I'm looking for a couple of specific app recommendations. With the ubiquity of the iPhone--seems everywhere I go, lots of people have an iPhone these days--I thought this might be a good place to ask.

Here's what I'm trying to find:
1. an app that provides a Windows command line interface on the iPhone
2. an app that allows me to access the iPhone through Windows Explorer and copy files directly to it like a hard drive

Haven't been able to find anything on #1, but I do have iFile for #2 (yes, my iPhone is jailbroken). Unfortunately, iFile limits file uploads to a web interface over WiFi which means a single file at a time. I'm looking for a standard Windows Explorer interface for large data transfers.

Anyone have suggestions?

http://avatron.com/apps/air-sharing/

Not sure if it's what you're looking for, but here is something you can use to ssh into a server: http://code.google.com/p/mobileterminal/

I've seen this one, and the drawback is the fact that it's only accessible via WiFi, thus slowing down the transfer rate.

Ideally, I'm looking for an app that allows file transfers through the data cable that's hooked directly to the PC.

windows command line interface on an iphone? lol.

Since yous said it is jailbroken, you can download terminal and/or some ssh packages.

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=5882

What can you do with it? Well, one thing you can do is change your root password.

http://iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=5883

-David

Probably won't find it, since Apple strictly restricts access from applications to the USB port (as well as the Bluetooth port) on the phone. Applications can only communicate with the outside world via WiFi (or the cellular data network).

The only applications allowed to access the USB port are the built-in sync client (which synchronizes with iTunes, iPhoto, Image Capture, etc.) and the (where enabled) built-in tethering client. All third-party apps cannot touch that device.

Also, whatever solution you find will be proprietary. Apple does not allow general access to the iPhone's filesystem. Apple gives each application its own space on the iPhone's drive (more or less just giving it access to its own folder in the hidden [equivalent to the] "Applications" directory, but nothing outside of its own folder). That means that other applications cannot access the files, and if you delete the application, the saved data goes with it.

It works OK, but it's not a super-secure method.

As for command-line access, any telnet app should do, as long as you have the telnet service on your Windows box enabled (Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services>Telnet>change "Disabled" to "Automatic" or "Manual" and click "Start"). Telnet is inherently insecure, though, and your password will be sent in clear text. If you plan on doing this often or from public, unsecured wireless access points, I would recommend instead setting up an SSH server, which encrypts the contents being transmitted. There are many free apps that allow this. You can then connect to your WinBox with an SSH app (several free ones exist).

You'll of course need a static IP address or a dynamic DNS service to be able to access your computer, but that probably goes without saying.

Edit: I just noticed you said your phone was jailbroken--I'm not sure if apps on a jailbroken phone can access the USB port. Here's a link with some interesting discussion of how Apple set up the USB port on the phone:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=627267

I'm not sure, but this may be bypassed by the jailbroken OS. I don't know anything about jailbroken phones or Cydia apps or anything, though.

http://www.i-funbox.com/

Although the FT community have given you the answers within about 6 hours of posting the query, these are the sort of problems that can be answered by a quick run through of Google search queries using the terms in your questions. At times like this I always try to remember that Google is your friend

what are you really trying to do?

the iphone is not a windows device, so why would you want a windows command line? if you need to remotely connect to windows machines (or macs or unix boxes), there are several apps that support that.

there are also apps that can turn the iphone into a wireless hard drive that supports ftp, afp, smb and/or webdav, and it's not as slow as you seem to think. usb and flash are not all that fast.

The iPhone isn't a Kindle either, but, how does Apple put it: "There's an app for that!"

Can't hurt to ask.

Indeed. Seeing "Windows command line," I assumed the OP wanted to access his/her home Windows box.

If the OP wants to access the CLI (command line interface) on the phone, it may be possible since the phone is jailbroken (I haven't kept up on this--I know it was possible on the original iPhone with the first OS), but it won't be a "Windows command line;" it'll be a "BSD Unix command line."

Indeed. Really, the bottleneck is probably the speed of the phone's flash memory and relatively slow processor rather than the method of connection.

I use ACDSee to view photos on my computer. When I plug in my iPhone, I see my phone as a drive in Windows Explorer and can copy/move files from it. Great!!!

You can also use DiskAid to view/copy/move files, which is free the first 30-days. DiskAid works like Norton Utilities and doesn't put an icon/drive in Windows Explorer.