I agree with the OP to an extent. I think it comes down to a general boredom with what Apple is focusing on. Everything for the last few years has been hardware related (thinner, smaller, faster) while the software has suffered. Siri and Maps were not innovative or good. The Google versions were and are still much better experiences. Passbook and Reminders are still just ok. Is that what Apple releases now? Just OK software? Hell they're already re-designing Reminders for ios7 because the first version was so bad. I want Apple to focus again on a software initiative like Google is with Google Now. What started as a feature is now becoming a whole new way to interact with devices(Moto X and Google Cards). Instead I'm being told about flat design colors and fingerprint readers. Are those really long term software strategies? I'm done being excited over hardware. My iphone5 and ipad 2 are awesome and are 2 of the best designs in device history. I want to get excited over software again.
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I am getting tired of iOS
- Thread starter SakuraSuki
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If the default keyboard sucks, the answer is to make it better, not to replace it with a third-party keyboard you have to find and download yourself.
Let's say the Thai keyboard is really rubbish; does Apple expect every user in Thailand to buy an iPhone and then discover and download the best keyboard for themselves? That would be really lazy and incredibly poor customer service. They're paying the same money (probably more, in fact) than you or me; they deserve the same high level of service.
Basically, what that does is say: "you don't like the keyboard? Oh well, it's your fault for not downloading keyboard XYZ from the AppStore!" It puts the responsibility to find the best keyboard with the customer, when really that's Apple's job.
Dropbox and GoodReader are not Apple "pre-built" Apps. GoodReader actually lets you download any file using a bookmarklet (or by adding a 'g' to the URL - e.g. 'ghttp://....').
Apps that declare that they can take MP4 files would, (I assume) be able to open the MP4 file from Safari, just like PDFs. If Google+ wanted to add support for importing any type of file, they could do using the existing SDK. Google have decided that attachment sharing isn't something they want to support on iOS, don't ask me why.
As for the other sharing services, I don't know what Apple's plan is for that. They obviously can't scale adding every service individually, and they've turned away from the obvious answer of building a pluggable API (maybe due to privacy concerns? user experience? money? who knows?)
The reason everyone else ships a traditional filesystem is because everyone else is lazy.
It would be easy for Apple to ship a traditional filesystem. It's a lot harder for them to actually approach the problem and to try and tackle it.
There are some decisions you can't just roll-back. If Apple exposes more of the filesystem to other Apps, it needs to maintain that functionality for the foreseeable future or break compatibility. You can't just introduce an unrestricted filesystem one year, then next year tell everybody that it was only temporary, but now the problem is solved and they have to re-code their apps entirely using a totally different system with a whole different set of permissions. Nobody will do it; they'll just use the less secured method instead. Lots of Apps wouldn't even be possible to convert.
You can't turn security on later. It's latched; once you lower security and developers code take advantage of the greater permissions, you can't raise the level again easily. Otherwise you end up like this:
iTunes Match
Ultimately the ops opinion and wants and needs from ios are irreconcilable with the apple way. It's that simple.
The op, and others that want these features, are outliers. Apple designs it's products for the masses, despite te hipster appeal. And the way it's designed mos users don't care about file systems, third party apps to open stuff, sending 20 email recipients 15 PDF documents all in one email, etc. these are outlier cases and for apple to abandon its security and stability that everybody has to suffer, for the needs of the few, would be foolish.
What you're looking for op is android. as has been suggested before. So my question is, why ios? Is it because apple hardware is better? The software is more stable? The apps are nicer? Answer "WHY" and combine with fact that you're still an ios user paying apple money you'll realize you're not giving apple any incentive to change if you don't speak with your money. And all these tradeoffs you're suggesting aren't even worth it to you, so you stick around.
The op, and others that want these features, are outliers. Apple designs it's products for the masses, despite te hipster appeal. And the way it's designed mos users don't care about file systems, third party apps to open stuff, sending 20 email recipients 15 PDF documents all in one email, etc. these are outlier cases and for apple to abandon its security and stability that everybody has to suffer, for the needs of the few, would be foolish.
What you're looking for op is android. as has been suggested before. So my question is, why ios? Is it because apple hardware is better? The software is more stable? The apps are nicer? Answer "WHY" and combine with fact that you're still an ios user paying apple money you'll realize you're not giving apple any incentive to change if you don't speak with your money. And all these tradeoffs you're suggesting aren't even worth it to you, so you stick around.
The problem is Apple did not make the keyboard any better. For third party keyboard, they have small focus, that is make the keyboard better. Most if them include auto update dictionary, popular words, ten key keyboard. Ten key keyboard is extremely useful on small devices such as iPhone. Now you get what I am saying. Almost all other platform enable users changes default software keyboards, do you hear anyone complaining about that? If a customer doesn't like one aspect of the OS, customers will change and do research by themselves. This has nothing to do with custom services.
That is exactly the problem lays. This method almost certainly preventing inter-app communication. I believe ability for apps communicating each other us one aspect of modern mobile OS.
As for shares, why not just simply just everything seems appropriate in your app library. See picture below:
I don't know how many people will mess up their phone with a file browser, but you can certainly restrict users messing with system files. Security is not a reason for not implementing a file browser. iOS does have file system, it just does not have a file browser. Without file browser, it complicate simple tasks by tenfolds. You can constantly relying on other app. For example, you need app just to write an email with multiple PDF document. That is really silly if you ask me. Users should not have constantly figuring out which app to open a file and remembering which app did they saved to. If you have more than one PDF readers on your iOS, then you need to remember which app were you using for one particular file.
Also for every other platform, have you ever heard someone messed up their phone just because of the file browser?
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No, we are not outlier. Those features have been long requested. You will see those on wish list almost every generation of OS.
Sending multiple PDF on one email isn't that uncommon. In fact you do that all the time on your computer. A simple case, students need send multiple files for their project to professor or you are emailing your research paper alone with multiple facts sheets or you send multiple files to your lawyer.
Unable to send multiple files on a single email is result of lack of file browser. And I do not believe these features are huge security risk.
Also switching platform isn't simple. If it was that simple, you won't have Windows domination or Google monopoly on search market. Lots of user have spend lots of money one one platform or some apps simply isn't available on Android, for whatever the reason, they will stick with iOS.
But for me, I could switch to Android. And I already done so for my phone as I replaced iPhone 4S with Nexus 4. I am also considering striving to Nexus 7 2nd gen. But Android doesn't have many tablet optimized apps
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2 apps just to send email with multiple attachment, how great is that. If this is the Post-PC device, then it is rather sad.
I feel your pain. On the bright side the mailbox function to remember later an email makes it "simpler" to get to a computer and reply to an email with data required not available at the spot.
On the other hand I don't believe that the fact of needing 2 apps is cumbersome because they seemly integrate making it work as a single app.
Lastly but not least important I believe that the cloud is maturing really fast (not iCloud tho) and the need of a filesystem is going to be neglected by the cloud itself.
Instead of a filesystem, what Apple needs to do, is to open their APIs in order to let some apps to function as a true filesystem. As of now you can not add anything to Dropbox from an iPhone, you are limited to what you already have in there. Once Dropbox have that kind of access that problem would be solved.
True...I am just getting tired of these extra steps to complete one simple thing. What great about file system is just you open up email app, choose whatever file you want to use, then send. It already being done with picture. Why not just a simple file app, then you can send email with ease?
For cloud, I think it is getting there. But data cost is still huge. I mean, you are paying $60 Canadian just to get 500MB. I am lucky to get 6GB data for $55, but still relative small if you compare with home broadband network. More often we are dealing with files with many megabyte of size, it adds up. Not everyone can get unlimited data plan. Until data cost goes done, I still say cloud is backup plan
So then stop bitching and go to Android. Why tell a bunch of people on the Internet about how you don't like iOS?
I doubt many of us gives a rats ass how you feel about it?
I doubt many of us gives a rats ass how you feel about it?
Quite the opposite.
By using the cloud you'll end up using less data. You see, with a filesystem you need to download the data to your device, and then upload it to the email server in order to be sent. For a 10MB file you'll use 20MB (10 down, 10 up)
When the cloud is mature enough. You'll be able to send the file you need from the webpage (server) you are fetching your file, to your personal cloud storage. Your data is only used to manage metadata, not the file itself, because the file is never downloaded to your device. Then when you send it, again you are only telling your email server where from to fetch the file to attach it. The metadata involved never exceeds a couple of KBs.
The cloud is not quite there yet. But really, really close.
He is not a power user. He is accustomed to use technology in a way it was used 10 years ago and can't understand why the iOS way is the right way. I highly doubt this person legally installed iOS 7 or is willing to pay for apps. Completly blinded by features that no one needs.
Mailbox "currently for gmail only".
So now I can use two other apps, create an email, send that email to my exchange account and then forward that email from my exchange account.
OR, Apple could allow "insert file" just like they do for pictures in video. It makes no sense to treat documents different than you treat photos and video.
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Even via dropbox (non-approved as far as I know) you can view and share all day long.
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What do you mean with a file system? IOS has a file system otherwise it could not oparate. I guess you mean an explorer view of your directories: Solution "iExplorer". But you will only use it once in a year.
When it come to Chinese keyboard I understand your frustration. We also use WeChat and QQ. It's often easier to send voice messages instead of trying to type. We wish Apple would improve here. Siri is little use in Mandarin and no use in English (that's not completely Siri's fault due to accents).
I took a look at iExplorer in the App Store. It's the only app I've ever seen where every single review is one star.
Yes... I think I need rephrase my post a bit...but anyway, a those file browsers have one common thing is that they cannot access root directory, this makes things really complicated. Though, vanilla android doesn't include a file browser also, gmail cannot attach any file beside pictures and musics, however files explorer app in Android can access root directory, from there you can send multiple attachment with ease.
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If you think these features are not useful, it doesn't mean others don't need it. If no one need these features, they no one will request these. However, these are most requested features for years. If you don't believe, just look at wish list from every literation of iOS...
Well...LOL... I know the voice messaging function included in WeChat and QQ. Aren't these two app from same company? Anyway...voice messaging completely fall apart in noisy environment. Anyway... I need ten key keyboard (九宫格）
Agree with you. The add on we use on MBA is pretty good. Still waiting for improved international iOS features.
Off topic detail: glad for FaceTime. My wife is headed back to China from US (mid $900 plus free extra bag) for September and October. She's shopping for friends and family using FaceTime and very helpful.
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Well...the video is currently unavailable.... I will try it on my computer when I get back home.
It isn't working but I assume it is the Steve Jobs discussion about the file system. I'm not asking for a full blown file system with access to hierarchies and full level of folders.
I'm asking for documents to be treated the exact same way ios ALREADY treats photos and videos.