Does the files app read drives connected by the Apple USB3 adapter?

[whitedragon101]

Does the new files app allow you to connect an external drive via the USB3 camera adapter on the iPad Pro?

If not are there any apps that do provide this functionality ?

 

[007p]

No and no.

The only external drives that work are the lightning MFI ones. Maybe at some point these can be updated to be a file provider like cloud storage in the files app but that is going to take a bit of time after iOS 11 is released I expect.

 

[Feenician]

Agree with @007p mostly. The answer is no, with caveats.

You can pick up something like this for as little as $25 that has a normal usb connection on side and lightning on the other and functions as a USB drive. Or you can get a lightning to USB OTG adapter for $5-6 but, without the use of an app, the OS itself the OS can generally only see the DCIM folder (where photos are kept by cameras).

I too expect this gap to be filled by the makers of some of these device with storage provider plugins in Files. I'm rather more hopeful that some of these will be ready on day 1 or thereabouts though, given manufactures will have had the beta in hand for a couple of months at that point. Probably the high end manufacturers and devices will see support first.

 

[whitedragon101]

No and no.

The only external drives that work are the lightning MFI ones. Maybe at some point these can be updated to be a file provider like cloud storage in the files app but that is going to take a bit of time after iOS 11 is released I expect.

Agree with @007p mostly. The answer is no, with caveats.

You can pick up something like this for as little as $25 that has a normal usb connection on side and lightning on the other and functions as a USB drive. Or you can get a lightning to USB OTG adapter for $5-6 but, without the use of an app, the OS itself the OS can generally only see the DCIM folder (where photos are kept by cameras).

I too expect this gap to be filled by the makers of some of these device with storage provider plugins in Files. I'm rather more hopeful that some of these will be ready on day 1 or thereabouts though, given manufactures will have had the beta in hand for a couple of months at that point. Probably the high end manufacturers and devices will see support first.

What do you think the chances of FTP / SFTP support are in the files app? So FTP/SFTP connections appear as a drive like the other cloud providers. This would give much better scope for local network access. Could also then connect any drive using a portable HooToo style pocket router.

I am also hoping synology get in there with their own cloud connection to the files app.

 

[007p]

What do you think the chances of FTP / SFTP support are in the files app? So FTP/SFTP connections appear as a drive like the other cloud providers. This would give much better scope for local network access. Could also then connect any drive using a portable HooToo style pocket router.

I am also hoping synology get in there with their own cloud connection to the files app.

Very high - it'll just require an app to do it

 

[Feenician]

What do you think the chances of FTP / SFTP support are in the files app? So FTP/SFTP connections appear as a drive like the other cloud providers. This would give much better scope for local network access. Could also then connect any drive using a portable HooToo style pocket router.

I am also hoping synology get in there with their own cloud connection to the files app.

I expect pretty much anyone providing an app today that deals with storing, retrieving or handling files in any context will ultimately integrate into Files. The only negative I see here is that the developer or provider is, to some extent, ceding control of the capabilities and UI of their app or service to the UX and limitations of the Files app and it’s APIs. I think what will happen in the end is that devs will integrate into Files and provide all the capabilities they can there, but also continue to develop (or at least leave in maintenance mode) their own UI and features in their own app, while also having that Files extension in it.

Disclaimer: I have no inside knowledge and am not a developer. I’ve just watched the WWDC sessions, read what some devs are saying and am making a (hopefully somewhat informed) guess.