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iPad The Future of the iPad Does Not Include A Traditional Filesystem
- Thread starter jeremiah256
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Which is an excellent goal to reach for, but the problem is, iOS doesn't just work for a lot of things. I could easily argue that the way iOS currently deals with files is actually considerably more clunky and difficult to use than the traditional file system it's trying to replace.
Apple and Google are giving us two different paradigms. Traditional (Mac OS X and Android), and cloud centric (ChromeOS and iOS). It's not about complete replacement, but, IMHO, picking the tool that works best for you. But, I believe both Google and Apple are correct when they say most people could replace their traditional paradigm with a cloud centric one.
I agree for a rethink of the FS. I'm imagining, at the very least, a file picker that lets apps pick from things in folders by extension. Imagine all documents in a document folder, movies in their own, and so forth.
Yeah, I was thinking of something like that. You have common pools for filetypes that developers can link their apps into.
Though that does have the downside of leaving any organizational structure to the app itself, which means that if you get something new, you're going to be facing a huge sprawl of scattered documents and pictures when you first open it up.
Exactly. If there was an effective, non-convoluted solution to working with my files in iOS, there wouldn't be much to debate here. But as it is, as far as I can tell, the solution doesn't exist yet. Duplicating files from one app to another, especially one file at a time, really slows down my workflow. I don't know if this is what Steve had in mind when he envisioned a streamlined OS, but if so, I have to disagree with his vision.
I think what this whole anti-file-system notion comes down to is people just don't want to take the time and energy to organize their stuff, and understandably so. And some people don't need to. iOS work well for them as is, and that's great. But some people can't get around organizing their stuff and iOS doesn't work well for them. (This article has a good example of when visible file systems are needed: http://9to5mac.com/2016/02/04/opinion-ios-file-system/ .) This need for personal file organization goes back to long before computers ever existed, and will exist long after computers (if we end up outliving them). And as far as I can see, computers will never be able to completely take care of this aspect of our lives, because good organization requires intimate knowledge of our files and their purpose; it requires judgement, of which computers are incapable.
So should iOS only be for people who don't need to organize their files? Apple can make it for whomever they want, but I get the feeling they want it to be for as many people as possible. Sure we have apps like FileBrowser, but until we get a centralized file repository where all apps can access, edit, and save their files, it will remain a workaround. A truly efficient solution will remain out of reach for those that need to organize their files.
Hopefully Apple can come up with a system that gives people the flexibility they need without complicating life for those that don't need it or want it.
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The problem here is that iPad has unique strengths that Macs don't have: tablet form factor, pencil input, etc., so either choice can be a big compromise if, as in my case, you need Pencil input AND a file system for work purposes. My other option is to leave the Apple ecosystem. Of course if Apple is ok with that, that's their prerogative. And I have, but I prefer to stay in the ecosystem.
I don't know much about ChromeOS, but I don't think iOS is necessarily cloud-centric. With apps like FileBrowser and the recent big bumps in storage, you can keep your files right on your device. I'd say iOS is more app-centric, whereas Mac OSX is more file-centric.
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With iOS 9, the framework to enable this is already there. It's just that apps have to be updated to take advantage of it, and many haven't. Apple does need to push developers to make use of the iOS 9 feature that allows apps to edit files in a "central" storage location. And it's confusing because there isn't a single storage location -- the default storage location is iCloud, but you can add other storage locations, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, FileBrowser, etc. Dropbox is weird, because you can save files TO Dropbox but in order to edit them, you have to make a local copy. But that's on Dropbox, not Apple.
In any case, I expect things to improve with iOS 10. I think right now we are in a situation similar to when the original iPad was released with iOS 3.3 (or whatever number it was). That OS had a lot of missing features, but was a transition stage from phone OS to tablet OS. Things got a lot better with iOS 4. True, iPad doesn't do everything a desktop computer does, but with each generation of iOS, the list of things I need a desktop for has continued to shrink. At this point, we are so close to WWDC, I think maybe we should stop and wait to see what iOS 10 does.
Well, let's not be shy about it, Apple's greatest hope for someone in your situation (which is largely mine) is that you purchase both an Apple computer and tablet. I'm in a position such that this option is the one I choose. Others, as you say, will either make the compromise and choose one or the other, or leave Apple's ecosystem. I, by the way, tried to do this, purchasing a Surface 3. But, whereas you find work-arounds to iOS's file system limitations an issue, I find Windows 10 tiring to work in.
I pretty much use app- and cloud-centric interchangeably in this conversation, if that helps. The three main folders I use are filled with Google, Microsoft and business apps. All are dependent on the cloud.
Oh, this is news to me. If true, that's splendid. It should only be a short matter of time before apps take advantage of the system across the board.
Yes I'm hopeful we'll hear some good news next month regarding iOS.
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I own both Mac and iPad as well. The problem is I still have to choose which device to use. Like I mentioned, neither device has both portable pen input AND a file system, which means whichever device I choose to use, I'm stuck with a significantly compromised solution. With the Mac I have to use a cintiq which compromises portability and battery life (not to mention a MacBook even without the cintiq is much less portable than an iPad). With the iPad I have to work around not having a file system which compromises workflow efficiency. I also have a Windows pen tablet, which I agree has its own set of problems that to me in some cases are even worse than not having a file system. For now, my Windows tablet collects dust, and I use my Mac+cintiq when I have to, and my iPad Pro when I can and just deal with the file system limitations.
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Its just so retarded that if you need a specific file you have to put it on pc then have itunes connect the iphone then use file sharing to put it on iphone. Or upload it to a cloud or email it to yourself.
I want to be able to watch 4k videos that i just recorded and there is no normal way to do this.
I want to be able to watch 4k videos that i just recorded and there is no normal way to do this.
I assume you just recorded the video on a camera other than iPhone? Doesn't it have wi-fi and an iOS app? I wouldn't buy one that didn't.
So then you just transfer the video directly to your phone, that's how it works on the recent Sony and Canon cameras I've owned.
For watching videos, I use AirVideo to stream from PC. I hear InFuse also works well. For transferring smaller files, I use FileBrowser.
Question for those who want a file system - Is it just this feature that you want on iOS or is it that you really just want OS X on a tablet?
If Apple implemented a user accessible File System, would you accept iOS and your productivity would soar and everything would be good? Or is this just one feature request amongst many (including adding a mouse, maybe a desktop, etc.)?
If Apple implemented a user accessible File System, would you accept iOS and your productivity would soar and everything would be good? Or is this just one feature request amongst many (including adding a mouse, maybe a desktop, etc.)?
It does. But that is local to the app and tries to push it all into the cloud.
One I am looking for is a "common" filesystem repository on device that can be accessed by all - or as I designate. There are a lot of "close" apps that try to do this however I have yet to find one that works pretty much everywhere. Heck, this should be a base feature that Apple built into iOS.
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Have both and use them. So far they are the closest I have found. Still, they try to fill a void that iOS has and as a result make my work stream in iOS more complicated.
Someday... maybe.
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Yes and no. Google Drive and Box pretty much do the cloud side for me though iOS has some connectivity / use issues with that. Still, even if minimal, there comes a time when you need a local copy of file(s) of some type. Kind of like an off-line map; you don't need it till you do.
"Excuse me officer I have a copy of my insurance card right here on my iPhone... if I had a signal .... crap.
You too. Thank you for the ticket."
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One of.
A usable across the board filesystem is speed bump number one. Next, and less frequent for me, is some mobile apps are far less feature rich than their desktop/pc version. Lastly is the method of input.
Still, at the end of the day, the filesystem aspect is my biggest missing piece and the greatest impediment to my productivity / ease of use.
(This is a genuine question, so please don't think I'm trying to be antagonistic)
So... do you want OS X on a tablet then?
Or, let me put it another way - Is there anything core about iOS that appeals (and if so, what)?
Is it truly "iOS will never be what I need/want, just give me OS X on a tablet" or is it "I really do like iOS and what it's intended for, but there are just a few things that I wish are different"?
Is the purpose to shape iOS into another Desktop OS on a tablet or are we really just talking about tweaking the existing OS? And would it be better just to have an OS X tablet?
But this problem existed even with desktop/laptop systems, when you had more than one device. Like, I had a computer at home, and another one at the office. I used to have a USB stick to ferry files back and forth between the two computers, but inevitably, there would be times when I find that I needed a file I hadn't copied to the USB stick that day. It was cloud syncing solutions, such as Dropbox and iCloud, that finally solved this problem.
Apple could provide a file system for iOS, but if you didn't have the foresight to copy your insurance info onto your iPad or iPhone, then you'd still end up with a ticket.
No. OS X is good but not what I would want on a tablet or phone. If I could define the default apps and have a filesystem repository I would consider iOS to be the best of the bunch. iOS has potential however it feels like the current Apple team is deliberately keeping it "crippled". JMO.
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Exactly!
With a cloud I can now swap files between my different OS's and work on stuff from any angle or device. Even share via file/folder specific links instead trying to email big files.
Except the iPhone/iPad.
Cloud: using Google Drive and Box (Box for confidential stuff)
rMB (OS X) can connect to all and have an local file system
Surface Pro (Win 10) - same
Nexus 6P Android 6) - same
iPhone 6S+/iPad Mini 4 (iOS 9) - all but the local filesystem.
I almost have the "perfect" work from anywhere at anytime system. Streamlining my workflow
iOS is currently my weak link. But I'm still looking to solve that.
btw: here we can't use an electronic copy. Either a printed version (in my glovebox) or via the app. Just used that as a quick example
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Yep, just filesystem (or its functional equivalent). Every OS always has room for little improvements, but this is the only major thing. As far as productivity soaring, it opens up the bottleneck on Apple's part. There is still much to be desired in terms of app functionality at least in my field, but that is up to developers.
you realise that wifi is too slow to watch 4k usually? and that needing 2 wifi enabled devices is pretty retarded as well?
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that doesnt work on the go, have to first get it on PC. i want to view the file i just filmed on my ipad. is that too much to ask?
I said transfer, not watch/stream. You still have not explained your use case, and why it's different than using a laptop.
Why? You prefer wires? Dongles? Sony, Canon, and Nikon make a big deal of their cameras' new wi-fi capability and apps.
What are you shooting this video with, and what method of viewing it is not "retarded" to you? Please do tell. I love to hear what preteens are doing with tech these days.
Open camera, remove SD card insert.... Ohhh.. cant insert it into iPad... Epic fail still.
Personally i'd buy the best camera for my needs. Not bothered about a very basic and in most cases limited side app. The camera for me is for pictures, not for the app.
Personally i'd buy the best camera for my needs. Not bothered about a very basic and in most cases limited side app. The camera for me is for pictures, not for the app.
Since I don't use digital cameras, I'm glad iPad isn't cluttered up with a SD card slot I'd never use. People who want this functionality can buy the camera kit.
Try copying a 4k file over wifi. Go ahead-but use a ipad or iphone. It takes 30 minutes before i can start watch it. Watch it without copying will be super laggy or not be supported at all. So yes i prefer a wire so gopro and DJI footage can be watch IMMEDIATLY without any setting up or copying just like ALL other phones and tablets out there can exept for apple.
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Wich only works for specific files, even specific file names, and only specific formats. Great adapter...
Have you tried it? How long are these videos? I find wi-fi very fast with my Sony RX100, which takes 20MP photos.
The GoPro app seems very full featured:
https://appsto.re/us/4DyDH.i
yes i have tried it, with both gopro and with a portable solution of sandisk. It takes 20-30 minutes for a file to copy wich is around 10 minutes of video.