Well after having used FExplorer for over a month now, I thought it was past time for me to write a review. To give a little background I have never been a lover of Lonely Cat Games' file manager app (X-plore), or the default Nokia file manager, for differing reasons, but prefer DR Jukka's Y-Browser and Alie Tan's Active File. With Active File taking the edge as aresult of it's user interface. Basically X-plore has the functional edge, but I dislike the UI, which to me is a little dated, with the font too small for large screen phones like the N97 and of course you've got to pay for it. When it comes to the default Nokia File Manager I like the UI, but it lacks way too much functionality. DR Jukka's offering has most of the functionality claimed by Lonely Cat Games' and a better UI, but is a little bulky, leaving Active File. For me this is the best of the file managers out there for S60, until SBSH Software joined the foray with FExplorer Pro.

Now FExplorer Pro is by no means perfect, but it's a step in the right direction, merging the standard functionality of a file manager with other a few additions missing from Nokia phones.

File Explorer

The file management is pretty standard, but the addition of an Image viewer is a nice touch speeding up image viewing. The Hidden folders support enables you to get to files and folders, hidden in the default Nokia file manager, which heavier users need to get to keep their phones behaving. The File editor is another usefull addition, but this is for the real power users, of course.

Tools

Screenshot

The Screenshot utility is one of my favourite tools, having used a few screenshot apps I have found this to be the best. This tool is, of course, only of real use for those user either testing, blogging or needing screenshots for support reasons.



Backlight

Next comes the backlight, which is really just a switch to over-ride the the auto-off timer on the backlight for users to see by this light, using the phone as a dim torch.

Bluetooth

The Bluetooth switch simply switches the default blootooth interface on and off. For me I do not see the value of this other than it's localisation into one place. I have the default Bluetooth Application as one of my homescreen shortcuts though.

Restart

Restart your phone with a single button click. No more turn-off, turn-on and re-enter passwords.

Compress Memory

Reclaim some of the very limited RAM which can be lost during prolonged phone operation and application crashes.

Developer/Advanced Tools

• Installed applications generates a list of all installed apps on the device, including their path and application UID and saves it as INSTAPP.txt on the C: drive
• Dump file list geneartes a text file listing all files and folders within the phone.

Info

Info contains five categories,

• Phone providing you system information about your phone, such as firmware version, IMEI number and more
• Network providing advanced network details. This brings details such as network area ID, connected cell ID, network information and more
• Media providing you with technical details and system information about the memory card currently used, when available.
• System providing advanced phone information including Operating System, CPU, Memory, MAC Address and running time.
• Fonts providing information on the current fonts being used on the device

This info is all very nice, but mainly aimed at advanced users and developers again.

Although FExplorer Pro is a very capable app for me when I limit my comparison to the UI I still prefer Active File but I have been advised by the developer that the UI is getting a look at and the larger appearance seen in Active File and the default Nokia file manager will be introduced to FExplorer Pro. I can't wait.

The Future

For me there are a few more things I'd love to see in future versions.

The first would be a real Task Manager, like that seen in Handy Taskman, Best Taskman and JBak Tasman (You need to use the selfsign BETA of this app), to replace the dissapointing default Task Manager. Another would be the introduction of a RAR extractor and one last thing I'd love someone to introduce is a Location Method Manager where the user can select which applications use which location methods.