WHS Mobile Add-In for Windows Home Server Updated

WHS Mobile is a utility that lets you manage your Windows Home Server files, port forwards, and users using your iPhone or iPod Touch, and it has just been updated to version 1.5.3.4. It is written by Brent Friedman.

Here is what Brent says about WHS Mobile:

WHS Mobile can give you access to your shared files and manage them from your iPhone. You can delete and rename any file no matter the type.

Search your home server’s shares using your iPhone. WHS Mobile interfaces with Windows Search to provide speedy results.

Stream your MP3’s and videos (.mp4, .m4v,.mov, and.3gp) that are stored on your Windows Home Server directly to your phone.

View and download your photos that are on your Windows Home Server.

Upload photos from your device’s photo library or directly from the camera.

Manage your user accounts from your device. Enable, disable, and delete users without the need to log-in from a computer.

Forgot to forward a port to your Home Server before you left? Just open up WHS Mobile and add it on the go.

Here is what Brent says about the update:

What started out as a minor update for iPhone turned into a more substantial update. With three major changes, push notifications; being able to create shares from the device; and video streaming, this version is worth the update.

In addition to the changes below, I am also half way done implementing (just need to add it to the iPhone UI): creation of users and their shares, editing share name and description, and changing user permissions on existing shares.

Alerts from push notification will show the title and body of the alert. However, I have not yet implemented the health/notification viewer so the “View” button will only launch the application. If you have any problems with push notifications, please let me know (bug [at] compugeeksoftware [dot] com) so I can fix any problems that arise. I was unable to test the distribution build of the push notifications due to the required change in certificates. Although, it worked just fine in the development certificate and build.

In this version, you cannot edit the share permissions after creation so make sure to add any needed accounts with the proper none/read/write access right after creation (permission dialog will automatically pop-up right after you create the share).

Change Log

Fixed: If you enable or disable a user, the image would not update to show the changes (e.g.: gray to show disabled)
Fixed: Image downloading would throw a strange error.
Fixed: “Download” button would show up when you tapped a file.
Fixed: Some problems with symbols and streaming.
Fixed: Problems with commonly used symbols in file and folder names.
Fixed: Some other minor things.
Added: Push notifications of server alerts.
Added: Ability to create new shares and set the permissions.
Added: Ability to play unprotected .mp4, .mov, .m4v,  and.3gp video files.
Added: Ability to play unprotected .m4a audio files (untested).
Added: Ability to create folders.
Added: Ability to delete folders.
Added: Ability to view .txt files.
Added: Ability to set the port to connect on.
Changed: The thumbnail now stretches to fit the 64×64 pixel block instead of aspect ratio resizing.
Changed: Redesigned the users tab to be more aesthetically pleasing – the first tab to be redone in that fashion.

Click here to learn more about WHS Mobile.

The add-in is free, but you need to purchase the iPhone or iPod Touch app from the Apple App Store. Its only a few dollars and well worth it.

I will be doing a full review shortly (when I can find the time!) 🙂