File Managers aren’t the coolest sounding apps worthy of social integration buttery and buzz word flinging, but it’s big, big business. Metago’s ASTRO File Manager is a prime example, having earned over 17 million downloads on Android Market, a recent round of investor funding, and a bright future. We took some time to sit down with them and discuss/demo some upcoming announcements slated for Wednesday.
It’s clear that the folks at Astro “Get It”… and on many levels. It’s easy to build feature after feature after feature, but to do so in a way that pleases your hardcore fans without alienating or confusing the newcomer is a difficult task. It walks a very fine line and with their new Honeycomb design it seems ASTRO has dones this very well, starting with the app splash screen.
The first time you open the screen you’re met with a menu of options that will direct the “Average Joe” to important areas, help and setup opportunities, and kind of map out what the app is all about and how you use it. Of course advanced users can dismiss the splash screen and alter the settings so they never see it again. Metago plans a lot of these “advanced features”, providing the baseline integration that the majority of customers would want while allowing power users to customize their experience further. Great approach.
Some key inclusions in ASTRO File Manager version 3.0 for honeycomb (slated for a Wednesday announcement) include:
Don’t get digging through Android Market quite yet: we got the skinny a bit early and all of this won’t be announced until Wednesday. When that press release drops there are some BIG additional features the folks at ASTRO will be including that we’re not able to share quite yet.
If you haven’t heard of ASTRO and you’re looking for a way to access the “stuff” on your phone similar to how you would on your computer, go ahead and download ASTRO File Manager. I think it’s the best File Manager on the market and it’s about to get better.
Stay tuned to Phandroid for more details as we’re given the blessing to share them with you!