File!” is its name. They fixed the icon (now designed by Sebastiaan de With) but they need a simpler name. It needs a sleek name to match its looks and abilities. As it stands, I feel a bit silly telling people the name. But in the end, who cares? If the app works well and looks good, the name’s not gonna ruin your experience. If you want to access your Mac’s files away from home, HFF is well worth the price. While it will normally go for $9.99, it’s available for $6.99 for a limited time.