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iPad Pro No file system - don't call it a "computer"

Keirasplace said:
Got the feeling, that with USB-C, connecting directly to external drives is coming within a year anyway;
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I'll take that bet. Connecting USB devices to iPads (or even iPhones) is nothing new. USB-C doesn't change the equation in any way whatsoever. If Apple wanted their users to have the ability to access the file system and connect external disks, they would have already done so.

What it comes down to is this: Who'd pay Apple a thousand dollars for a 1TB storage upgrade anymore if they could simply connect an external disk to their iPad? Apple's average selling price would go down the toilet if they enabled that functionality.
 
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I think the answer is pretty simple - Apple wants people paying for iCloud subscriptions. Not only do you pay a premium for the hardware, you are locked into a subscription for storage. If people could plug in external storage, that would affect their services bottom line.
 
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Keirasplace said:
Considering how much abstraction from hardware a "real" file system (in the 1980s sense many people seem to have here) has, and how antiquated it really in tying assets to hardware.
You can get apps like "Documents" that will get most of the way there (especially with a NAS and very fast network) if any of you are that depressed about it.

Got the feeling, that with USB-C, connecting directly to external drives is coming within a year anyway; so hang in there poor * deprived * individuals Santa will come your way...
[doublepost=1540958428][/doublepost]

There are plenty of third party apps to put files on the device, like "Documents" (which is free), you can map local drives, network drives, create folders and copy in and out of Apple folders (like Music and Photos).
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I don’t think that the fact that there are 3rd party work-arounds to simulate the type of file/content management that is built into the OS of most “computers” really counters the point being made.
 
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If each app can create their own use case for usb c as it was announced, then I could see an external storage company developing their own app for file managing that drive. It would be a clumsy solution but I could see it happen. If not, definitely in ios13.
External hard drives are an absolute necessity for video editing and the inevitable Final Cut Pro X iOS version.
 
chfilm said:
If each app can create their own use case for usb c as it was announced, then I could see an external storage company developing their own app for file managing that drive. It would be a clumsy solution but I could see it happen. If not, definitely in ios13.
External hard drives are an absolute necessity for video editing and the inevitable Final Cut Pro X iOS version.
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I don't know, they might block the protocol or something... Who knows.
Plus for me is the clunky way of dealing with something as obviously simple as "open" and "save".
You think Apple hires the smartest people, there are thousands of engineers there, still we have to deal
with iTunes today. After how many years? iTunes is the worst, most illogical solution ever.
Yeah, it's always about money and unfortunately we have a guy in charge who only cares about money.
Steve was not a saint, but he cared about creativity, could go against everybody. Cook can't.
 
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I
richpjr said:
I think the answer is pretty simple - Apple wants people paying for iCloud subscriptions. Not only do you pay a premium for the hardware, you are locked into a subscription for storage. If people could plug in external storage, that would affect their services bottom line.
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Maybe that is true for casual device users. I’ve got Box (from school), OneDrive (also from school), Google Drive (work), and DropBox (have no idea) on all my iOS devices, in addition to iCloud (personal). If someone’s use case requires cloud storage, they have many options.
 
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Apple is probably right in their approach here, not wanting a typical file system or having to manage files, content, etc., but it's going to rub a lot of the traditional computer enthusiasts the wrong way for a while. It obviously benefits Apple (iCloud, Apple Music), but it benefits plenty of other companies who have similar services as well. In the end, it's probably a good thing for consumers to not have to worry about managing files, plugging things into other computers, transferring files. If you do fully commit to an iPad and iCloud (obviously your tasks need to be possible on iPad), it's really really easy to make file management work. I haven't had a traditional computer in years, do everything for work and personal through my iPad and iPhone. I use iCloud for files, music, and photos. I couldn't be happier not having to think about any of that stuff anymore. I am also at my most productive now too.
 
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phillytim said:
Why do so many of you think iOS 13 will bring earth-shattering "bigger" or "larger" changes?

Isn't that always the case each and every year? What am I missing?
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Yes, that is always the case. Why does that happen? Answer: wishful thinking.

There is more momentum around this wishful thinking because USB-C is a port that is found on notebooks as well. They assume, "well, USB-C on the Macbook connects to a USB hub that connect all sorts of things, so adding USB-C to the iPad Pro will provide the same functionality...after all, USB-C is a standard."

As a few of us have been saying, the lack of support for peripherals was not a technical hardware limitation of the lightning port but a deliberate restriction by Apple.
 
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DNichter said:
Apple is probably right in their approach here, not wanting a typical file system or having to manage files, content, etc., but it's going to rub a lot of the traditional computer enthusiasts the wrong way for a while. It obviously benefits Apple (iCloud, Apple Music), but it benefits plenty of other companies who have similar services as well. In the end, it's probably a good thing for consumers to not have to worry about managing files, plugging things into other computers, transferring files. If you do fully commit to an iPad and iCloud (obviously your tasks need to be possible on iPad), it's really really easy to make file management work. I haven't had a traditional computer in years, do everything for work and personal through my iPad and iPhone. I use iCloud for files, music, and photos. I couldn't be happier not having to think about any of that stuff anymore. I am also at my most productive though.
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do you have stuff stored in folders? I deal with a lot of graphics, which I have in individual themed folders. I did read about how to make folders etc. I probably need to get that refined before next week
 
Momof9 said:
do you have stuff stored in folders? I deal with a lot of graphics, which I have in individual themed folders. I did read about how to make folders etc. I probably need to get that refined before next week
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Yup, it's no different than a traditional file system to me. I have folders for personal, for work, different projects I am working on. The Files app could definitely be improved, but it's totally fine for basic file management.
 
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Dovahkiing said:
I'm confused. I just assumed the new PS app will have a folder in the 'on my iPad' section of the Files app. Other photo apps like Affinity allow you to import files via the Files app. Do we know this is going to be an issue?
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It probably saves to the creative cloud “cloud.” I’m unsure, but all the rumors have suggested iOS 13 is a complete redesign with iPad being primarily in mind for a lot of the new power features.
 
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Nermal said:
"It does everything I need, therefore it's suitable for everyone". A variation on "I don't need this feature, therefore nobody needs it". I see that far too often on these forums :(
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Inversely, this thread is "I need this feature, therefore everybody needs it". We run hundreds of iPad Pro's in the field with sales guys, and they have 0 need for a file system. With the apps we have developed, this has become their "computer". Different strokes for different folks.
 
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Kind of a misnomer; there is a complete filesystem, the access to it is just highly abstracted. I've yet to actually see a big problem though for the majority of use cases. Am I going to go edit a kext or wipe out some preference files or something on an iPad? Do I really need system folder access to actually do work? In fairness, I haven't poked around very deep on my Macs' filesystems the last couple years. The Files app on iOS is more than enough for me for most tasks.

Granted, I can't get to a terminal, use git to pull down a code repo, then open it in an iOS build of VSCode or Xcode...but short of on-device native software development, I find it just fine for everything else I do. If I wasn't a developer, it would almost certainly canvas off my professional and personal computing needs.
 
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iCloud backup is a lot easier and miles more reliable than my physical back ups

I’m more than happy with it

HD’s fail.. a lot !
 
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My file system lives on Dropbox, so... the steps for getting and using files is different from on my Mac, but I adjust.

I haven’t used a mouse in probably a decade. I use a Surface Pro 4 for my job doing BI/Dev, with no mouse (and didn’t use one with the Dell I had before it either), and definitely don’t need a mouse for the work I do on my macs (writing, website building, photography).

We all have different needs. I’m not going to say my use case applies to everyone and that no one needs more than I do. But this new iPad absolutely can fully replace my travel laptop and function as a “computer” for me, even if there are still plenty of tasks I’ll need my MBP for.
 
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joeblow7777 said:
Remember when Apple (and Apple fanboys) were like, "no one wants a touchscreen laptop! It's awkward and tiring to reach out and touch the screen in order to navigate!"

Now it’s, "use our touchscreen tablet with no track pad or mouse support as a laptop!"

:rolleyes:
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Those two devices you pointed out have nothing to do with each other and does not prove your mistaken point whatsoever.
 
thisismyusername said:
Why are you all complaining about this after a hardware event?
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I think because every year brings incredibly good novel iOS hardware (several times a year actually), that shows ever more how limiting iOS is as an OS. Without decent software, hardware is useless, and vice versa.

It is not just about files actually. This new revision brings an USB-c port, which could in theory allow to do a huge number of things (connect a monitor, connect storage devices, a mice or an external keyboard, an eGPU...) many of which may not be useful to you, but each of which would be useful to some other potential user. Yet, as of today, it is still unclear which of these will actually work, and I expect many not to.
 
I would assume USB-C would canvas off the same things you could do with Lightning today, with the right cables/dongles:
  • Charging (duh)
  • Display mirroring or extending, depending on app support
  • Storage (Images and Videos specifically stored in a DCIM folder)
  • Keyboards (All of the modern Mac keyboards work, admittedly I've never tried a Windows keyboard, may work fine)
  • Ethernet
Support is unlikely for:
  • Mice (there's not even a mouse sprite in iOS, AFAIK)
  • eGPUs (there's no drivers for AMD or nVidia within iOS, and most eGPUs leverage ThunderBolt now)
They did mention support for "docks" in the presentation, but I'm not sure what that means specifically, given many docks contain SD card readers, other audio devices, ThunderBolt interfaces, etc.
 
phillytim said:
Why do so many of you think iOS 13 will bring earth-shattering "bigger" or "larger" changes?

Isn't that always the case each and every year? What am I missing?
Click to expand...

I agreeee. 'Breakthrough feature of iOS 13 Snapchat style messaging within iMessages'. What was that iOS unveiling where they spent way too much time about stickers in messages? o_O ridiculous features no one wanted or needed.

The most promising thing about yesterdays event was Adobe stating "full Photoshop" becoming available. The fact that iOS apps were not "full" versions is enough of a testament to how it stands against the real version. I havent used it in a while, but last I checked, MS office still didnt have the formula builder feature in the iOS app. Not Apples fault, but developers need some sort of reassurance that this can truly be a replacement for standard computer to commit most of their resources to develop for it. Im hoping that USB C support is a good start, but Apple will still need to show what all users/devs can use it for. Like I still cant "unhide" folders in iCloud / Files app that Ive hidden on my Mac. Still cant "Open in Music" for mp3s. My hopes are high, but expectations are low for iOS13 in terms of anything groundbreaking.
 
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Most of my daily consumer tasks no longer require a traditional computer. However, I have numerous tasks that can only be done on a computer. Or, they’re so cumbersome on an iThing it’s ridiculous. In its current iOS will never replace my laptop.
 
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