Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
If they do a file system, it will have to be abstract. They won't let people just browse the files on the device. It can be done though. The question is, how many people are asking for it? Apple will only attempt it if there is enough demand for it.
On the phones it is not such a big deal but with the ipads I really miss having filesystem. Sure you can jailbreak and use cydia or something for apps. But I'm more just sick of every office suite/cloud/content creation app having to re-invent the wheel so you can have some limited access to files.
 
Apple is a dictatorship. Proprietary ways have assured they have a captive user base.

Conversely Android is a breath of fresh air. One is able to do as they wish, creating exactly the right smartphone functionality for their workflow. While the platform had the normal bugs, annoyances et al during its early years, now with the arrival of Android ver 4.x.x it's mature, fast, fun, and very reliable.

An experience that easily equals that of iOS.
"dictatorship" seriously, that is an incredibly ignorant misuse of the word.
Nobody is being shot for jailbreaking their iphone.
Some folks appreciate the "walled garden" of IOS devices because it means they don't have to be fricking IT majors to use their phones.
Now of course Apple isn't perfect. It's still a pain to configure some email accounts.
I'd also add that Android is powerful and flexible and all that, but it really is an ugly OS. It just reminds me of Blackberry too much.
That and it is way too forked to be stable already. Every single Android I pick up has slightly different icons and slightly different settings.
Though that is the Wireless providers doing that I am sure.
 
I feel very confident in saying iOS8 will have some kind of accessible file system.

Sure, they won't call it a 'file system' but in nature it will be some kind of common storage area for apps. They've already expanded the sharing in between apps via actionsheets, this is the logical next step.
 
In answer to OP: nope.

iOS is an app-cenric OS, it goes from app-> (file) -> app. With the file inaccessible to you outside of a particular app.
You aren't going to get what you want. If they do make a file manager, it won't work the way you want it to work and will drive you crazy with it's seemingly arbitrary limitations.

My documents, people dumping everything in C, and stupid default download locations for email with moronic temp names ruined the file management access for us.

Something like My Files could work, but it would create problems when people/devs started using it as a folderless dump.


It can work.

There already is a folder system, we just dont have access to it. apps are like shortcuts to it. all we need is access to a section of it that documents and files can be stored in. They could even get rid of the camera roll and combine it with that into a media app.where once inside the app it has sections for each type so you can see photos like you used to in the past or see pages/word/pdf documents etc.

there is soooo many ways they could implement a simple and highly functional file system thats usable by consumers instead of having to go through a variety of apps and copy and paste objects.
 
It can work.

There already is a folder system, we just dont have access to it. apps are like shortcuts to it. all we need is access to a section of it that documents and files can be stored in. They could even get rid of the camera roll and combine it with that into a media app.where once inside the app it has sections for each type so you can see photos like you used to in the past or see pages/word/pdf documents etc.

there is soooo many ways they could implement a simple and highly functional file system thats usable by consumers instead of having to go through a variety of apps and copy and paste objects.

I'm sure that there will be so many hoops to jump through to get a powerful enough file manager that people would be happy with that they won't do it.

1. Would apps have access?
2. Where would their access begin and end?
3. Would there need to be dupes of files in the sandboxed app area?
4. If apps can create folders, what can they be called so they make sense to the app, the OS, and the user?

And so on, and so on. Not going to happen the way any power users want.
 
I'm sure that there will be so many hoops to jump through to get a powerful enough file manager that people would be happy with that they won't do it.

1. Would apps have access?
2. Where would their access begin and end?
3. Would there need to be dupes of files in the sandboxed app area?
4. If apps can create folders, what can they be called so they make sense to the app, the OS, and the user?

And so on, and so on. Not going to happen the way any power users want.

1) Yes apps can save and open from the file folder.

2) The apps access would start and finish with opening editing and saving. For any sending and sharing I would rather users select the file in the file system and select it to be sent or added

3) No duplicates changes are saved back to the file in its only location within the system folder.

4) Apps do not create folders within the file system. It can only access documents in existing folders and save to existing folders.

I can literally see how to do this in my head, It's no harder and would function very similar to the photos app but you would have a folder with all created and received documents in.

It honestly is so easy. This would be THE feature of iOS 8 next year.
 
1) Yes apps can save and open from the file folder.

2) The apps access would start and finish with opening editing and saving. For any sending and sharing I would rather users select the file in the file system and select it to be sent or added

3) No duplicates changes are saved back to the file in its only location within the system folder.

4) Apps do not create folders within the file system. It can only access documents in existing folders and save to existing folders.

I can literally see how to do this in my head, It's no harder and would function very similar to the photos app but you would have a folder with all created and received documents in.

It honestly is so easy. This would be THE feature of iOS 8 next year.

No thanks, that would open the door for viruses..

Amazes me how some kids want to change Apple and point out how they do things wrong, "we need a file system", "let me tell you how it should be" blah blah blah, if you don't like it, go away, if you so desperately want a file system go to Android.

The majority of Apple user do not want a file system or ridiculous stuff.

Apple is doing things right..
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/3...-google-to-become-worlds-most-valuable-brand/
 
I don't see the point to a file system for iOS. You don't browse files like you would on a computer, so it would serve no purpose other than to make things overly complicated and/or redundant.
 
No thanks, that would open the door for viruses..

Amazes me how some kids want to change Apple and point out how they do things wrong, "we need a file system", "let me tell you how it should be" blah blah blah, if you don't like it, go away, if you so desperately want a file system go to Android.

The majority of Apple user do not want a file system or ridiculous stuff.

Apple is doing things right..
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/3...-google-to-become-worlds-most-valuable-brand/

First of all don't address me as kid, if you want someone to take you seriously don't be condescending.

Secondly it won't open anything up to viruses, if you had any comprehension of what's being discussed you would understand whats being discussed is nothing that doesn't already exist its simply a folder that collates all the files that are on te phone or are created by it. No more dangerous than opening a safari page.

The fact you say leave things how they are like iOS is perfect and theres no room for expansion or improvement and anyone who cares or wants to try to make it an even better immersive operating system should go away to Android just says more about you being a clueless fanboy and by saying the majority don't want this means YOU don't want this and what you don't want isn't allowed as iOS is all yours and it's future is decided by you.

>.>

In future if you don't know whats being discussed it would be less painful if you just don't reply.
 
I don't see the point to a file system for iOS. You don't browse files like you would on a computer, so it would serve no purpose other than to make things overly complicated and/or redundant.

Things are overly complicated now having to copy and paste into emails and having to remember what apps contain which documents. A centralised folder for all documents and media will just make receiving documents and working on them on iPhones and iPads that much better.

iPhones are gaining popularity in the business world and need functionality to represent this without constantly entrusting important information to 3rd party solutions to pick up where Apple fails.

It's where the company needs to look for the future, they need to compete with the competition on more than a UI and the look of a device. That will not be enough in the near future as we do far far more on the go.

Style and simplicity in design is what sets Apple apart but they can't keep playing catch up in what we can do with these devices. Not everyone wants it and there should be nothing in a file system that effects the way people interact currently with iOS but those that use iPhones for more than Facebook and Youtube videos this will be a beneficial extra tool to have someone where you can find everything.

----------

It's called jailbreaking lol......

Jailbreaking should be unnecessary and that does allow vulnerabilities so is mot ideal and doesn't make up for what Apple should implement.

That said those that want to and are happy having the security levels similar to googles store then enjoy =)
 
The whole iOS 7 expereince is bizarre to me. I have a 4th gen iPad and I can't stand to barely use it. They "style" of the iOS isn't very fitting for me. I wish they would have let us pick a theme (in my case I would have went with darker colors and tones). But instead, I have to look at the Music app and its pink lettering...

I may just complete my mobile transition and get a Nexus 7 or 10 along with my S4. The main reason I went to Android was for the file system and built in sharing capabilities (no more waiting on Apple to add sharing to apps by partner with whoever they feel is a good choice - the choice is now mine). I love the fact that I can load a word document to my phone, open it, work on it, and email it right from whatever app I'm in (at this time QuickOffice) or just upload it to Dropbox without ever leaving the app. Even if I did leave the app, I can go to my phones files app and email/upload from there.

This is the area I feel Apple can REALLY improve on instead of locking everything down so much. "Open In..." isn't the solution. I really wish I didn't upgrade to iOS 7.
 
If they ever were going to do it they would have done it already, so no, they won't ever do it.

Just go WP8 or Android. Why stick with something you don't like?
 
First of all don't address me as kid, if you want someone to take you seriously don't be condescending.

Secondly it won't open anything up to viruses, if you had any comprehension of what's being discussed you would understand whats being discussed is nothing that doesn't already exist its simply a folder that collates all the files that are on te phone or are created by it. No more dangerous than opening a safari page.

The fact you say leave things how they are like iOS is perfect and theres no room for expansion or improvement and anyone who cares or wants to try to make it an even better immersive operating system should go away to Android just says more about you being a clueless fanboy and by saying the majority don't want this means YOU don't want this and what you don't want isn't allowed as iOS is all yours and it's future is decided by you.

>.>

In future if you don't know whats being discussed it would be less painful if you just don't reply.

I never said leave things the way they are, did I? I love the changes made to iOS 7 and trust me, I'm not missing a file system and the majority isn't either.

All I'm saying is leave the changes to Apple, they have some experts in technology, design and one or two in marketing.

If liking what a company does makes me a "fanboy", then maybe I am a fanboy for some companies like Mercedes-Benz, Apple, Sony, Band & Olufsen, Bose.

This companies and some others do things that I like, the way I like it, the moment this companies start doing things differently and not the way I like, I'll start looking for some other company that meets my needs.

Before I start complaining about a company in a forum (boo-hoo) I much rather spend that time looking for an alternative.
 
If they ever were going to do it they would have done it already, so no, they won't ever do it.

I suspect we'll see something in the not too distant future - we're expecting more and more out of our "post-PC" devices, and there are some workflow constraints that are going to need a solution before iOS nears OSX (I think the "convergence" will occur from iOS moving forward, not OSX moving backwards).

Not a totally exposed filesystem (since some primary sub-systems are handled through a FS+meta-DB), but some kind of centralized, "catalog", that exposes file types through a public API. I could see the SDK offering a public and private storage (the latter being the sandbox type model that's currently implemented), but by putting content in the public/shared context, apps that register against the same content-type can open them (like a desktop OS ... iOS has part of this already: the "open in" where an app can register to open specific file types, just not the same unique instance of the file...)

Just my $0.02. :cool:
 
Things are overly complicated now having to copy and paste into emails and having to remember what apps contain which documents. A centralised folder for all documents and media will just make receiving documents and working on them on iPhones and iPads that much better.

iPhones are gaining popularity in the business world and need functionality to represent this without constantly entrusting important information to 3rd party solutions to pick up where Apple fails.

It's where the company needs to look for the future, they need to compete with the competition on more than a UI and the look of a device. That will not be enough in the near future as we do far far more on the go.

Style and simplicity in design is what sets Apple apart but they can't keep playing catch up in what we can do with these devices. Not everyone wants it and there should be nothing in a file system that effects the way people interact currently with iOS but those that use iPhones for more than Facebook and Youtube videos this will be a beneficial extra tool to have someone where you can find everything.


What's the difference between having to remember what app something is in and which folder something is in? I'm sorry but you have a pretty weak argument for why it's needed. The problem here is your own memory not with how the device functions.

So I have this pages document on my iPad, I wonder what app it could be in...:rolleyes:

Damn, where did I save that photo?

Introducing a file system does nothing other than appease the people who complain about needing one. The same people who complain about everything else with iOS and Apple devices.
 
they do not need Windows Phone before 2000s. Everything beside iOS have basic file manager. Even BlackBerry OS 7 where I can simply download something and the files go to a centerlozed location.

seriously, I could not understand why anyone go against idea of file manager, it makes your life so much easier.

----------



care to explain how: act of swiping through photo feels more natural on iOS than it doss on Android? I feel exact differnet way. Android gives you nice big preview of your pictures and categorize all your picture by different sources. Swpping through picture on my Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 feel smooth and natural

Then they should get a different phone. A file system is against apple's philosophy for mobile.

Swiping with inertia is more natural than swiping without it.

A question for you: do you like to complain? Do you like to be angry? Do you like to be negative? Do you like using products you don't like?
 
Then they should get a different phone. A file system is against apple's philosophy for mobile.

Swiping with inertia is more natural than swiping without it.

A question for you: do you like to complain? Do you like to be angry? Do you like to be negative? Do you like using products you don't like?

They don't need make a new phone. You know Apple will implement some short of file manager in future. Apple said smaller tablet is DOA, they did it. Apple said 3.5 inch phone is the best size, yet they increased the size. Apple said multitasking is bad, yet they did limited multitasking.

And sorry, I still cannot see how swiping on iOS is more natural than Android. I certainly don't when comparing iOS devices with Android devices,

And to asnwer your question: yes, I like to complain. I believe customers have all the right to complain. Apple will not change without customer's complain. And no I do not like to be angry. I just don't like how people here have all short of extreme biased toward Android and all short of false claim about Android.

And I do not hate iOS devices, I think all iOS devices (beside iPhone 5C) are beautiful and durable. But software side is very lacking. I do not like Android hardware, but I like Android as software more than iOS as software.

So heads up, I tell you my perfect combination: Apple hardware with Android software. You get the best hardware in the entire planet and all the freedom you get with Android software.
 
They don't need make a new phone. You know Apple will implement some short of file manager in future. Apple said smaller tablet is DOA, they did it. Apple said 3.5 inch phone is the best size, yet they increased the size. Apple said multitasking is bad, yet they did limited multitasking.

And sorry, I still cannot see how swiping on iOS is more natural than Android. I certainly don't when comparing iOS devices with Android devices,

And to asnwer your question: yes, I like to complain. I believe customers have all the right to complain. Apple will not change without customer's complain. And no I do not like to be angry. I just don't like how people here have all short of extreme biased toward Android and all short of false claim about Android.

And I do not hate iOS devices, I think all iOS devices (beside iPhone 5C) are beautiful and durable. But software side is very lacking. I do not like Android hardware, but I like Android as software more than iOS as software.

So heads up, I tell you my perfect combination: Apple hardware with Android software. You get the best hardware in the entire planet and all the freedom you get with Android software.

Of course you have a right to complain as a consumer. That's what the majority of this forum does, provide a place for people to complain and voice the shortcomings of the product.

But your complaining has never been productive, only entitled and short tempered. And therefore it's been incredibly annoying. You don't seem to be happy at all with the product you're using, and seem to find more value in being upset, angry, and maintaining your "rights" rather than offering productive solutions and opening up the floor for a good back and forth and healthy conversation.

Instead, you state your POV and leave it that way, and seemingly nothing can help inform, improve, or complicate it. It's a very childish way to act.

You asked if they're every going to do a normal file system. The answer is most likely no, as it seems to be against Apple's entire philosophy of iOS. You can't really compare the size of a product in the same way. That's a physical change, whereas a change to the software is more grounded in philosophy.

If Apple wanted to add more buttons to the hardware, that would be a groundbreaking philosophical change akin to adding a file system. Is the current method bad? Yes! It's painful to have to save a pdf to iBooks and then email it out. There must be a better way. But Apple is clearly trying to steer clear of the hierarchical folder system and come up with a better method. There's definitely room for more intuitive organization, preferably handled by the phone itself, but normal folders that you're used to on a desktop won't happen.
 
Of course you have a right to complain as a consumer. That's what the majority of this forum does, provide a place for people to complain and voice the shortcomings of the product.

But your complaining has never been productive, only entitled and short tempered. And therefore it's been incredibly annoying. You don't seem to be happy at all with the product you're using, and seem to find more value in being upset, angry, and maintaining your "rights" rather than offering productive solutions and opening up the floor for a good back and forth and healthy conversation.

Instead, you state your POV and leave it that way, and seemingly nothing can help inform, improve, or complicate it. It's a very childish way to act.

You asked if they're every going to do a normal file system. The answer is most likely no, as it seems to be against Apple's entire philosophy of iOS. You can't really compare the size of a product in the same way. That's a physical change, whereas a change to the software is more grounded in philosophy.

If Apple wanted to add more buttons to the hardware, that would be a groundbreaking philosophical change akin to adding a file system. Is the current method bad? Yes! It's painful to have to save a pdf to iBooks and then email it out. There must be a better way. But Apple is clearly trying to steer clear of the hierarchical folder system and come up with a better method. There's definitely room for more intuitive organization, preferably handled by the phone itself, but normal folders that you're used to on a desktop won't happen.

Really? I have given lots of suggestion on improving iOS. Face it, iOS is far behind the game and it is not even funny. iOS makes most basic operating extremely annoying and complicated. the whole OS still based on old philosophy. In fact, you can hardly call iOS as an modern OS anymore.

If you look my post, my major annoyance is software. I have never said anything negative about the hardware. Apple hardware is the best at its class, but the software is not the best. If not with the huge amount of app and load of money people spent on the ecosystem, iOS would fall fairly quickly,

Face the reality, Android is catching up fast with vertical integration of all Google's service and selection to quality apps plus quality selection of apps. Before Apple figuring out better solution, if not forever, file.app is clearly best way to go.

Apple seriously need implement some short of file management app. It is not only me calling this feature, lots of people want file manger. I remember there was a article on imore.com talking about file.app. Apple also need to implement better app sharing option. Limitation of default core application seriously making things complicated.
 
I don't want a traditional file system, personally. But I do want my phone to store more than just picture type files. It should store lots of file types in some "cloud" library, and then different apps can decide which file types they interact with and ask for access to those types. So all apps that know how to display and edit .txt files can access the same pool of .txt files on my phone. Just like currently all imaging apps can access the same pool of .jpg/etc files on my phone.

Then the step it needs to go to next is simply letting me categorize my files. This is like subfolders in the file system world, except really it's just labels. It's not important to me where the file is physically located, so long as I see it when I am viewing one of the categories I've assigned it to.

App devs should have the option to either store data privately in the app's sandbox (their only option currently when not interfacing with something like dropbox) or write to the phone's shared file pool.
 
Really? I have given lots of suggestion on improving iOS. Face it, iOS is far behind the game and it is not even funny. iOS makes most basic operating extremely annoying and complicated. the whole OS still based on old philosophy. In fact, you can hardly call iOS as an modern OS anymore.

If you look my post, my major annoyance is software. I have never said anything negative about the hardware. Apple hardware is the best at its class, but the software is not the best. If not with the huge amount of app and load of money people spent on the ecosystem, iOS would fall fairly quickly,

Face the reality, Android is catching up fast with vertical integration of all Google's service and selection to quality apps plus quality selection of apps. Before Apple figuring out better solution, if not forever, file.app is clearly best way to go.

Apple seriously need implement some short of file management app. It is not only me calling this feature, lots of people want file manger. I remember there was a article on imore.com talking about file.app. Apple also need to implement better app sharing option. Limitation of default core application seriously making things complicated.

Thank you for proving my point.

----------

I don't want a traditional file system, personally. But I do want my phone to store more than just picture type files. It should store lots of file types in some "cloud" library, and then different apps can decide which file types they interact with and ask for access to those types. So all apps that know how to display and edit .txt files can access the same pool of .txt files on my phone. Just like currently all imaging apps can access the same pool of .jpg/etc files on my phone.

Then the step it needs to go to next is simply letting me categorize my files. This is like subfolders in the file system world, except really it's just labels. It's not important to me where the file is physically located, so long as I see it when I am viewing one of the categories I've assigned it to.

App devs should have the option to either store data privately in the app's sandbox (their only option currently when not interfacing with something like dropbox) or write to the phone's shared file pool.

Agreed.
 
I don't want a traditional file system, personally. But I do want my phone to store more than just picture type files. It should store lots of file types in some "cloud" library, and then different apps can decide which file types they interact with and ask for access to those types. So all apps that know how to display and edit .txt files can access the same pool of .txt files on my phone. Just like currently all imaging apps can access the same pool of .jpg/etc files on my phone.

Then the step it needs to go to next is simply letting me categorize my files. This is like subfolders in the file system world, except really it's just labels. It's not important to me where the file is physically located, so long as I see it when I am viewing one of the categories I've assigned it to.

App devs should have the option to either store data privately in the app's sandbox (their only option currently when not interfacing with something like dropbox) or write to the phone's shared file pool.

If you ever jailbroken your iDevice before, iFile is the best example. There is a traditional file system on OS level and sandboxed app as well. You just cannot see it.

However, without jailbreak, file manager cannot access the root directory. Without that, opening different types of files will depends on share sheet, however, iOS is very restrictive on share sheet. Default core application have very limited option and it is depends on app developer to add support for different app.

It is just easier for everyone and developer for a root accessible file manager.
 
It looks like dumbing down is the new Apple way of doing everything...
But they somehow are not able to see that "simple" becomes way more complicated that complicated once was...

It's been that way since iPhone OS 1. heck, you couldn't even create documents nor was there an app store. Things have gotten WAY better, but there is room for improvement.

I don't think its needed. Some people sound like they need a file system for the sake of having a file system. iCloud works great, iTunes for music, Photo stream works great too.

I agree. Although, being able to start an email then have a file repository would be helpful. I don;t understand all the slaggin on iTunes. It has improved so much, especially on the Windows side. My entire library is close to 600GB and it handles it very well.

Sometimes a file system could be useful .... but what I'm looking for, and maybe could be enough for most of the people here, is a proper "My Documents" folder.

Yep, that is all that is really needed, so any app can access the files.

Glad this works for you. Problem is that this for the most part only works in Apple only environments.

Example: try sending a simple photo (family snapshot) to a grandparent or friend with a PC (yes, they exist). My iphone can't do that. It inserts every photo as an inline photo and Apple applies non-industry standards formats obviously. Exif data is incomplete, files show up upside down or sideways, naming is always reduced to the same default file name, etc.

The answer can't be that only will things be great if everyone owns and operates Apple devices. And I'm not willing to send grandpa dropbox links because Apple doesn't want to give us a few more very simple, safe and established OPTIONS. Such as sending a picture or video as a standard attachment.

Hogwash. What non industry standards? Jpegs? I do this all the time, and no one has trouble viewing the pics or seeing them right side up. Everyone I know is on a pc and never has this issue. What Windows version is grandma or your friends running? I use a pc and a mac and the experience is the same in this regard.

iFolder is what I want.

Where all documents can be saved, viewed and edited by opening in to Pages, Keynote, numbers. then it can be saved back to iFolder and uploaded to the internet and email and airdrop and various other storage platforms.

The ability for ifolder to be recognised by websites and to browse and upload files through them would be a necessity.

Any app should be able to save docs/pics to that folder. I think we all agree at the very least, this would be a big help.

I don't see the point to a file system for iOS. You don't browse files like you would on a computer, so it would serve no purpose other than to make things overly complicated and/or redundant.

Exactly. If you take the time to post on a mac rumors forum, you are in the minority of users. Apple keeps it simple for the 80-90% or users who need just that. We are in the extreme minority of users and can't judge a business on catering to the very few.

----------

A repository of some sort is coming, there is too much of a need for apps to share documents, yet Apple is a notoriously slow mover sometimes. With Jobs and Forstall gone, the major roadblocks to this change are gone., R.I.P.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.