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English

Access and view files on FTP and the Web

What does SmartFTPplayer actually do? Once you’re connected to FTP you can search through directories arranged in a classical tree structure. The application automatically presents you with the relevant information about a highlighted media file. For example, in case of an mp3 it would be the bitrate and all that artist and album info included in the file, if any. SmartFTPplayer allows you to playback a file before downloading it. What’s even more interesting, you don’t have to play it from the start. Simply move the cursor to any point of the playback bar and press play button. The problem here is that the playback indicator is in a percent format. While it makes easier to find the exact middle of a song or a film, finding that stunning solo on the 2nd minute and 35th second takes a little longer. With SmartFTPplayer you also have an option to download only a selected part of a media file.

Unlike what you might guess from the title of the software, SmartFTPplayer is not totally FTP-oriented. The above features apply to HTTP as well. (The developer might consider changing the title to avoid confusion.) So, it deals with the Web too. For the sake of convenience the program places itself in the Internet Explorer context menu so you don’t have to run it from the desktop or wherever you chose to place the icon. Unfortunately, this doesn’t apply to those using alternative browsers.

Apart from the above, it’s a bit boastful of the developer to actually call the program a ‘player’. The title applies perfectly to playing sound files however when it comes to video it’s constantly stopping for buffering. Yes, you can adjust the size of the buffer manually or even disable buffering; still it’s more effective to use SmartFTPplayer for previewing videos instead of watching them.

Altogether, SmartFTPplayer is a useful application for those who know what they’re looking for, whether they browse FTP or the Web. Although some might find it requires interface and usability adjustments, in its current state it’s completely usable and functional. Single user license costs $29,95.