You cannot be any type of power user to believe something as farfetched as this statement.
Yeah, because a Mac is TOTALLY just as portable as your phone
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How do you power users deal with no real file system?
- Thread starter TheKevinFang
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Yeah, because a Mac is TOTALLY just as portable as your phone
The app "Documents" by Readdle work pretty much like you would expect from a Finder app in iOS.
Actually, since iOS 8 app extensions, any app that wish to offer that funtionnality can make itself available as an option in the iOS "File picker" (the menu that popup where you can pick files from iCloud Drive for example). You can add any app that support it to this menu (Document, Dropbox app, Google Drive app, etc.)
Documents work as a local and offline file system with folders and subfolders, file management features and can open a wide variety of filetypes (office, iWork, pdf, media, zip (and also unzip files)).
It's also possible to use it to store, for example, your Pages documents (instead of iCloud drive). From the file picker in Pages, you can select Documents as your source, browse it's filesystem and then pick a specific .pages file, open it, make changes to it, and close it. And then every changes will be saved directly inside the Document app, and not just as a "copy in Pages iCloud folder" like it was before. So it means you no longer have to create multiple copy of different files. (and all of that happen offline)
An app can create new files and move them to any folder in Documents too, and in Safari you can download directly to Documents, and even upload files from Documents to directly in Safari.
Basically, "Finder" for iOS.
Things have changed a lot since iOS 8.
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The biggest "drawback" is that for some reason, it's possible to sync a specific folder from a cloud service, like Dropbox or Google Drive to Documents, but that specific folders cannot be picked in another app like Pages to edit a file. But any "normal not a cloud sync" file or folder in Documents work as a Finder app would work.
Actually, since iOS 8 app extensions, any app that wish to offer that funtionnality can make itself available as an option in the iOS "File picker" (the menu that popup where you can pick files from iCloud Drive for example). You can add any app that support it to this menu (Document, Dropbox app, Google Drive app, etc.)
Documents work as a local and offline file system with folders and subfolders, file management features and can open a wide variety of filetypes (office, iWork, pdf, media, zip (and also unzip files)).
It's also possible to use it to store, for example, your Pages documents (instead of iCloud drive). From the file picker in Pages, you can select Documents as your source, browse it's filesystem and then pick a specific .pages file, open it, make changes to it, and close it. And then every changes will be saved directly inside the Document app, and not just as a "copy in Pages iCloud folder" like it was before. So it means you no longer have to create multiple copy of different files. (and all of that happen offline)
An app can create new files and move them to any folder in Documents too, and in Safari you can download directly to Documents, and even upload files from Documents to directly in Safari.
Basically, "Finder" for iOS.
Things have changed a lot since iOS 8.
---
The biggest "drawback" is that for some reason, it's possible to sync a specific folder from a cloud service, like Dropbox or Google Drive to Documents, but that specific folders cannot be picked in another app like Pages to edit a file. But any "normal not a cloud sync" file or folder in Documents work as a Finder app would work.
if you're a power user and want extremely high levels of control over the device, the choice is clear: Jailbreak. Sure, if you're on 8.4.1, or will be getting a 6S, you'll need to wait for an iOS 9 jailbreak, but my guess is we'll have one fairly soon. You can then do everything you want, plus have full access to the file system through iFile (on device) or iFunbox on your computer.
I'm not a power user really. I didn't buy the iPhone to replace my computer. I bought it to make calls, send texts, take photos, play a little music etc. So not having a file system is not an issue. that's also why I don't jailbreak my phones. I would imagine that most users are more like me than not
Dropbox is basically my file system, so many apps offer Dropbox support now and it's really convenient since I am a heavy Dropbox user on the desktop too.
There are dozens of apps to do that. Safari won't but that's just safari.
Is it video download? One of hem works like a file bowser of the web site
I prefer to not have to download an app for such a basic function that could easily be built into iOS. You can save photos from safari, why not video?
Sorry don't know
I am not a user of those apps but theoretically they can install an extension which would work in any app and have the ability to open the website within it or take direct action an start a download.
Maybe I'll create this
It has a file system, since iOS 8 you can open other cloud or apps on your device.
If you want or need a local file system, download Documents5, it's an app that a pen drive.
For exchanging files between my Mac/Pc, I have SSH access on that machine, and access it for. iOS devices, with Documents5, but I've bought Transmisison for iOS, which is great.
Did you know you can open files from other apps other than from iCloud, in apps that can open from iCloud?
So what does that make Federico Viticci of Macstories? He runs his website from his website, and does all sorts of amazing stuff on it.You cannot be any type of power user to believe something as farfetched as this statement.
Yeah, because a Mac is TOTALLY just as portable as your phone
Sounds to me like you really ought to buy an Android device insteadYou cannot be any type of power user to believe something as farfetched as this statement.
Yeah, because a Mac is TOTALLY just as portable as your phone
I think this thread loosely fits the reference of Luddites. People who don't want to change even when its imminent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite
The only time it ever bugs me is when I want to use/send/view images that I don't want in my photo library. I have to download them from dropbox or iCloud drive, do what I want with them and then delete them from the photo library.
Other than that, for my usage, I really don't have much need for a file system/browser.
Other than that, for my usage, I really don't have much need for a file system/browser.
Having file system definitely has its advantages. When moving files from computer to phone/tablet, I can directly connect USB drive to the device.
Also I can download files from the web directly to the device. For example, I can download subtitle for a movie, and sync it with movie file.
Furthermore I can choose which app to open certain documents stored in certain folders.
iOS is very dictatorial, but I guess it also has its advantages as well. The files are grouped by apps. It's more secure. Etc.
Also I can download files from the web directly to the device. For example, I can download subtitle for a movie, and sync it with movie file.
Furthermore I can choose which app to open certain documents stored in certain folders.
iOS is very dictatorial, but I guess it also has its advantages as well. The files are grouped by apps. It's more secure. Etc.
Is there really a need for a file system on the iPhone?
- with iOS extensions (share sheet, open with) and cloud services like Dropbox,OneDrive,Google Drive and others you don't need to really store files locally.
- Many apps can save documents to iCloud (Ms Office, Pages, numbers, etc) which can be accessed directly from a PC/MAC if need be.
what's left? Music and Videos? That's a lot of resources/money on Apple's part to rework iOS to allow users a safe private home folder to copy their own files to.
I look at my apps as if they were folders themselves. If I'm looking for an ePub, I know it's going to be in Gerty, if I'm looking for a PDF, it's going to be in GoodReader, if I'm looking for a note, it's going to be in Drafts.
And then I have a general app I just throw random stuff in that I don't want to stick in my iTunes Library or do anything in particular with. But it has the ability to play videos/audios/etc, aswell as pushing those things to other apps if I wanted. But it's supposed to be a stand in for a "Downloads" folder.
And on the computer, I can manage them all through iMazing, and have shortcuts to these "folders" to streamline it. And the nice thing about iMazing is that you can give these apps other names so that you don't have to just go by app names.
Developers can already let you look through their apps as an option with the document picker. But this shouldn't be something that is controlled by them. It should be that any app that works with iTunes Sharing should have this enabled by default, with just a generic file list. This would be great for when you want to attach stuff to an email you're writing.
It would allow them to also enable the generic "Documents" folder that is on our devices, but doesn't appear in iOS, just in third-party file browsers on a computer.
And then I have a general app I just throw random stuff in that I don't want to stick in my iTunes Library or do anything in particular with. But it has the ability to play videos/audios/etc, aswell as pushing those things to other apps if I wanted. But it's supposed to be a stand in for a "Downloads" folder.
And on the computer, I can manage them all through iMazing, and have shortcuts to these "folders" to streamline it. And the nice thing about iMazing is that you can give these apps other names so that you don't have to just go by app names.
Developers can already let you look through their apps as an option with the document picker. But this shouldn't be something that is controlled by them. It should be that any app that works with iTunes Sharing should have this enabled by default, with just a generic file list. This would be great for when you want to attach stuff to an email you're writing.
It would allow them to also enable the generic "Documents" folder that is on our devices, but doesn't appear in iOS, just in third-party file browsers on a computer.
I'm making the same transition. How accessible is iCloud from Windows? How well (compared to iCloud) does google drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, box work on iOS?
Whilst on this topic, as a new iPhone user will I have any need to install iTunes on pc? All my music is spotify /streaming, ditto for video,
I haven't used iTunes on a desktop/laptop for ages. I agree with quite a few people that it's pretty annoying that you can't easily transfer an MP3 or ringtone to your phone and simply play it (or you have to buy it via iTunes).
Also the Mail and Music app (attachments possibilities untill iOS8 are almost not there) lack a lot of functionalities.
I do love my iPhone and iPad however because of the stability and speed of the devices (both hardware and software).
Below you will find my go to apps/widget that i love to use to get to my files (documents, music, video).
Music (offline or online): MixRadio (smartradio), Hype Machine (discover music), Soundflake Pro (remixes), AudioTube (removed from the App Store, for cache/download YouTube music), CloudBeats (listen via cloud, grab from cloud and listen offline)
Video (local NAS, online or offline): AudioTube (for cache/download YouTube, removed from the App Store), Infuse 3 Pro (from NAS)
Documents/Files: Documents 5 (e.g. view/search PDF stored in the cloud on e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive or iCloud Drive, download files from internet), FileBrowser (full or lite), Transmit for iOS (FTP), Coda for iOS (text editor), Easy Annotate (show 2 documents side by side stored in the cloud) or Side by Side For both no need for a recent iPad to have this Split View option!
Coding: Prompt 2
E-mail: Spark (iPhone), CloudMagic (iPad) are great with attaching/saving files (to and from cloud storage) see
Quick access: Launcher widget (notification center), Workflow, Launch Center Pro (iPhone version), Drafts 4, Parcel
Internet Browser: apps that can show multiple website at once so some sort of Split View (also with an old iPad or old/new iPhone - uSurf only) which are e.g. Side by Side or uSurf Universal.
I also love the custom share extensions (extensibility) that is offered in quite some apps since iOS8. See also this topic.
Also the Mail and Music app (attachments possibilities untill iOS8 are almost not there) lack a lot of functionalities.
I do love my iPhone and iPad however because of the stability and speed of the devices (both hardware and software).
Below you will find my go to apps/widget that i love to use to get to my files (documents, music, video).
Music (offline or online): MixRadio (smartradio), Hype Machine (discover music), Soundflake Pro (remixes), AudioTube (removed from the App Store, for cache/download YouTube music), CloudBeats (listen via cloud, grab from cloud and listen offline)
Video (local NAS, online or offline): AudioTube (for cache/download YouTube, removed from the App Store), Infuse 3 Pro (from NAS)
Documents/Files: Documents 5 (e.g. view/search PDF stored in the cloud on e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive or iCloud Drive, download files from internet), FileBrowser (full or lite), Transmit for iOS (FTP), Coda for iOS (text editor), Easy Annotate (show 2 documents side by side stored in the cloud) or Side by Side For both no need for a recent iPad to have this Split View option!
Coding: Prompt 2
E-mail: Spark (iPhone), CloudMagic (iPad) are great with attaching/saving files (to and from cloud storage) see
Quick access: Launcher widget (notification center), Workflow, Launch Center Pro (iPhone version), Drafts 4, Parcel
Internet Browser: apps that can show multiple website at once so some sort of Split View (also with an old iPad or old/new iPhone - uSurf only) which are e.g. Side by Side or uSurf Universal.
I also love the custom share extensions (extensibility) that is offered in quite some apps since iOS8. See also this topic.
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