webjimbo
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FarFinder: your Finder on the web
FarFinder is a file sharing tool from the maker of Webjimbo (our coverage). Like the latter, FarFinder basically turns your Mac into a web server, but instead of serving up your notes from Yojimbo it instead serves up web pages that look like Finder windows. Using any web browser (Mac, PC, iPhone, etc.) you can easily download files from your home computer. And since dynamic IP addresses are a problem for many home users the service includes an optional stable URL through Flying Mac's servers.While Back to My Mac and various VNC screen sharing options are available, FarFinder's promised straightforward ease of use both on the Mac server and on the other end in the browser definitely has a certain appeal.FarFinder is $35 and a demo is available from Flying Mac.
Webjimbo 2.0 adds iPhone interface
We've posted on Webjimbo a couple of times before, and now this interesting web-based interface for the snippet manager Yojimbo reaches version 2 and adds an important new feature: an iPhone-specific interface. Basically, Webjimbo turns your Mac into a webserver that allows you to interact with your Yojimbo notes database from across the internet. With the new iPhone interface you can now get full access to your notes from your iPhone or iPod touch. Other new features includes a webjimbo.com hosted redirecting service (since most home users have a dynamic IP address) and, of course, Leopard compatibility. If you use Yojimbo and you're willing to run your Mac all the time, this looks like a good way to get around the Notes syncing hole with the iPhone.Webjimbo 2.0 is $29.95 and a demo is available. The upgrade is free for registered users. There's also a demo site where you can see how it actually works on both the desktop and iPhone.
Webjimbo 1.0 released
We last mentioned Webjimbo when it was in closed beta. Now the clever application that allows you to access your Yojimbo notes over the internet by turning your Mac into a mini web-server has been released. Your notes appear in any web browser in an interface that looks very much like Yojimbo on the desktop. Version 1.0 adds support for passwords and viewing encrypted notes, which was missing in the beta. Also tantalizing is the promise of a future iPhone optimized version ("stay tuned"), which should help make up for the deficiencies of the woeful included Notes application.The same warnings apply as before. You're only able to edit in plaintext and there are security considerations any time you run your Mac as a server. Nonetheless, if you want access to your Yojimbo notes on the go, Webjimbo could be just the ticket.Webjimbo is $29.95 and a demo is available.
Webjimbo: access Yojimbo over the Internet
My Mac life now firmly resides in Yojimbo, the excellent snippet/information manager from Bare Bones. The only problem with this arises when I'm away from my home computer. Of course Yojimbo does offer .mac syncing, but that doesn't always work that well and sometimes I'd like access to my information from a public or friend's computer. Developer Adrian Ross must have been been in such a situation as he is now working on a way to access Yojimbo notes from across the Internet. His Webjimbo software basically turns your Mac into a specialized web server that allows you to access your Yojimbo notes in a browser from any Internet connected computer.When you point your browser to port 8888 you'll actually get something that looks a lot like Yojimbo right in your browser (as you can see above). You can see your folders, search for notes, create new notes, etc. Unfortunately, there are some limitations. "Note editing is plain text only. You can view formatted notes (including attachments), but if you edit them formatting and attachments will be lost." Further, encrypted notes are not be accessible.How useful you find this will of course depend on your willingness to keep your Mac on all the time. It's also necessary to point out that anytime you run a server you open yourself to potential security concerns. Nonetheless, Webjimbo looks like an impressive project. As of right now it's in closed beta, but Adrian is inviting testers to contact him for an invitation. Webjimbo will be shareware when it ships, but no pricing has yet been announced.
