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I've been downloading files to iPad from back when it was first released. Apps like GoodReader and File Browser has had this capability from all the way back then.
the question remains..why shouldn't you be able to download files directly without using a third party app with unreliable future support,compatibility issues etc?
Why should people look for lookarounds and tricks to do such a basic computing task on the so called premium tablet?
how come downloading files and file management is safe and accepted on OSX but not on iOS,then how can they call iPad a laptop replacement when it's so limited?
it seems they want it to be a neutered App launcher,web browser,video streamer device instead of a real functional tablet computer.
 
If using 3rd party apps is wrong, I don't wanna be right.
I never said using 3rd party apps is wrong,but when you have to rely on a 3rd part app to do an essential function on your device then there is a problem.
what if the app is discontinued,removed,changed and its developer simply quits?remember its an essential core function and there are only 1-2 apps that allow that.
 
I never said using 3rd party apps is wrong,but when you have to rely on a 3rd part app to do an essential function on your device then there is a problem.
what if the app is discontinued,removed,changed and its developer simply quits?remember its an essential core function and there are only 1-2 apps that allow that.
Ummm...I think the response was 'tongue in cheek!' "If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right" (song)
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I never said using 3rd party apps is wrong,but when you have to rely on a 3rd part app to do an essential function on your device then there is a problem.
what if the app is discontinued,removed,changed and its developer simply quits?remember its an essential core function and there are only 1-2 apps that allow that.
And I agree - it's very annoying not be to able to directly place files on the tablet. ANNOYING! To quickly get SOME types of files onto my ipad, my workaround is to drop them in Dropbox. That works for almost everything. Then "Open In" whatever app (some things will play/run/open directly in Dropbox).
 
Why can't you download files to iPad
should be
Why can't you upload files to iPad


have you tried VLC? it has a new web server that you can turn on and send videos and mp3s to your ipad/iphone without needing itunes. it even has samba support. the one thing i hate about it is Dolby Digital won't let them have access to their A52/AC3 codec
 
iCloud Drive is clearly the future of file management. I wonder if Apple will open it up a bit and let users download files directly to their iCloud accounts from the web.

The biggest downside to iOS right now is probably the fact that you can't download music files from a place like bandcamp and add them to your Music app without going through a Mac or PC. It's just a silly omission.
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You know, maybe not on iPhone. But file system, Bluetooth mouse support will make iPad whole lot more productive. I can actually abandon my laptop for most part.

But without that, iPad is just bigger iPhone. This is true from iPad 1 and still true with iPad Pro.
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Your need does not necessarily reflects opinion for everyone. File system is one of the thing that people consistently asking for.

File system and Bluetooth mouse and keyboard support would be whole new ball game for iPad. It might actually increase iPad sales.

This is where I disagree. Adding mouse support for a touch interface would just be silly and backwards.

Apple has stated they aren't going to force a touch screen on a desktop OS, and I see no reason for them to force desktop input in a touch interface.
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It's funny this thread started in 2008 and people where complaining about this lack of feature since iPad was first released to this day in 2016.
Yes file management is necessary and ability to download files directly is a must.
without them,it's just ridiculous to even think of iPad as a "computer" capable of productivity and general use.
I love my iPad and use it heavily,but it is infact a web browsing/youtube viewer machine,an app launcher..anything more and I have to fire up my Macbook.
big shame.

It can do much more than that. It's fantastic for photo editing, basic video editing, office apps, etc.
 
There are so many ways to download files if you really need to download files.

I don't think most users feel the need for a file system on their iPads. I know I don't.
 
iCloud Drive is clearly the future of file management. I wonder if Apple will open it up a bit and let users download files directly to their iCloud accounts from the web.

The biggest downside to iOS right now is probably the fact that you can't download music files from a place like bandcamp and add them to your Music app without going through a Mac or PC. It's just a silly omission.
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This is where I disagree. Adding mouse support for a touch interface would just be silly and backwards.

Apple has stated they aren't going to force a touch screen on a desktop OS, and I see no reason for them to force desktop input in a touch interface


You clearly never used any Android tablet or phone. When I hook up my mouse via USB OTG cable, mouse cursor appear. It act like your finger, there is no interface change. All mouse pointer doing is simulating your finger touching the icon.

Mouse enables you do precise point and click. When you editing long document on iPad, you will know the frustration. When you editing a movie on iMovie, it takes several try to get where you want. Mouse support will enable people do lots of stuff they could not do on iPad.

And iCloud is not the future. Consistent internet connection is not here yet and data plan cost loads amount of money. Local storage is way better
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There are so many ways to download files if you really need to download files.

I don't think most users feel the need for a file system on their iPads. I know I don't.

You don't or most people don't, because you and most people do not treat iPad or iPhone as productivity tools. Lots of people using iPad as consumption tools. When Apple think iPad can replace PC, they'd better show that iPad can do at least same amount of work and at least it as capable as PC. Unfortunately, iPad is not.
 
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I use drop box but would still love to be able to have the ability to download files in a decent file system on my iPad. For this reason the iPad will always have limited practicality.
'
I agree that the lack of a real file system is a pain in the ass. The odd file-copy "open-in app" ability of OS 4 just feels weird to me--it goes against every traditional OS file management concept that I've used.

What? You think there is something strange about managing data and media through a pdf reader? With your fingers? The ipp is a great sketch tool totally unscalable to real work by anyone other than brand enthusiasts
 
This is where I disagree. Adding mouse support for a touch interface would just be silly and backwards.

silly?

when im leaning back on the sofa and sitting relaxed, mirroring my tablet to the tv, and writing some stuff with a bt keyboard, it would be quite silly and dumb to reach out my tablet just to navigate rather than using a bt mouse.

or when im using side by side view and searching info and reading articles while im writing notes on the otherside and my tablet is standing in front of me, it would be really stupid to reach my tablet again just to tap and navigate when im typing with a bt keyboard.

and so on...

i could do much more with my ipad if only i could use a mouse as i can use with my android tablet.

and... i just love having multiple copies of the same file on my ipad. dont you? rather than having a real and accessible filing system.

aaaand... i love even more to edit vids and pics using my fat fingertips rather to see the exact point and pixels.
 
when im leaning back on the sofa and sitting relaxed, mirroring my tablet to the tv, and writing some stuff with a bt keyboard, it would be quite silly and dumb to reach out my tablet just to navigate rather than using a bt mouse.

How do you use a mouse on the sofa? Trackball or trackpad, I can see using those on a sofa, but a mouse?

Also, when I'm relaxing in front of tv, I'm more likely to just keep my iPad in my lap and use the on screen keyboard. Personally, having the iPad propped up on a table or whatever in front of me and typing on a Bluetooth keyboard doesn't seem relaxing.
 
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How do you use a mouse on the sofa? Trackball or trackpad, I can see using those on a sofa, but a mouse?

Also, when I'm relaxing in front of tv, I'm more likely to just keep my iPad in my lap and use the on screen keyboard. Personally, having the iPad propped up on a table or whatever in front of me and typing on a Bluetooth keyboard doesn't seem relaxing.

f you havent notice mouses work quite well on the surface of couches...

mirroring your ipad to the tv with screen on keyboard? using splitview and getting the keyboard popped up to hide those windows? yeah sure... whatever you like... but that is not for me.
 
f you havent notice mouses work quite well on the surface of couches...

mirroring your ipad to the tv with screen on keyboard? using splitview and getting the keyboard popped up to hide those windows? yeah sure... whatever you like... but that is not for me.

Oh, sorry, I missed the mirroring the iPad to the TV part. I mean I read that, but it didn't register in my head what you meant. :p That's a totally different use scenario, and I agree a Bluetooth keyboard would be perfect for that, and I can also see why you'd want a pointing device. As for mouse on couch, maybe your couch has different texture than mine. I've never been able to get a mouse to work properly on my couch.
 
One of the reasons I bought a tablet was to be free of mice, keyboards and other additional devices. Adding mouse support to an iPad is just silly. All I need is a touchscreen and nothing more.

... Oh yeah, and a Pencil too. :rolleyes:

You mean silly for you. Some people would find an optional mouse to be quite useful. You wouldn't have to use it if you don't want and you personally could remain free of mice.
 
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One of the reasons I bought a tablet was to be free of mice, keyboards and other additional devices. Adding mouse support to an iPad is just silly. All I need is a touchscreen and nothing more.

... Oh yeah, and a Pencil too. :rolleyes:

how would it change your way to use your devices IF they supported a mouse? no one is asking you to start using a mouse...
 
You mean silly for you. Some people would find an optional mouse to be quite useful. You wouldn't have to use it if you don't want and you personally could remain free of mice.

The problem with continuing to support a mouse is that it's a completely different input method than touching with a finger, or a stylus, and can lead to under developed touch skills, or having to learn a mouse input method when otherwise not needed.

I personally use a trackpad on my desktop Mac, which duplicates the pointing methods I use on my iPad and iPhone. So all of my input methods are consistent across all devices. I have witnessed first hand, people in my office who regularly work on PCs with mice, have trouble relating the track pad as a remote input method.

iOS already supports remote pointing, using the iPhone Remote app for an TV for instance. So supporting a Mouse or track pad wouldn't be an issue. Using an iPad in mirror mode, is essentially the same thing, and my preferred method of navigating, because it's more precise -- I can just jump to the place on the screen I want without having to drag the cursor there.

So yes adding mouse support moves user input in the wrong direction, and leads to fragmentation of the customer base, and makes it that much harder to get rid of the mouse completely. I noticed most of the desktops at the Apple Store on display had track pads, not mice. Thankfully, my mom never learned to use a mouse as he first computer was a laptop with a track pad. It made the transition to the iPad and subsequently the iPhone much easier for her not having to learn two input methods.
 
The problem with continuing to support a mouse is that it's a completely different input method than touching with a finger, or a stylus, and can lead to under developed touch skills, or having to learn a mouse input method when otherwise not needed.

I personally use a trackpad on my desktop Mac, which duplicates the pointing methods I use on my iPad and iPhone. So all of my input methods are consistent across all devices. I have witnessed first hand, people in my office who regularly work on PCs with mice, have trouble relating the track pad as a remote input method.

iOS already supports remote pointing, using the iPhone Remote app for an TV for instance. So supporting a track pad wouldn't be an issue. Using an iPad in mirror mode, is essentially the same thing, and my preferred method of navigating, because it's more precise -- I can just jump to the place on the screen I want without having to drag the cursor there.

So yes adding mouse support moves user input in the wrong direction, and leads to fragmentation of the customer base, and makes it that much harder to get rid of the mouse completely. I noticed most of the desktops at the Apple Store on display had track pads, not mice. Thankfully, my mom never learned to use a mouse as he first computer was a laptop with a track pad. It made the transition to the iPad and subsequently the iPhone much easier for her not having to learn two input methods.

So what? Let people use the input method they like. Why feel the need to force them to change? If you don't like a mouse, don't use a mouse - you do have that option.
 
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iCloud Drive is clearly the future of file management. I wonder if Apple will open it up a bit and let users download files directly to their iCloud accounts from the web.

The biggest downside to iOS right now is probably the fact that you can't download music files from a place like bandcamp and add them to your Music app without going through a Mac or PC. It's just a silly omission.
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This is where I disagree. Adding mouse support for a touch interface would just be silly and backwards.

Apple has stated they aren't going to force a touch screen on a desktop OS, and I see no reason for them to force desktop input in a touch interface.

I couldn't disagree more. Keep iOS the way it is but include a floating pointer over the same interface when a BT mouse is connected. It would work wonders for my writing in word (selecting text, scrolling, etc) or excel. I like the touch interface but adding mouse support is a feature that doesn't negatively affect the iOS experience and would be optional. Why actively campaign to limit options?
 
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I couldn't disagree more. Keep iOS the way it is but include a floating pointer over the same interface when a BT mouse is connected. It would work wonders for my writing in word (selecting text, scrolling, etc) or excel. I like the touch interface but adding mouse support is a feature that doesn't negatively affect the iOS experience and would be optional. Why actively campaign to limit options?

An example are the MS Office products on my Android tablets - they support mouse input without impacting touch functionality. Works just fine (as do other apps).
 
People who don't need mice and trackpads with their keyboards are free to continue doing so, but I can say that as someone who uses a MacBook, that I would like it if the iPad keyboard cases could have one. Apple brought the OS X app switcher to iOS, they're focusing on making it better to use shortcuts with keyboards, but now it would be great if I didn't have to take my hands off it just to scroll, zoom in, go back, etc. I'll go back to touching the screen when I don't need the keyboard, but I really don't want to go back and forth when I'm using one.

I've also been downloading files with a third-party app that's no longer in the store. It can download multiple stuff in the background which is great. The only reason it got removed from the store is that they tried to do something else that Apple didn't like and they didn't approve anymore builds thereafter. "Open In..." isn't bad, but you don't always want to do stuff with files then and there. It would be great if they took the existing iCloud Drive app, but changed it to work more like a simplified Finder on OS X - Give us the sidebar with our iCloud Drive, the Downloads folder, iTunes File Sharing (Documents), have the ability to pull favorites into it, and the tagging system.
 
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So what? Let people use the input method they like. Why feel the need to force them to change? If you don't like a mouse, don't use a mouse - you do have that option.

I couldn't disagree more. Keep iOS the way it is but include a floating pointer over the same interface when a BT mouse is connected. It would work wonders for my writing in word (selecting text, scrolling, etc) or excel. I like the touch interface but adding mouse support is a feature that doesn't negatively affect the iOS experience and would be optional. Why actively campaign to limit options?

Again, offering two input methods, when one is inferior, promotes continuing use of legacy technology. I've already given one example of PC mouse users having trouble with a touch pad When using someone else's computer. This means my company has to support two methods instead of one. There's a financial incentive to move people to the more efficient method and promote consistency across platforms.

An example are the MS Office products on my Android tablets - they support mouse input without impacting touch functionality. Works just fine (as do other apps).

Microsoft also supports legacy serial and VGA ports going back to the 1970s. That's why the world of Windows is so fragmented and insecure, not to mention the PC market dying a slow death as there's no reason for anyone to update 20 year old PCs and peripherals. A perfect partner for Android.
 
Again, offering two input methods, when one is inferior, promotes continuing use of legacy technology. I've already given one example of PC mouse users having trouble with a touch pad When using someone else's computer. This means my company has to support two methods instead of one. There's a financial incentive to move people to the more efficient method and promote consistency across platforms.



Microsoft also supports legacy serial and VGA ports going back to the 1970s. That's why the world of Windows is so fragmented and insecure, not to mention the PC market dying a slow death as there's no reason for anyone to update 20 year old PCs and peripherals. A perfect partner for Android.

What you do in your company is irrelevant to what we want to do in our homes with our devices. Your company has a choice and can force a change on everybody in your office. We just don't want your forced change on us, just an option to do it differently. That has no effect on what you do but your approach has a direct effect on what we want to be able to do.
 
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