But Opera Unite basically turns your PC into a personal Web server, from which it’s easy to share files. Set up is minimal and bone-headedly simple, and you can use it to host all sorts of media; if your music library is on your home computer, you can use the Media Player service to access it all from any computer that’s connected to the Internet. There’s even a social networking element: people can post things to your “Fridge” (think Facebook wall), and you can allow or disallow people to visit, browse, and download.

In some ways this sounds exceptionally close to what we aim to do with WelcomeToYourMac. While Opera is focused entirely on sharing media and files, WTYM is also focused on remote control of your computer, plugin-ability, iPhone access, camera and screen access, and much much more.

I love the innovation that’s going on in this space, and be assured: WTYM is alive and well, and I’m excited about the future. I’d love to specifically look into how WTYM can piggyback and/or plug into the Opera Unite if you choose to run both. It’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.

Until then, we’re working (slowly) on tidying up the next release. I’m also 95% done with a native iPhone app to let you connect directly to your computer from anywhere, and browse, preview, and search all of your computers files.

awesome!

I’m aiming to get another release of WTYM in late April, so stay tuned for updates, and of course leave your feedback on the features page. As always, if you want to help out with development or know someone who’d be interested, shoot me an email at welcome at toyourmac dot com.

1. First, thanks to this handy tutorial, I’ve integrated the Sparkle Framework!

This means that WTYM will now automatically check for (and optionally install) updates. From now on, to manually check for updates, just click the WTYM menu and then the Check for Updates button.

2. Second, I’ve tidied up the preferences window of WTYM. No more settings that don’t actually do anything!

So what are you waiting for? Download WTYM here!

As for v0.2.2, I’ve added two new applications: Spotlight and Running Applications. The Spotlight app lets you search your entire computer straight from your iPhone. The Applications app lets you navigate and control the menubar of all running applications, as well as launch new applications on your Mac.

I’ve also made lots of smaller updates: better icons and thumbnails for picture files, better meta data support for media files, album and cover art for music and movies.

Check out the full changelist on the Downloads page, or just download v0.2.2 now!

New in the 0.2.0 version:

1. blurry icons are gone. say hello to clean crisp icons
2. Camera application added to see through your Mac’s webcam
3. Universal Remote application lets you control:
   • Front Row
   • iTunes
   • DVD Player
   • Quicktime
   • SlingPlayer
   • System Controls

1. It should actually work
2. Remote control your mac from any browser

It’s been quite a while since I’ve had time to sit down and play with the code - it’s awesome to get back into this project and churn out some fixes and features. All in all, this release is leaps and bounds better than the last I’m excited about being able to add new features asap!

Download

Download  WelcomeToYourMac v0.1.1 (7.9Mb zip)

Features

1. SSL encryption with user/pass authentication
2. Browse your Mac’s filesystem on your iPhone or web browser.
3. Email a file from your mac to any email address
4. Download any file from your Mac
5. View files on your iPhone (supported file types only, plus .rtf files)

Notes

I haven’t done a full security check of the code, and the legacy app window still ask you if you want to share media insecurely. Later versions will tidy up this hole, but for now you should be able to uncheck that sharing media option and feel safe that everything is going through SSL.

Currently the main page of the web app only shows 2 buttons: 1 to your home folder and 1 to your documents folder. Later versions will let you customize this view, as well as provide other “tapps” that you can install to WelcomeToYourMac.

The email feature uses php’s built-in mail() function, so emails will likely land in your spam filter. If you run your own mail server and filter that more aggressively filters out spam, you may have to do some tweaking to let these emails through. Later versions will let you set up an SMTP account to send these emails through, which will fix the vast majority of spam filtering issues. For now, just check your spam folder. Also, take care in sending very large files. Currently there’s “no limit” enforced for emailed files by WelcomeToYourMac. Later versions will let you send out a secure download link (with optional password), for files that would be too large to email.

Summary

All in all, this version should provide you with a secure way to browse, download, view, and email files from your Mac (just turn off insecure media sharing option). I’m sure issues will come up with this release - so please leave feedback so I can work to make it better :).

Hopefully I’ll have an update Sunday night with more info.

Cheers

1. Browse and view your files: just like column view in Finder
2. Email any file on your Mac to anyone
3. Email a secure download link to any file on your Mac to anyone

And naturally, all of these features are available via browser or iPhone. Shortly to follow, the next release will aim to include:

1. Control your Mac’s screen from your browser
2. Browse your media: view detailed info about movies, music, and TV episodes

And to prove that something is in fact getting done… screenshots of the current development versio

The trick, I learned, is to open the .strings file in plain text mode instead of source code mode (the default). Right clicking the file solved that problem

I’m sure this is a no-brainer for many of you Xcode elites out there, but it took me the better part of an hour to find that last remaining “iPhone Remote” string.

All that to say, I now have an official development environment set up for WelcomeToYourMac, and I’m looking forward to getting the first release out the door soon.