So... where are the files in the iPad Pro?

[sparksd]

Good point. I guess I could look it up but easier to ask you. What’s the inputs on it? Can i plug in my monster 6TB thunderbolt drive if I want? Multiple drives?
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That things bloody brilliant! Power bank too? And you can plug in one usb stick and everyone can share or copy files. Way way more useful than just a wireless HD! Thanks for that. I’ll put it on the list. Drives are so small these days anyway I bet I could find a mini 4TB portable.

You may already have the answers but don't know on the 6TB HDD - 4TB max maybe? It will accept a hub. At $40, it's a great buy. I've had to use the Ethernet port in hotels as well as bridging to multiple devices when limited by hotel connections.

 

[Eric5273]

I guess what this thread shows is there are tons of ways to do things on the iPad, mainly because there are over a million apps in the App Store. While many of them are junk, there are tons of very good apps that can do just about anything you can think of. The challenge is finding the right apps for your specific needs. That took me more than 6 months from the time I got my first iPad Pro. And even now, more than 2 years later, I still occasionally find a new app that does something useful for me.

 

[Saskat]

Due to the limitation of the file system it is necessary to develop your own set of workarounds to achieve simple things. And depending on exact what you want to accomplish, different workarounds and/or costly external devices and services are needed.

Nothing straightforward, fluid or consistent about it.

 

[nmaxcom]

Sorry for the late reply!

Your best bet for reading? Get the kindle app. Set up a kindle email. Mail the books to that email and it’ll show up in the kindle app. I do use a kindle and I suppose I could copy them over but it’s so much easier this way. Do you have calibre? Another good option paired with stanza front end. You can browse your entire library and move what you need. Can’t answer the other questions but for reading this is your best bet. Kindle email supports mobi, pdf and word. I think txt as well not sure. The only thing that doesn’t work is ePub but with caliber (or any free online converter) it’s incredibly easy to change formats.

I think I did download Kindle (something I'd only do in desperation mode) but there were still some things that didn't work. But the e-mail thing doesn't ring any bells, so I'll make sure to try that.

I did try Calibre as well (I knew it from macOS), also little success.

I was in general shocked by the sheer jailed feeling. No real FS, everything capped... I generally dislike Apple for different reasons but this was just a big 'wtf is wrong with these people.'

Of course, Windows, macOS, and Linux will need a bit of work to get it to my "satisfaction level" where everything runs to my preference, and I can wrestle with the occasional error that may come up and so on. But this iOS thing? I knew it was crap by fiddling with my friend's iPhone's (with the whole "this doesn't play Flash?" era) and whatnot (don't understand why people still buy those overpriced digital prisons but that's for another discussion) but feeling it in my hands... Oh god. It feels wrong. I admit my background may have a lot to do but still... My girlfriend is a regular user, and she's always asking how can she do this or that and sadly the answer most of the times is "...you just can't. You need a real computer/laptop".

And goddam the iPad Pro is not cheap (it's Apple unmistakably), and it's incredibly capped. Why on earth would they do that? I understand newbies need not worry about fs's and whatnot but there should be a way to get your hand in the machine and make it retarded-free.

I'm sorry for the rant.

The most amazing thing I find, is people who don't research something before they buy it then complain about it.

If you are referring to me, I clearly stated that my only reason to buy the iPad was for drawing purposes and that I had no complaint in that regard. The iPad Pro seemed to be the best option for drawing purposes. Otherwise, I'd have bought a tablet with a real usable OS like Android.

For most the iPad when used as intended there is not a need for access to a file system, thats the ease of it.

I just posted a very sensible "used as intended" case, and it doesn't bloody work. This is not a matter of slogans or "you are holding the device wrong," right? If I can't accomplish the most straightforward task such as reading a bought ebook in a purchased product, famous for it's reading comfort, in case you don't know, the blame is on the product. That's how the real world works outside of the Apple bubble.

I guess what this thread shows is there are tons of ways to do things on the iPad, mainly because there are over a million apps in the App Store.

That's reasoning is a bit flawed as I downloaded no less than twelve "file managing" apps. Guess what, all apps are bound to the same restrictions. Therefore it makes no difference if there are one million or two trillion apps, it's the terrible iOS who sets the rules. And the rules suck.

Due to the limitation of the file system it is necessary to develop your own set of workarounds to achieve simple things. And depending on exact what you want to accomplish, different workarounds and/or costly external devices and services are needed.

Nothing straightforward, fluid or consistent about it.

Amen.

 

[Starship67]

I just posted a very sensible "used as intended" case, and it doesn't bloody work.

Sell it then, and move on. Mine works for me just fine for everything I use it for.

 

[rui no onna]

If I can't accomplish the most straightforward task such as reading a bought ebook in a purchased product, famous for it's reading comfort, in case you don't know, the blame is on the product. That's how the real world works outside of the Apple bubble.

Yes, iOS is quite locked down. The lack of file system access is perhaps the most frequent complaint.

That said, in the case of ebooks I don't see much of a problem in terms of usage/reading.

My aunt just buys her ebooks from Amazon and downloads and reads via the Kindle app. I suggested Kindle for her because, 1.) she already has an Amazon account so no need to create another account for Nook, Kobo, Adobe or what-have-you and 2.) unlike iBooks, her Kindle books will still be accessible in case she ever switches platforms. In the US, I reckon you'll find majority are just fine with a similar arrangement regardless of platform.

For PDF, I use PDF Expert by Readdle. It's got built-in support for Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, OneDrive, WebDAV, FTP, SFTP and Windows SMB.

Personally, I have my ebooks (DRM-free EPUB or PDF) on Dropbox. The apps I use have built-in support for Dropbox. My video player (Infuse Pro) and comic book reader (ComicGlass) also support Windows File Sharing (SMB) so for large files, I don't have to use cloud storage.

For me, it's not a question of what file manager to use but rather of finding the right app. The thing is finding software that does what you want is something you also have to do on Android, Linux, Windows, etc. I usually build my own desktops and iirc, Windows XP for example, didn't have PDF and DVD playback support out of the box. No native ebook readers, either. I actually keep a USB flash drive with installers for my "standard" programs (7-zip, Notepad++, Chrome, Firefox, MPC-HC, VLC, etc).

 

[KitnB]

Welcome to iOS, and to one of the reasons as of why iPads (as long as iOS doesnt evolve) will never be a full desktop replacement.

PS: to achieve cross-app file sync'ing, you will have to commute them through iCloud... Yep, I know...

I have to agree, mostly. The hamstring with making the iPad a TRULY desktop experience is the lack of real access to the core file system (like in Android, for instance).

Though the iPad Pro can, indeed, replace a laptop/desktop for almost all computer related stuff, I have to admit that the lack of access to FS can be a deal breaker for some.

 

[nmaxcom]

Sell it then, and move on. Mine works for me just fine for everything I use it for.

Yeah. Let's buy an overpriced device marketed as this magic e-reader, note-taking, for students, businesses... with the official slogan: iPad. Like a Computer. Unlike any computer.

iPad and iOS will let you do very scarce, very controlled actions. And it's nothing like a computer. Now that I see it's a little more than a pocket calculator I'll go and sell it and eat the losses and the wasted time? Fortunately I can afford having it just as an overpriced drawing tablet.

Where I come from, we call that a scam.

I thank the gods Apple isn't the only manufacturer; if it were computer science would cease to exist. I can do way, way more with a simple Android mobile (for a fraction of the price). Does that make sense to anyone?
When did it become okay to own a device that limits what you can do with it? How many gadgets and dongles and more Applecrapware one does have to buy to get a semblance of useful usage?

And thank the gods for Linux and OSX (which generally is not too screwed up) and Android.


Okay I ended my rant.

 

[Shirasaki]

replace a laptop/desktop for almost all computer related stuff

That sounds extreme. But makes sense if “computer related stuff” are just a bit more than normal web browsing.

 

[hanser]

Now that I see it's a little more than a pocket calculator I'll go and sell it and eat the losses and the wasted time? Fortunately I can afford having it just as an overpriced drawing tablet.

Where I come from, we call that a scam.



Okay I ended my rant.

now that is a bit overblown, isn't it? I use my iPad for writing/editing texts with bluetooth keyboard, editing photos, making mini movies, working on presentations, teaching my daughter coding with swift playgrounds, navigating in other areas, writing a diary, making lists and reminders, listening to music, checking my finances, paying bills, accessing all my computer files at home via Remote Files, watching TV and and and…

In short I do almost all the things I would otherwise do on a laptop.

You are just used to a conventional way of dealing with files. On iPad I do not care about files, I just do in the apps what I want to do.

And I never had a problem with opening a pdf or ebook in iBooks which is a nice app to read.