ok - new day, new attempts.
I modified my password on my web admin tool and then went to my iphone. Upon entering the url and my personal box's name, I was prompted for my credentials. Entered them (with the new password) and I get the message 'user is not allowed access to this share'. In fact, the id i'm using is my main id (not 'admin') and has access to both of my Buffalo shares.
Further testing revealed that (after changing the password again) if I entered an incorrect password, the safari client detected it and prompted me again for the correct creds. Did this several times with the same response. When I finally entered the correct password, it was apparently accepted, but I'm again told 'user is not ....' .
I modified my safari settings on my phone to accept all cookies, and to stop blocking pop-ups. Neither of these had an effect.
It appears that Iphone's safari doesn't want to talk to buffalo boxes.
Meanwhile - my ipad does connect - EXCEPT I can't modify the userid once I get logged in. I connected using my r/o userid and now I don't get prompted for credentials on the ipad. There is no logout button, so the only way to 'change' accounts is to connect to the webadmin and modify th epassword on this userid and then go back to my ipad and attempt to connect, which gives me a userid prompt once again. Silly, silly, silly.
One - something's up with the iphone not being able to access.
Two - Buffalo Tech needs to provide a logout feature on it's web screen.