File Manager Apps (Specifically PDF managers)

[mdragoni1]

Hi,

I know there are a few file managers out there and since user reviews on iTunes are a joke I thought I'd ask if anyone had any recommendations. A PDF reader with a bookmark feature and possibly an annotation tool is really what I need. But if those features are a part of a much larger program I'm OK with that.

Mekentosj the company that produces the PDF management program, Papers, have alluded to creating their own app which I may have to wait for but as of now I was curious about my options. Anyone interested in Papers for the iPhone may want to visit this link:

http://mekentosj.com/papers/forum15/viewtopic.php?id=831

Note:
I'm fully aware that I can email myself a PDF but to my knowledge I cannot bookmark my place. I don't usually read books but 20-50 page articles are common.

Thanks,

mdragoni1

 

[plumbingandtech]

Annotator on the app store is the only one that fits the bill described.

Stores files on the iphone.
Syncs back and forth.
Allows annotation including drawing lines and such.
Allows text "balloon" annotation. (editable.)
both items can be seen in Apple or Adobe PDF readers and printed etc.
Changes made to a doc in the iphone can be synced back to the mac or (pc?)
bookmarking.
landscape display mode.

the only downside is the syncing app could be much easier and a little wonky so you will need to get a feel for it and find a pattern that works for you. FileMagnet's desktop sync app is much better but does not annotate or bookmark PDFs.

 

[mdragoni1]

It looks great, but can I trust a program that misspells 'annotator' or as they put it, 'annotater'?

 

[plumbingandtech]

It looks great, but can I trust a program that misspells 'annotator' or as they put it, 'annotater'?

I really wanted a PDF reader. I tried it out. It let's me read and bookmark PDF books and I am doing much more annotating then I though I would.

A very useful tool IMO.

Will there be others?

Probably. But for 6 or 7 bucks, it gives me a solution today and might just stay ahead of the rest.

 

[mdragoni1]

I think I will break down and try it too. I work in a job that doesn't require me to do anything half the time but I'm not allowed to do anything I want to do, so the iPhone has been a handy tool for when I'm not supervised. Besides if there is anything I've learned from the App Store its the Zen-like euphoria I get after buying something and learning its not what I want...Why not get that feeling today?

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[hnn]

I have bought and tried both ReaddleDocs and Caravan. Both achieve the same end result, storage of pdf, doc, xls etc files on the ipHone. Both can retrieve docs that you find with the browser on the net.

In addition for ReaddleDocs:
- you have to put your docs first on their web server (freed) and then sync from the iphone.
+ possibility to store docs in folders

In addition for Caravan:
+ ftp access (good if you have your docs on a ftp server)
- can not handle strange characters in file names (like our Swedish åäö)
- feels a bit buggy

ReaddleDocs is still my favourite, especially since it seems to come from a larger company, with resources for updating with more functions.

 

[mdragoni1]

Readdle Docs seems to be a product of the Web 2.0 era. While certainly very innovative the problem with Readdle to me, is that if the company goes under it takes your files with it. Now as you pointed out, Readdle seems to be a bigger company so less of a chance of that happening but the risk is still out there. I like to remain as independent of a companies success as I can. Course this might just be paranoia, and it may be worth the risk.