diff --git a/synctl b/synctl
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..1bdceda20a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synctl
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+./synapse/app/synctl.py
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/syweb/webclient/app.css b/syweb/webclient/app.css
index 25f7208a11..1264ac787c 100755
--- a/syweb/webclient/app.css
+++ b/syweb/webclient/app.css
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ textarea, input {
     vertical-align: middle;
 */
     display: inline-block;
-    max-width: 90%;
+    max-width: 80%;
     padding-left: 1em;
     padding-right: 1em;
     padding-top: 2px;
@@ -721,6 +721,7 @@ textarea, input {
     text-align: right;
 }
 
+/*
 .text.emote .bubble,
 .text.membership .bubble,
 .mine .text.emote .bubble,
@@ -729,6 +730,7 @@ textarea, input {
     background-color: transparent ! important;    
     border: 0px ! important;
 }
+*/
 
 .mine .text .bubble {
 /*
diff --git a/syweb/webclient/components/fileInput/file-input-directive.js b/syweb/webclient/components/fileInput/file-input-directive.js
index 9c849a140f..e530c06085 100644
--- a/syweb/webclient/components/fileInput/file-input-directive.js
+++ b/syweb/webclient/components/fileInput/file-input-directive.js
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ angular.module('mFileInput', [])
     return {
         restrict: 'A',
         transclude: 'true',
-        template: '<div ng-transclude></div><input ng-hide="true" type="file" accept="image/*"/>',
+        // FIXME: add back in accept="image/*" when needed - e.g. for avatars
+        template: '<div ng-transclude></div><input ng-hide="true" type="file"/>',
         scope: {
             selectedFile: '=mFileInput'
         },
diff --git a/syweb/webclient/components/fileUpload/file-upload-service.js b/syweb/webclient/components/fileUpload/file-upload-service.js
index b544e29509..28e3f0ff5e 100644
--- a/syweb/webclient/components/fileUpload/file-upload-service.js
+++ b/syweb/webclient/components/fileUpload/file-upload-service.js
@@ -47,30 +47,31 @@ angular.module('mFileUpload', ['matrixService', 'mUtilities'])
     };
     
     /*
-     * Upload an image file plus generate a thumbnail of it and upload it so that
+     * Upload an filmessagee plus generate a thumbnail of it (if possible) and upload it so that
      * we will have all information to fulfill an image message request data.
-     * @param {File} imageFile the imageFile to send
+     * @param {File} file the file to send
      * @param {Integer} thumbnailSize the max side size of the thumbnail to create
      * @returns {promise} A promise that will be resolved by a image message object
      *   ready to be send with the Matrix API
      */
-    this.uploadImageAndThumbnail = function(imageFile, thumbnailSize) {
+    this.uploadFileAndThumbnail = function(file, thumbnailSize) {
         var self = this;
         var deferred = $q.defer();
 
-        console.log("uploadImageAndThumbnail " + imageFile.name + " - thumbnailSize: " + thumbnailSize);
+        console.log("uploadFileAndThumbnail " + file.name + " - thumbnailSize: " + thumbnailSize);
 
-        // The message structure that will be returned in the promise
-        var imageMessage = {
+        // The message structure that will be returned in the promise will look something like:
+        var message = {
+/*            
             msgtype: "m.image",
             url: undefined,
             body: "Image",
             info: {
                 size: undefined,
-                w: undefined,
-                h: undefined,
+                  w: undefined,
+                  h: undefined,
                 mimetype: undefined
-            },
+            },            
             thumbnail_url: undefined,
             thumbnail_info: {
                 size: undefined,
@@ -78,101 +79,128 @@ angular.module('mFileUpload', ['matrixService', 'mUtilities'])
                 h: undefined,
                 mimetype: undefined
             }
+*/            
         };
 
-        // First, get the image size
-        mUtilities.getImageSize(imageFile).then(
-            function(size) {
-                console.log("image size: " + JSON.stringify(size));
+        if (file.type.indexOf("image/") === 0) {
+            // it's an image - try to do clientside thumbnailing.
+            mUtilities.getImageSize(file).then(
+                function(size) {
+                    console.log("image size: " + JSON.stringify(size));
 
-                // The final operation: send imageFile
-                var uploadImage = function() {
-                    self.uploadFile(imageFile).then(
-                        function(url) {
-                            // Update message metadata
-                            imageMessage.url = url;
-                            imageMessage.info = {
-                                size: imageFile.size,
-                                w: size.width,
-                                h: size.height,
-                                mimetype: imageFile.type
-                            };
+                    // The final operation: send file
+                    var uploadImage = function() {
+                        self.uploadFile(file).then(
+                            function(url) {
+                                // Update message metadata
+                                message.url = url;
+                                message.msgtype = "m.image";
+                                message.body = file.name;
+                                message.info = {
+                                    size: file.size,
+                                    w: size.width,
+                                    h: size.height,
+                                    mimetype: file.type
+                                };
 
-                            // If there is no thumbnail (because the original image is smaller than thumbnailSize),
-                            // reuse the original image info for thumbnail data
-                            if (!imageMessage.thumbnail_url) {
-                                imageMessage.thumbnail_url = imageMessage.url;
-                                imageMessage.thumbnail_info = imageMessage.info;
-                            }
-
-                            // We are done
-                            deferred.resolve(imageMessage);
-                        },
-                        function(error) {
-                            console.log("      -> Can't upload image");
-                            deferred.reject(error); 
-                        }
-                    );
-                };
-
-                // Create a thumbnail if the image size exceeds thumbnailSize
-                if (Math.max(size.width, size.height) > thumbnailSize) {
-                    console.log("    Creating thumbnail...");
-                    mUtilities.resizeImage(imageFile, thumbnailSize).then(
-                        function(thumbnailBlob) {
-
-                            // Get its size
-                            mUtilities.getImageSize(thumbnailBlob).then(
-                                function(thumbnailSize) {
-                                    console.log("      -> Thumbnail size: " + JSON.stringify(thumbnailSize));
-
-                                    // Upload it to the server
-                                    self.uploadFile(thumbnailBlob).then(
-                                        function(thumbnailUrl) {
-
-                                            // Update image message data
-                                            imageMessage.thumbnail_url = thumbnailUrl;
-                                            imageMessage.thumbnail_info = {
-                                                size: thumbnailBlob.size,
-                                                w: thumbnailSize.width,
-                                                h: thumbnailSize.height,
-                                                mimetype: thumbnailBlob.type
-                                            };
-
-                                            // Then, upload the original image
-                                            uploadImage();
-                                        },
-                                        function(error) {
-                                            console.log("      -> Can't upload thumbnail");
-                                            deferred.reject(error); 
-                                        }
-                                    );
-                                },
-                                function(error) {
-                                    console.log("      -> Failed to get thumbnail size");
-                                    deferred.reject(error); 
+                                // If there is no thumbnail (because the original image is smaller than thumbnailSize),
+                                // reuse the original image info for thumbnail data
+                                if (!message.thumbnail_url) {
+                                    message.thumbnail_url = message.url;
+                                    message.thumbnail_info = message.info;
                                 }
-                            );
 
-                        },
-                        function(error) {
-                            console.log("      -> Failed to create thumbnail: " + error);
-                            deferred.reject(error); 
-                        }
-                    );
-                }
-                else {
-                    // No need of thumbnail
-                    console.log("   Thumbnail is not required");
-                    uploadImage();
-                }
+                                // We are done
+                                deferred.resolve(message);
+                            },
+                            function(error) {
+                                console.log("      -> Can't upload image");
+                                deferred.reject(error); 
+                            }
+                        );
+                    };
 
-            },
-            function(error) {
-                console.log("   -> Failed to get image size");
-                deferred.reject(error); 
-            }
-        );
+                    // Create a thumbnail if the image size exceeds thumbnailSize
+                    if (Math.max(size.width, size.height) > thumbnailSize) {
+                        console.log("    Creating thumbnail...");
+                        mUtilities.resizeImage(file, thumbnailSize).then(
+                            function(thumbnailBlob) {
+
+                                // Get its size
+                                mUtilities.getImageSize(thumbnailBlob).then(
+                                    function(thumbnailSize) {
+                                        console.log("      -> Thumbnail size: " + JSON.stringify(thumbnailSize));
+
+                                        // Upload it to the server
+                                        self.uploadFile(thumbnailBlob).then(
+                                            function(thumbnailUrl) {
+
+                                                // Update image message data
+                                                message.thumbnail_url = thumbnailUrl;
+                                                message.thumbnail_info = {
+                                                    size: thumbnailBlob.size,
+                                                    w: thumbnailSize.width,
+                                                    h: thumbnailSize.height,
+                                                    mimetype: thumbnailBlob.type
+                                                };
+
+                                                // Then, upload the original image
+                                                uploadImage();
+                                            },
+                                            function(error) {
+                                                console.log("      -> Can't upload thumbnail");
+                                                deferred.reject(error); 
+                                            }
+                                        );
+                                    },
+                                    function(error) {
+                                        console.log("      -> Failed to get thumbnail size");
+                                        deferred.reject(error); 
+                                    }
+                                );
+
+                            },
+                            function(error) {
+                                console.log("      -> Failed to create thumbnail: " + error);
+                                deferred.reject(error); 
+                            }
+                        );
+                    }
+                    else {
+                        // No need of thumbnail
+                        console.log("   Thumbnail is not required");
+                        uploadImage();
+                    }
+
+                },
+                function(error) {
+                    console.log("   -> Failed to get image size");
+                    deferred.reject(error); 
+                }
+            );
+        }
+        else {
+            // it's a random file - just upload it.
+            self.uploadFile(file).then(
+                function(url) {
+                    // Update message metadata
+                    message.url = url;
+                    message.msgtype = "m.file";
+                    message.body = file.name;
+                    message.info = {
+                        size: file.size,
+                        mimetype: file.type
+                    };
+
+                    // We are done
+                    deferred.resolve(message);
+                },
+                function(error) {
+                    console.log("      -> Can't upload file");
+                    deferred.reject(error); 
+                }
+            );
+        }
 
         return deferred.promise;
     };
diff --git a/syweb/webclient/recents/recents.html b/syweb/webclient/recents/recents.html
index 0b3a77ca11..600e1f9c1a 100644
--- a/syweb/webclient/recents/recents.html
+++ b/syweb/webclient/recents/recents.html
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
                                 </div>
 
                                 <div ng-switch-default>
-                                    {{ lastMsg.content }}
+                                    {{ lastMsg.content.body | linky:'_blank' }}
                                 </div>
                             </div>
                         </div>
diff --git a/syweb/webclient/room/room-controller.js b/syweb/webclient/room/room-controller.js
index cf9bc1fcdb..fdd10d7c9a 100644
--- a/syweb/webclient/room/room-controller.js
+++ b/syweb/webclient/room/room-controller.js
@@ -495,6 +495,7 @@ angular.module('RoomController', ['ngSanitize', 'matrixFilter', 'mFileInput', 'a
             });
     };
 
+    // used to send an image based on just a URL, rather than uploading one
     $scope.sendImage = function(url, body) {
         scrollToBottom(true);
         
@@ -507,23 +508,23 @@ angular.module('RoomController', ['ngSanitize', 'matrixFilter', 'mFileInput', 'a
             });
     };
     
-    $scope.imageFileToSend;
-    $scope.$watch("imageFileToSend", function(newValue, oldValue) {
-        if ($scope.imageFileToSend) {
-            // Upload this image with its thumbnail to Internet
-            mFileUpload.uploadImageAndThumbnail($scope.imageFileToSend, THUMBNAIL_SIZE).then(
-                function(imageMessage) {
-                    // imageMessage is complete message structure, send it as is
-                    matrixService.sendMessage($scope.room_id, undefined, imageMessage).then(
+    $scope.fileToSend;
+    $scope.$watch("fileToSend", function(newValue, oldValue) {
+        if ($scope.fileToSend) {
+            // Upload this file
+            mFileUpload.uploadFileAndThumbnail($scope.fileToSend, THUMBNAIL_SIZE).then(
+                function(fileMessage) {
+                    // fileMessage is complete message structure, send it as is
+                    matrixService.sendMessage($scope.room_id, undefined, fileMessage).then(
                         function() {
-                            console.log("Image message sent");
+                            console.log("File message sent");
                         },
                         function(error) {
-                            $scope.feedback = "Failed to send image message: " + error.data.error;
+                            $scope.feedback = "Failed to send file message: " + error.data.error;
                         });
                 },
                 function(error) {
-                    $scope.feedback = "Can't upload image";
+                    $scope.feedback = "Can't upload file";
                 }
             );
         }
diff --git a/syweb/webclient/room/room.html b/syweb/webclient/room/room.html
index 955f5ff114..8baf9eda71 100644
--- a/syweb/webclient/room/room.html
+++ b/syweb/webclient/room/room.html
@@ -198,31 +198,45 @@
                             {{ msg.user_id }} changed their display name from {{ msg.prev_content.displayname }} to {{ msg.content.displayname }}
                         </span>
                         
-                        <span ng-show='msg.content.msgtype === "m.emote"'
-                              ng-class="msg.echo_msg_state"
-                              ng-bind-html="'* ' + (msg.__room_member.cnt.displayname || msg.user_id) + ' ' + msg.content.body | linky:'_blank'"
-                              />
-                        
-                        <span ng-show='msg.content.msgtype === "m.text"' 
-                              class="message"
-                              ng-class="containsBingWord(msg) && msg.user_id != state.user_id ? msg.echo_msg_state + ' messageBing' : msg.echo_msg_state"
-                              ng-bind-html="(msg.content.msgtype === 'm.text' && msg.type === 'm.room.message' && msg.content.format === 'org.matrix.custom.html') ? 
-                                                                                        (msg.content.formatted_body | unsanitizedLinky) :
-                                             (msg.content.msgtype === 'm.text' && msg.type === 'm.room.message') ? (msg.content.body | linky:'_blank') : '' "/>
+                        <span ng-show='msg.type === "m.room.message"' ng-switch='msg.content.msgtype'>
+                            <span ng-switch-when="m.emote"
+                                  ng-class="containsBingWord(msg) && msg.user_id != state.user_id ? msg.echo_msg_state + ' messageBing' : msg.echo_msg_state"
+                                  ng-bind-html="'* ' + (msg.__room_member.cnt.displayname || msg.user_id) + ' ' + msg.content.body | linky:'_blank'"
+                                  />
+
+                            <span ng-switch-when="m.text"
+                                  class="message"
+                                  ng-class="containsBingWord(msg) && msg.user_id != state.user_id ? msg.echo_msg_state + ' messageBing' : msg.echo_msg_state"
+                                  ng-bind-html="(msg.content.format === 'org.matrix.custom.html') ? (msg.content.formatted_body | unsanitizedLinky) : (msg.content.body | linky:'_blank') "/>
+
+                             <div ng-switch-when="m.image">
+                                 <div ng-hide='msg.content.thumbnail_url' ng-style="msg.content.body.h && { 'height' : (msg.content.body.h < 320) ? msg.content.body.h : 320}">
+                                     <img class="image" ng-src="{{ msg.content.url }}"/>
+                                 </div>
+                                 <div ng-show='msg.content.thumbnail_url' ng-style="{ 'height' : msg.content.thumbnail_info.h }">
+                                     <img class="image mouse-pointer" ng-src="{{ msg.content.thumbnail_url }}"
+                                          ng-click="$parent.$parent.fullScreenImageURL = msg.content.url; $event.stopPropagation();"/>
+                                 </div>
+                             </div>
+
+                            <span ng-switch-when="m.file" ng-class="msg.echo_msg_state">
+                                <a href="{{ msg.content.url}}" target="_blank">{{ msg.content.body }}</a>
+                                <div ng-show='msg.content.thumbnail_url' ng-style="{ 'height' : msg.content.thumbnail_info.h }">
+                                    <a href="{{ msg.content.url}}" target="_blank">
+                                        <img class="image mouse-pointer" ng-src="{{ msg.content.thumbnail_url }}"/>
+                                    </a>
+                                </div>
+                            </span>
+                                
+                            <span ng-switch-default
+                                ng-class="containsBingWord(msg) && msg.user_id != state.user_id ? msg.echo_msg_state + ' messageBing' : msg.echo_msg_state"
+                                ng-bind-html="msg.content.body | linky:'_blank'"
+                                />
+                        </span>
 
                         <span ng-show='msg.type === "m.call.invite" && msg.user_id == state.user_id'>Outgoing Call{{ isWebRTCSupported() ? '' : ' (But your browser does not support VoIP)' }}</span>
                         <span ng-show='msg.type === "m.call.invite" && msg.user_id != state.user_id'>Incoming Call{{ isWebRTCSupported() ? '' : ' (But your browser does not support VoIP)' }}</span>
 
-                        <div ng-show='msg.content.msgtype === "m.image"'>
-                            <div ng-hide='msg.content.thumbnail_url' ng-style="msg.content.body.h && { 'height' : (msg.content.body.h < 320) ? msg.content.body.h : 320}">
-                                <img class="image" ng-src="{{ msg.content.url }}"/>
-                            </div>
-                            <div ng-show='msg.content.thumbnail_url' ng-style="{ 'height' : msg.content.thumbnail_info.h }">
-                                <img class="image mouse-pointer" ng-src="{{ msg.content.thumbnail_url }}"
-                                     ng-click="$parent.fullScreenImageURL = msg.content.url; $event.stopPropagation();"/>
-                            </div>
-                        </div>
-
                         <span ng-if="'m.room.topic' === msg.type">
                             {{ msg.__room_member.cnt.displayname || msg.user_id }} changed the topic to: {{ msg.content.topic }}
                         </span>
@@ -250,7 +264,7 @@
 
     <div id="controlPanel">
         <div id="controls">
-            <button id="attachButton" m-file-input="imageFileToSend" class="extraControls" ng-disabled="state.permission_denied"></button>
+            <button id="attachButton" m-file-input="fileToSend" class="extraControls" ng-disabled="state.permission_denied"></button>
             <textarea id="mainInput" rows="1" ng-enter="send()"
                       ng-disabled="state.permission_denied"
                       ng-focus="true" autocomplete="off" tab-complete command-history="room_id"/>