iPad Pro Desktop‑Class Apps on iPadOS 16 (File app)

[Digitalguy]

As a non iPhone user, many of the sharing, facetime etc. features are of no interest to me.
I will no doubt update my M1 pro to iPadOS 16.

As for the other non M1 iPads, the only things that may justify the update are the file app improvements mentioned as part of "Desktop‑Class Apps", such as:

• Change file extensions
• View folder size
• Expand folders in list view
• Navigation button (?)
• Sortable columns
• Enhanced Open and Save panel

Do you see other productivity features that you find compelling for non M1 iPads for people not in the ecosystem?

 

[symphony]

I hope the enhancements for open and save panel is for opening selected files for other apps, like “open with…” on macOS.

The share sheet was a terrible workaround. Please let us choose a default app to open with as well.

 

[Digitalguy]

I hope the enhancements for open and save panel is for opening selected files for other apps, like “open with…” on macOS.

The share sheet was a terrible workaround. Please let us choose a default app to open with as well.

Yeah, default apps (like on Android) is my number 1 file app feature request

 

[rui no onna]

• Change file extensions

This is good. I used to move files to FileBrowser just to rename extensions.

 

[calstanford]

As a non iPhone user, many of the sharing, facetime etc. features are of no interest to me.
I will no doubt update my M1 pro to iPadOS 16.

As for the other non M1 iPads, the only things that may justify the update are the file app improvements mentioned as part of "Desktop‑Class Apps", such as:

• Change file extensions
• View folder size
• Expand folders in list eing
• Navigation button (?)
• Sortable columns
• Enhanced Open and Save panel

Do you see other productivity features that you find compelling for non M1 iPads for people not in the ecosystem?

So they haven't added a f...ing info panel/dialog to show files being copied? It's the weirdest thing when you drag and drop files from one folder or drive to another and you have no idea if it'll be done in 2 seconds, 2 minutes or 2 years

 

[Digitalguy]

I have installed the beta and honestly the improvements in file are not huge. Yes, it's very nice to finally be able to view extensions (not by default, but can be enabled) and sorting is a bit better now, but other than that I don't see much. I can't even find what has changed with:

• Expand folders in list view
• Navigation button
• Enhanced Open and Save panel

I have tried, putting 15 and 16 side by side, but I can't see any other difference...

 

[chrism_scotland]

I have installed the beta and honestly the improvements in file are not huge. Yes, it's very nice to finally be able to view extensions (not by default, but can be enabled) and sorting is a bit better now, but other than that I don't see much. I can't even find what has changed with:

• Expand folders in list view
• Navigation button
• Enhanced Open and Save panel

I have tried, putting 15 and 16 side by side, but I can't see any other difference...

I'm not convinced that all of the "improvements" are actually in this build yet

 

[Digitalguy]

I'm not convinced that all of the "improvements" are actually in this build yet

I hope so, because so far this seems more like 15.6 than 16.0 on my 2017 iPad pro

 

[tomzeimet]

Do you see other productivity features that you find compelling for non M1 iPads for people not in the ecosystem?

Absolutely, while we're on the subject of the Files App, we definitely need the ability to safely eject drives and at least be able to do a simple format on drives (Android has had this feature for years now). I really hope to see these features in iPadOS some time soon, this is really the reason I've been holding out on the iPad Pro..

 

[Digitalguy]

Absolutely, while we're on the subject of the Files App, we definitely need the ability to safely eject drives and at least be able to do a simple format on drives (Android has had this feature for years now). I really hope to see these features in iPadOS some time soon, this is really the reason I've been holding out on the iPad Pro..

Yeah absolutely, iPads could be better than Android with external drive management. Just to give you an example, of the Samsung Tab line, only the Ultra has enough power to power any SSD (including larger ones), while any USB C iPad can read any SSD (well, I haven't tested the mini 6 but the others can), and even HHDs (which Samsung tablets can't read).
But the limitations of the app make it still not a great experience, even on iPadOS 16.