iPad as a laptop replacement

[Ultracyclist]

I just installed and tested this app today. It’s pretty cool. You can select a set of folders to sync, and save that combo of folders as a “Task”. Then to sync the files in those folders, you can just select “Sync Current Task”, and it looks like you can even sync several tasks at a time with “Sync Selected Tasks”. It’s pretty handy. This even works with syncing a folder on the iPad’s native storage with a folder on an external drive. The only thing I wish is that it had better Siri Shortcut integration. Perhaps I’ll send some feedback and request that. But I think it’s a great app so far! 👍🏻View attachment 2458515

I’ve read a few post back to figure out the why, but I can’t wrap my head around it.

So, here it is…. Why? Why would use a 3rd party app for something I think is inside the iCloud part side of Files and Finder?

I have some folders I want to keep offline and synced up with my iCloud. (And used to have synced with my Mac)
So on the iPad I selected the folder and turned on the suppoost for it to be kept offline available. As long as I have a internet connection the folder is live and in zinc with iCloud(/Mac) side and if not, and I update a file in that folder, it sync as soon as internet is restored.

 

[rletras]

I’ve read a few post back to figure out the why, but I can’t wrap my head around it.

So, here it is…. Why? Why would use a 3rd party app for something I think is inside the iCloud part side of Files and Finder?

I have some folders I want to keep offline and synced up with my iCloud. (And used to have synced with my Mac)
So on the iPad I selected the folder and turned on the suppoost for it to be kept offline available. As long as I have a internet connection the folder is live and in zinc with iCloud(/Mac) side and if not, and I update a file in that folder, it sync as soon as internet is restored.

I can answer that: this app syncs folders without using the cloud. You can use it to sync folders local in ipad with your SSD, for example.
Some of us won't use the cloud for sensitive files and is important to make backups.

 

[Kal Madda]

I’ve read a few post back to figure out the why, but I can’t wrap my head around it.

So, here it is…. Why? Why would use a 3rd party app for something I think is inside the iCloud part side of Files and Finder?

I have some folders I want to keep offline and synced up with my iCloud. (And used to have synced with my Mac)
So on the iPad I selected the folder and turned on the suppoost for it to be kept offline available. As long as I have a internet connection the folder is live and in zinc with iCloud(/Mac) side and if not, and I update a file in that folder, it sync as soon as internet is restored.

Yeah, as @rletras pointed out, this app can sync folders without using iCloud. I love iCloud and use it for all of my photos from my iPhone, but I share my iCloud storage space, so I don’t want to fill up my iCloud space with my large design files and 3D models/scenes. So what I’ve been doing is offloading these files onto an external storage drive. I know many other people have a similar workflow, where they create a lot of files, and don’t want to put all of those files into their iCloud space. So that’s where this app is handy, because you can sync your local file folder with a folder on an external storage drive. The syncing makes it easier than copy and pasting files over manually, though I don’t think it’s too big of a deal copying and pasting the files. I decided to try this app because @rletras asked about it, so I wanted to try it out and see how it worked and what it did. I’m actually pretty impressed. 👍🏻

 

[sparksd]

I can answer that: this app syncs folders without using the cloud. You can use it to sync folders local in ipad with your SSD, for example.
Some of us won't use the cloud for sensitive files and is important to make backups.

Or as with me - I travel a lot to places with poor or no Internet connectivity so I don’t use the cloud at all for file storage.

 

[bondr006]

Yeah, as @rletras pointed out, this app can sync folders without using iCloud. I love iCloud and use it for all of my photos from my iPhone, but I share my iCloud storage space, so I don’t want to fill up my iCloud space with my large design files and 3D models/scenes. So what I’ve been doing is offloading these files onto an external storage drive. I know many other people have a similar workflow, where they create a lot of files, and don’t want to put all of those files into their iCloud space. So that’s where this app is handy, because you can sync your local file folder with a folder on an external storage drive. The syncing makes it easier than copy and pasting files over manually, though I don’t think it’s too big of a deal copying and pasting the files. I decided to try this app because @rletras asked about it, so I wanted to try it out and see how it worked and what it did. I’m actually pretty impressed. 👍🏻

Looks interesting and potentially very useful. How are you liking it so far, and have you found any significant limitations in the free version? I see the Pro version is $8.00US with no subscription but still offers "In App Purchases". What say you?

 

[Kal Madda]

Looks interesting and potentially very useful. How are you liking it so far, and have you found any significant limitations in the free version? I see the Pro version is $8.00US with no subscription but still offers "In App Purchases". What say you?
View attachment 2458689

I like it, and I’m considering eventually purchasing it. 👍🏻. The primary limitation in the free version that I’ve encountered so far is that you can only have one task saved at any time. Multiple tasks are unlocked with the $8.00 single-purchase. I believe that this $8.00 purchase is the only “In App Purchase”. I think $8.00 is pretty reasonable for the utility on offer, so eventually I will likely buy it. Overall, I’m pretty impressed with it, and so far I think I’d definitely recommend it! 👍🏻. As to the pricing, I think the pro version that you buy for $8.00 is the same as the free version, just with the in-app purchase applied. At least that’s what it looks like to me reading the App Store descriptions and looking at the screenshots. 👍🏻. I think File Browser and File Browser Pro are similar in that sense.

 

[sparksd]

I like it, and I’m considering eventually purchasing it. 👍🏻. The primary limitation in the free version that I’ve encountered so far is that you can only have one task saved at any time. Multiple tasks are unlocked with the $8.00 single-purchase. I believe that this $8.00 purchase is the only “In App Purchase”. I think $8.00 is pretty reasonable for the utility on offer, so eventually I will likely buy it. Overall, I’m pretty impressed with it, and so far I think I’d definitely recommend it! 👍🏻. As to the pricing, I think the pro version that you buy for $8.00 is the same as the free version, just with the in-app purchase applied. At least that’s what it looks like to me reading the App Store descriptions and looking at the screenshots. 👍🏻. I think File Browser and File Browser Pro are similar in that sense.

More info on the developer’s website -

https://www.greenworldsoft.com/

 

[Ultracyclist]

But, couldn’t you make this with a shortcut automation?

 

[Kal Madda]

But, couldn’t you make this with a shortcut automation?

Maybe, but it for sure would probably have a more limited scope of functionality, and would probably be a fairly complex Siri Shortcut. Maybe if I get time sometime I’ll tinker around and see if I can get a Siri Shortcut to replicate some of this functionality. I like Siri Shortcuts, and I’ve created quite a few, but sometimes a dedicated app is a better fit. 👍🏻

 

[bondr006]

I like it, and I’m considering eventually purchasing it. 👍🏻. The primary limitation in the free version that I’ve encountered so far is that you can only have one task saved at any time. Multiple tasks are unlocked with the $8.00 single-purchase. I believe that this $8.00 purchase is the only “In App Purchase”. I think $8.00 is pretty reasonable for the utility on offer, so eventually I will likely buy it. Overall, I’m pretty impressed with it, and so far I think I’d definitely recommend it! 👍🏻. As to the pricing, I think the pro version that you buy for $8.00 is the same as the free version, just with the in-app purchase applied. At least that’s what it looks like to me reading the App Store descriptions and looking at the screenshots. 👍🏻. I think File Browser and File Browser Pro are similar in that sense.

Thanks for the reply. I am going to give the free version a shot and see how I like it. The "In App Purchases" I was talking about is on the paid version.

 

[Kal Madda]

Thanks for the reply. I am going to give the free version a shot and see how I like it. The "In App Purchases" I was talking about is on the paid version.View attachment 2458716

View attachment 2458718

I dug into it, and I think I figured out what’s going on. So the Sync Folders version has one $8.00 in app purchase, which unlocks bidirectional sync, one-way sync, mirror backup, and synchronization of any number of pairs of folders at the same time. It looks like with Sync Folders Pro, the $8.00 initial purchase includes access to the Mac version of the app, and then a $4.00 in app purchase that unlocks the same features the $8.00 in app purchase in the normal Sync Folders version unlocks. Or maybe the $4.00 in app purchase unlocks access to the desktop version. Either way, it looks like the idea is that the Sync Folders Pro version comes with a Mac version, while the Sync Folders version is meant for people who just want iPadOS and iOS support. So I think that’s the difference.

 

[Ludatyk]

Hey @Kal Madda ... I noticed from your iPad screenshot that you use VPN, any chance you can fill me on which service you use?

 

[Kal Madda]

Hey @Kal Madda ... I noticed from your iPad screenshot that you use VPN, any chance you can fill me on which service you use?

Oh, that’s not a standard VPN service for security purposes, so unfortunately I don’t know much firsthand about the mainstream security VPN services. From what I’ve heard though, Nord is supposed to be good. 👍🏻

 

[Ultracyclist]

Maybe, but it for sure would probably have a more limited scope of functionality, and would probably be a fairly complex Siri Shortcut. Maybe if I get time sometime I’ll tinker around and see if I can get a Siri Shortcut to replicate some of this functionality. I like Siri Shortcuts, and I’ve created quite a few, but sometimes a dedicated app is a better fit. 👍🏻

 

[Kal Madda]

I’m aware of that functionality in Shortcuts, and that’s why I said it probably could be done with a Siri shortcut but just with a bit more limited scope of functionality. While I don’t know this would be important for everyone, the Sync Folders app allows you to create filters to control what files get synced between the folders for example, where that would likely require creating a Siri Shortcut that would request user input, and use that input to determine which files to sync. I tried something kind of similar where the shortcut would change behavior depending on user input, and it can get pretty complicated. It didn’t end up working out due to another behavior I needed not being available in Siri Shortcuts. I wouldn’t say that it’s impossible to replicate all of the functionality of the app with Siri Shortcuts, Siri Shortcuts are quite powerful, and allow you to really do a lot of things. But I think there’s still pluses to having a dedicated app, especially for people who don’t work a lot with Siri Shortcuts, and I think some of the functionality in the app would be pretty difficult to replicate currently. But certainly a Siri Shortcut could be a great option for basic file transferring and syncing. 👍🏻

 

[ctg7w6]

Well today may have ended my latest run at trying to primarily use my iPad as my main device. This is my third attempt in 5-6 years. I’ve got an m4 with keyboard and everything. Big external monitor. But I was really motivated to do it this time. I have been overlooking difficulties with simple tasks (ie it is cumbersome sometimes). I have overlooked bugs. Because I really wanted it to work out.

I even got jump desktop set up in case I needed to remote in to my laptop to do coding stuff.

But my work provided me an m4 max MacBook Pro. I gave it a spin and everything I do is so much easier and more efficient. Even highlighting text is janky on an iPad.

The work I do is better suited for a MacBook. I know that. I know there are plenty of people that can use the iPad as their primary device. I really wanted to because it is actually my favorite device ever.

But it’s just so cumbersome to use (the os, not the physical device itself). And I’ve been making myself use it for weeks now so that I can become faster, have muscle memory, etc.

It’s a combination of apples choices in software design and also app developers not producing near-Mac equivalent software.

I’m glad some people can use just an iPad. One day I hope to be such a person.

But for now it is back to being a complementary device—which I also love it as: note taking in meetings, highlighting pdf documents, etc.

One positive is I’ve really enjoyed it as a gaming device now that I got an Xbox controller.

But for the kind of work to do, I’m simply tired of fighting the device to get my work done.

This is not meant to start a debate or continue one. I just wanted to vent somewhere because I’m really disappointed.

 

[SoYoung]

For me the real bummer that prevent me to use my iPad as a primary device is that we’re still unable to use the iPad on an external monitor while the iPad screen itself is off. The only way to bring the iPad full screen in an external montor is to force us to use it on dual-screen witch I found to be not very convenient. When I found my Steam Deck to be more productive when connecting to an external monitor with Linux inside because it really feel like a computer compared to the iPad, I think Apple missed the point here, especially for the price it ask.

 

[Kal Madda]

For me the real bummer that prevent me to use my iPad as a primary device is that we’re still unable to use the iPad on an external monitor while the iPad screen itself is off. The only way to bring the iPad full screen in an external montor is to force us to use it on dual-screen witch I found to be not very convenient. When I found my Steam Deck to be more productive when connecting to an external monitor with Linux inside because it really feel like a computer compared to the iPad, I think Apple missed the point here, especially for the price it ask.

I don’t understand, the iPad’s display being powered on somehow negates the functionality of the external monitor? I mean, would it be nice to have a “clamshell mode”? Sure. But I don’t understand how this would be the sole factor preventing someone from switching over. Couldn’t you turn the iPad away from you so you don’t see the display? Open an all black screen filler? Personally, I like having the iPad’s display active, it gives me more workspace and a surface to draw on. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have you’re preferences or anything, but I just don’t understand why something that’s pretty easy to ignore (by flipping or covering the screen) would be the only factor preventing someone from switching.

 

[SoYoung]

I don’t understand, the iPad’s display being powered on somehow negates the functionality of the external monitor? I mean, would it be nice to have a “clamshell mode”? Sure. But I don’t understand how this would be the sole factor preventing someone from switching over. Couldn’t you turn the iPad away from you so you don’t see the display? Open an all black screen filler? Personally, I like having the iPad’s display active, it gives me more workspace and a surface to draw on. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have you’re preferences or anything, but I just don’t understand why something that’s pretty easy to ignore (by flipping or covering the screen) would be the only factor preventing someone from switching.

The fact that you don’t have access to your home screen with all your apps icons, widgets plus you can’t even turn on control center, do a spotlight search or access to the App Library on the external monitor is a big issue for me. Just open an app that isn’t in my dock is a pain in the a** for me to do. My set up is not really made to use the iPad as a second display and that’s not what I want to do when I want to use it on a monitor also. I have some other annoyances but this one is a big one and its enough for me to constantly want to go back to my Mac.

 

[Kal Madda]

The fact that you don’t have access to your home screen with all your apps icons, widgets plus you can’t even turn on control center, do a spotlight search or access to the App Library on the external monitor is a big issue for me. Just open an app that isn’t in my dock is a pain in the a** for me to do. My set up is not really made to use the iPad as a second display and that’s not what I want to do when I want to use it on a monitor also. I have some other annoyances but this one is a big one and its enough for me to constantly want to go back to my Mac.

Ok, so I guess it’s more of a combo of things than just the iPad’s display not going to sleep, that makes more sense. I agree that it can be annoying that the Control Center doesn’t open on the external monitor, but other than that, I guess it just doesn’t bother me. Everything else is so much more efficient for my workflow, and so much more enjoyable that those things don’t really bother me, and I barely even notice them normally. I think they should improve those things, but I guess I’m not upset about the current setup. I actually don’t even use the Home Screen on my iPad for apps anymore, I use it for some widgets and some folders that I pinned on the Home Screen. I have been using the App Library for accessing my apps most of the time the past couple years anyways, so I figured I might as well clean up my Home Screen. So for me, some of those things don’t affect me as much, but I understand why that could be frustrating. Hopefully Apple improves the things you cited. 👍🏻

 

[SoYoung]

Ok, so I guess it’s more of a combo of things than just the iPad’s display not going to sleep, that makes more sense. I agree that it can be annoying that the Control Center doesn’t open on the external monitor, but other than that, I guess it just doesn’t bother me. Everything else is so much more efficient for my workflow, and so much more enjoyable that those things don’t really bother me, and I barely even notice them normally. I think they should improve those things, but I guess I’m not upset about the current setup. I actually don’t even use the Home Screen on my iPad for apps anymore, I use it for some widgets and some folders that I pinned on the Home Screen. I have been using the App Library for accessing my apps most of the time the past couple years anyways, so I figured I might as well clean up my Home Screen. So for me, some of those things don’t affect me as much, but I understand why that could be frustrating. Hopefully Apple improves the things you cited. 👍🏻

Damn! I don’t know why but your post reminds me I can access the App Library in my dock so I can access it through the monitor, nice!! 😃 And I agree that for many things, the experience on the external monitor is quite good. I’m only use it like that on my bedroom. I was debating if I should instead buy a Mac mini but for now, I try to use my iPad Pro instead for when I need to do some computer task on my bedroom. So far it is okay but now that I can use the App Library on the monitor is changing my mind on a more positive way! Thanks 👍

 

[Kal Madda]

Damn! I don’t know why but your post reminds me I can access the App Library in my dock so I can access it through the monitor, nice!! 😃 And I agree that for many things, the experience on the external monitor is quite good. I’m only use it like that on my bedroom. I was debating if I should instead buy a Mac mini but for now, I try to use my iPad Pro instead for when I need to do some computer task on my bedroom. So far it is okay but now that I can use the App Library on the monitor is changing my mind on a more positive way! Thanks 👍

Awesome, glad I could help! 👍🏻

 

[Webcat86]

I’m supposing you tried it multiple times by creating a new window with a few tabs, closing it, and then looking for that button? Because I did that as well at first to try to test it, but realized that I was closing it out too quickly before iPadOS had a chance to index it. I tried creating a window with some tabs in it and waiting a little before I closed it in the rest of my tests, and then it worked reliably every time. 👍🏻

Maybe they should assign a keyboard shortcut to that action. I don’t think iPadOS really has the space for a Menu Bar, at least not implemented the same as the Mac Menu Bar, so a keyboard shortcut could provide better access to that feature when a keyboard’s attached, but I think the current on-screen implementation is probably about the best they can pull off, unless they added it to the hold-press menu for the Safari app?

No I didn't make a new window and open new tabs, I opened a new window and then opened the old tabs through the history option previously mentioned.

When it happened, I did a quick Google search to see if I could get the window back and saw posts saying that the option to restore was for a limited amount of time.

I don't think there's any excuse to have it be this way — a keyboard shortcut would be ideal, otherwise put it in the start/Home Screen of a new window. Waiting for iPadOS to index a window that has been open forever before showing a small restore button is too ineffective, because it doesn't even hint that the option will appear soon (e.g. have the button appear grey and non-clickable, to indicate that it'll appear properly soon)

I use Tab Groups to solve this issue.

I use tab groups too, but mostly for things I want to categorise. It shouldn't really be a requirement as a workaround for basic window recovery — remember the question was how Safari differs between the iPad and the Mac. This is one such difference.

 

[Kal Madda]

No I didn't make a new window and open new tabs, I opened a new window and then opened the old tabs through the history option previously mentioned.

When it happened, I did a quick Google search to see if I could get the window back and saw posts saying that the option to restore was for a limited amount of time.

I don't think there's any excuse to have it be this way — a keyboard shortcut would be ideal, otherwise put it in the start/Home Screen of a new window. Waiting for iPadOS to index a window that has been open forever before showing a small restore button is too ineffective, because it doesn't even hint that the option will appear soon (e.g. have the button appear grey and non-clickable, to indicate that it'll appear properly soon)

I use tab groups too, but mostly for things I want to categorise. It shouldn't really be a requirement as a workaround for basic window recovery — remember the question was how Safari differs between the iPad and the Mac. This is one such difference.

For me, it just took maybe around a couple minutes, just long enough for me to actually read one of the web pages I had open… Before, when I was trying to test it, I was opening a few tabs and closing it out right away. That isn’t a realistic workflow IMO. So using Safari windows naturally would result in the proper behavior with the restore button, at least it was for me.

It probably isn’t a big issue many people are encountering, and so it probably hasn’t been at the top of the priority list. I agree that Apple should map a keyboard shortcut to it, but remember that keyboard input is a secondary paradigm on the iPad, every feature also must be accessible via touch input. Maybe there’s some way that they could incorporate a Menu Bar on iPadOS (that wouldn’t require a keyboard attached like the current one), but it likely couldn’t be implemented like it is on macOS, it would probably have to be hidden most of the time and then surfaced somehow. I tried photoshopping a couple different iPadOS concepts, and the Menu Bar that I could fit up there would be very cramped, and hard to precisely touch. Perhaps this could be solved by combining it with the Dynamic Island. But it certainly isn’t a simple and straightforward UI design problem. It would require quite a lot of brainstorming and engineering to implement it correctly.

I understand the frustration, and I agree that Apple can improve here with the iPad version of Safari. But it seems like the current window restore option is working well for most, so I don’t know how high on the list of priorities this would fall. 👍🏻

 

[Webcat86]

I understand the frustration, and I agree that Apple can improve here with the iPad version of Safari. But it seems like the current window restore option is working well for most, so I don’t know how high on the list of priorities this would fall. 👍🏻

I think the UX itself is fine, the problem I had was the restore button didn't appear and I was trying for about 10 minutes. As this was the first time it happened to me, Apple didn't make it apparent at all that the option even existed, so I think keeping that "restore previous window" button in place all the time is easy and sensible, and it can just be greyed out when there's nothing to restore.