What is benefit of a file manager? Please Explain

[GGJstudios]

You don't need a file system for that, especially a user accessible one. You just need a mail app that can locate the files. Which the ios one can, because your word app can send the file to mail. Yes it might be nice if one could do it from mail, select several documents etc but how often is the average user really needing to send several documents of different types from a tablet.

Yes, you do need a file system for that. You can't currently reply to an email and attach more than one PDF or Word document. The mail app doesn't have that capability, and neither does any 3rd party app. How often is that necessary? For a great number of users, several times a day, and yes, from an iOS device. It's foolish to think that because one user doesn't need a particular capability, that other users won't. It's a very basic need shared by millions of users.

Users with that kind of need typical use a computer anyway.

Again, not true. Just because this functionality isn't important and useful to you doesn't mean others don't have different needs. More people would be using this functionality if Apple provided it.

Not ideal FOR YOU. But you are not everyone. Your needs and opinions are not universal.

The same applies to you. The difference is, if the capability were present, those who need it can use it, while those who don't need it don't have to use it. So having the capability satisfies all users. Not having it doesn't.

Exactly and there's a simple work around too:

Your "simple" workaround, which isn't so simple, won't accommodate sending more than one file at a time.

 

[C DM]

What about if I want to reply to an email and add an attachment?

And that's where something simple becomes much more tricky if not almost impossible.

 

[barkmonster]

What about if I want to reply to an email and add an attachment?

Engage common sense.

Copy the email address into note

Copy the original subject header into note

Copy the contents of the previous email into the same note

add your reply

Follow same steps as before.

 

[Phil A.]

You are stating you don't want to use 3rd party applications to accomplish these tasks. I'm pointing out that the competition can't do this natively either so what are you comparing iOS to? a desktop PC?

You can attach any file you want to an email in "vanilla" android with no 3rd party apps downloaded (I've just checked on my wife's Nexus 7). If you select the attach button you get a file browser that includes native file system and cloud storage such as Drive and OneDrive

 

[C DM]

Engage common sense.

Copy the email address into note

Copy the original subject header into note

Copy the contents of the previous email into the same note

add your reply

Follow same steps as before.

Does that retain the same headers and indentifiers that are often used for conversation/thread purposes by different email services/clients? Does that retain the same reply formatting that is used in rich text or HTML emails and all the indents and identifications of potential nested replies?

 

[AxoNeuron]

iOS doesn't have a default file manager where you can view directories, folders, etc.

The reason for this is complexity on a small display. It sounds nice, in principle, but really, the current system is just a lot better in iOS for most use cases! like taking a picture or saving a document. You don't want to have to choose the exact directory it gets saved to, or at least, your average user doesn't want to. Remember, iOS has to be built for the lowest common denominator in society (Grandma) to have mass-market appeal.

Now when you're dealing with stuff coming from a computer, such as an enormous folder of mixed file type files, it can be nice to have a file manager in iOS, so I recommend FileExplorer, which does an excellent job.

 

[barkmonster]

Does that retain the same headers and indentifiers that are often used for conversation/thread purposes by different email services/clients? Does that retain the same reply formatting that is used in rich text or HTML emails and all the indents and identifications of potential nested replies?

Does it offer a work around?

Are you picking holes in said work around?

Does that change the fact what's being requested IS possible using a work around?

Do you honestly think I disagree that they need to improve the email app AND offer the ability to attach files from some form of shared storage so work arounds aren't needed in the first place?

 

[FSMBP]

Does it offer a work around?

Are you picking holes in said work around?

Does that change the fact what's being requested IS possible using a work around?

Do you honestly think I disagree that they need to improve the email app AND offer the ability to attach files from some form of shared storage so work arounds aren't needed in the first place?

That's a lot of back & forth to do something so simple. Seems workarounds (especially what you listed) are against Apple's ethos of being simple.

 

[bushido]

Having a file manager would add an unnecessary complexity for a dumb customer.

but those "dumb" customers like my mum are the ones that get confused cuz they worked with a file manager / syterm for over 10 years. id say it would make things actually easier for those.

my uncle gave back his iphone from work cuz he couldnt figure out how to backup his contacts in excel sheets. trying to explain to him that everything is backed up and save in the cloud was pointless

 

[GGJstudios]

iOS doesn't have a default file manager where you can view directories, folders, etc.

The reason for this is complexity on a small display.

Nonsense. Apps like Dropbox, Google Drive and others easily allow you to navigate their files on a small display, so it's not too complex for Apple.

 

[C DM]

Does it offer a work around?

Are you picking holes in said work around?

Does that change the fact what's being requested IS possible using a work around?

Do you honestly think I disagree that they need to improve the email app AND offer the ability to attach files from some form of shared storage so work arounds aren't needed in the first place?

So basically the answer is that it doesn't work like a normal reply would. Got it.

 

[aneftp]

Care to provide some facts to back up your claim? For example, please give instructions for attaching a PDF to an email in iOS. Also illustrate how to upload an Excel spreadsheet to a website. Show how to do both of these in iOS without using any third-party apps.

U can always down load PDF to iBook and resend it as email attachment.

Word and excel can be open with native pages and numbers app and resent.

Saying all that. I use third party app "good reader" as my app of choice for "file manager".

Honestly. Using good reader less and less as file storage. Everything is moving to the cloud. I use skydiv/one drive for my most of my file storage these days anyways.

Apple is finding unleashing ios8 iCloud file storage. That will solve most people complaints.

I like to keep important documents in cloud so I can send them out via any device easier. That's why people want file storage.

 

[GGJstudios]

U can always down load PDF to iBook and resend it as email attachment.

Not more than one document and not in a reply to an email.

Word and excel can be open with native pages and numbers app and resent.

Not without changing the format.

Saying all that. I use third party app "good reader" as my app of choice for "file manager".

That's the point. You shouldn't have to use 3rd party apps to provide functionality that should be built into iOS, just like it's built into OS X and other operating systems, including mobile OS. Yes, there are convoluted, inelegant workarounds, but they shouldn't be necessary.

If Apple introduces a user-accessible file system in the future, they'll probably promote it as a solution "elegant in its simplicity" and "intuitive in its design" and claim that "it just works!". Well that would only mean that when it comes to this issue, for all these years "it just doesn't work!"

 

[aneftp]

Not more than one document and not in a reply to an email.

Not without changing the format.

That's the point. You shouldn't have to use 3rd party apps to provide functionality that should be built into iOS, just like it's built into OS X and other operating systems, including mobile OS. Yes, there are convoluted, inelegant workarounds, but they shouldn't be necessary.

If Apple introduces a user-accessible file system in the future, they'll probably promote it as a solution "elegant in its simplicity" and "intuitive in its design" and claim that "it just works!". Well that would only mean that when it comes to this issue, for all these years "it just doesn't work!"

Apple doesn't care what you or I want.

Like I said. iOS 8 and the new cloud will have their own file management system.

Apple wants it that way.

Frankly that's a better way. If you lose your phone, you won't lose your files if they are stored physically on the phone.

 

[numlock]

Engage common sense.

Copy the email address into note

Copy the original subject header into note

Copy the contents of the previous email into the same note

add your reply

Follow same steps as before.

before reading your reply after this one i wondered if this step by step guide was tongue in cheek which to my disappointment it wasnt.

 

[mackinmike]

This is probably the worst feature of iOS - or lack of a really basic feature.

It would be so much easier for me to grab 50 mp3's I have in my holiday carols folder and upload it for the holiday get together in a few hours - Playlist done. Do it through iTunes? 10 years plus it messes everything else up. What if I have 10 pdf's to review on my commute to see a client? Wouldn't it be nice if I could upload them all to a folder and just review those files? Yes it would - but iOS doesn't have that 1990's feature. For now I rely on something like Dropbox for things like that but that's definitely not the best solution.

The problem is Apple is trying to make iOS more advanced/simple by not having something like file manager which has been around forever but misses the boat because we still use files everyday. You can do everything I said above without file manager, but that doesn't mean it's the best way to get it done.

this is one of the reasons i use my android more than my ip5. i got frustrated with all the hoops i need to go thru to get things done... like simply attaching a ppt to an email.

 

[BeeGood]

Apple doesn't care what you or I want.

You sure about that? Because they seem to care about the high demand for larger screen sizes.

Like I said. iOS 8 and the new cloud will have their own file management system.



Apple wants it that way.

I hope you're right. Right now, it's up to developers to make sure their apps make full use of the new extensions.

Frankly that's a better way. If you lose your phone, you won't lose your files if they are stored physically on the phone.

Why wouldn't they back up in iCloud like all the other data on my phone?

 

[GGJstudios]

Apple doesn't care what you or I want.

Apple cares what the majority of buyers wants. They may not deliver things on the same schedule we would like, but if it gives them a competitive advantage, you can be sure they investigate. If they don't implement something, they have good business reasons for doing so.

Like I said. iOS 8 and the new cloud will have their own file management system.

We'll see how useful that will be.

Frankly that's a better way. If you lose your phone, you won't lose your files if they are stored physically on the phone.

Again, that argument doesn't hold water. I have files on my MacBook Pro that are backed up either in the cloud or with Dropbox. If I lose my MBP, I still have the files. Unlike iOS devices, however, I can attach any combination or multiple of files to emails, upload to web pages, rename files before sending or sharing them, delete specific files to save space, etc. I would use iOS for these functions more often if that functionality was there. I find it far more convenient to take my iPad mini wherever I go, rather than my MBP. It would be very useful to be able do do more with the iPad.

 

[snorkelman]

Well, with all the new extensions being introduced in iOS 8 you will most likely be able to e-mail/share/upload directly out of an app and not have to worry about a file manager anyhow. Furthermore, you will be able to access your files from iCloud drive as well on a PC/Mac.

but suppose I want to send a client:

a photo of a piece of hardware
a PDF of its dimensions/specifications/O&M
an excel pricelist for its variants

for neatness all in one email?

 

[KALLT]

A file manager simply enhances the user experience. I keep many of my documents on my BlackBerry (which has a built-in file manager, a decent one even) and can move them around, put them into folders, attach them to e-mails. It’s really neat. I could do the same with Dropbox, or presumably iCloud Drive very soon, but I don’t want to store everything in the cloud.

iBooks, iWork and all store their files locally as well, but it’s a mess. If you have lots of files, there is no way to organise them. No folders, no tags. Apple’s solution works if you only have few files on your device and don’t mind using the search function or browsing your files.

I think people mention the file manager so often, because it’s a convenient feature to have. Apple even updates Finder with almost every OS X update, they know that it makes sense. With iOS they continue to insist on this awkward app-centric model. That’s just as convenient for users as the lack of Flash. People may understand the reason for Apple’s choices, but it still sucks if you need it and your phone can’t do it.

 

[barkmonster]

before reading your reply after this one i wondered if this step by step guide was tongue in cheek which to my disappointment it wasnt.

It was semi-tongue in cheek because of the number of steps to do something that should be as simple as selecting a file from within the mail app but I got a little carried away when it wasn't seen that way.

If I was apple I'd allow apps to share their file system with mail, messaging etc... Hit attach, it brings up a list of apps with available files. Choose the app, choose the file and send as if it was mail on a Mac with full file system access. Safari already works like that in reverse with certain file types because you can choose which app to open, which as a consequence also saves the chosen link to within the apps' file system.

 

[gotluck]

Engage common sense.

Copy the email address into note

Copy the original subject header into note

Copy the contents of the previous email into the same note

add your reply

Follow same steps as before.

Haha, that is a good one..

or Apple could just add a file picker and that convoluted, time consuming workaround wouldn't be necessary

 

[Nevaborn]

Part of my work is as an employability tutor and today I had a lady come in and wanted me to show her how to effectively perform her job searches at home on her iPad.

I felt awful for her.

She is not tech savy and apps and copying and pasting is very confusing and not a sufficient work around to how to attach documents to websites etc.

It felt weird to her there is nowhere that her documents could be stored and accessed from. In fact just explaining all the processes to her just brought confusion.

This should not be the case.


A iOS file system is incredibly easy to do. UI wise you can just change the photo folder to the iFolder and have that as your documents folder with another tab in there for documents in antition to pictures and videos.

it is not hard.

 

[AxoNeuron]

Nonsense. Apps like Dropbox, Google Drive and others easily allow you to navigate their files on a small display, so it's not too complex for Apple.

Yes, but do you know how few people use Dropbox/Google Drive compared to the total population of iPhone users? It's nice, but it's just not that important for Apple to include it by default (which would confuse the dumb people out there) when it is so easy just to download Dropbox.

Tell me buddy, why do you think Apple didn't include a file system?

 

[GGJstudios]

Yes, but do you know how few people use Dropbox/Google Drive compared to the total population of iPhone users?

How many use those apps is irrelevant. The comment was that it's not included because of complexity on a small screen. The fact that Dropbox and others have achieved it proves it's not too complex to be accomplished. The number of users of those apps has nothing to do with the discussion.

Tell me buddy, why do you think Apple didn't include a file system?

I don't play the "Why did Apple do that?" or "Why didn't Apple do that?" game. The point I have been making in this thread is that while some users may not need or care about a user accessible file system on iOS, there is a large percentage of iOS users who have valid needs for such a functionality, without having to resort to multi-step and multi-app workarounds. For Apple to provide this functionality is not too complex, and the screens on iPhones are not too small for that feature, as proven by apps such as Dropbox that have successfully implemented access to their file system in iPhone and iPad apps.