PhoneView for Mac

Overview

PhoneView (previously called iPhoneDrive) converts your iPhone into a convenient storage and sync device for your Mac. It’s designed as a desktop companion for iPhone and iPod Touch users who want simple access to files and device data. The app supports one‑step transfers and integrates with your Mac’s Finder via a drag‑and‑drop interface for fast two‑way file moving.

Note: a lightweight alternative to consider is CheatSheet (free).

Manageable content and file types

• Contacts and complete call history export/import
• SMS and MMS messages, including backup access
• Notes, photos and Camera Roll items
• Voice memos and voicemail archives
• iTunes backups and general file storage (text, Word, PDF can be dropped into iPhone notes)

You can move documents from your Mac to the iPhone easily — text files and common document formats can be placed into the Notes app for quick viewing on the device.

Usability and interface

The user interface is clean and intuitive, with a familiar drag‑and‑drop workflow that makes transferring items straightforward. Many users praise its simplicity and the speed of routine tasks like backups and quick file retrieval.

Compatibility and known issues

There have been sporadic compatibility problems after certain iPhone firmware updates and on some 3G models; subsequent releases of PhoneView have addressed many of these cases. Some functionality was limited under iOS 4: adding, editing and deleting Notes; removing Call Log entries; deleting Messages; and removing Camera Roll photos were unavailable on iOS 4 devices. Several of those limitations were later restored, though a few features require Mac OS X 10.6 to work fully.

Recent enhancements and fixes

• Displays thumbnails for Camera Roll photos from devices running iOS 4.2
• Restores the ability to remove Camera Roll items across iOS versions (requires Mac OS X 10.6)
• Adds an archive manager that lets you rename, delete and merge archive files
• Enables browsing of data stored inside third‑party apps
• Photos view now recognizes RAW files imported via Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit
• Links FaceTime calls and SMS messages that start from email addresses to Address Book entries
• Corrects display issues with certain non‑Latin characters in SMS threads
• Various other bug fixes and performance improvements