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Solving having no file system

T

tpouliot

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 29, 2007
63
0
The one thing that the iPad really needs is a real file system! Good Reader seems to be one solution for storing files, however, there are some real flaws.

1. File management is poor, but at least there is something!
2. Opening a PPT converts it into PDF first and does a pretty poor job. Excel and Word documents seem to be better, but I do too much in PPT to see this as a useful soluiton

I then purchased keynote. This opens the PPTs just fine. However, there is no file system, no folders, no search (that I can find).

There is no integration between the files stored in Good Reader and Keynote! So you can not leverage the basic file system in one app to make up for the lack of one in another.

I hope Apple is going to address this on Thursday!

Is there a better way of dealing with this? I would really like to only travel with my iPad!
 
I was thinking maybe using MobileMe would be a way to store and use files effectively, but haven't tried it yet. I know they have an idisk app for the iphone, but not an ipad specific one as of yet. I would assume with the idisk app, you could simply take any files you want to work on from your main computer and upload them to your idisk, and then I would think the apps on the ipad could then access those files and save revised files or new ones back into the idisk, although I'm not sure about that.
 
You can use the iDisk app to fetch files from your iDisk and view them in iDisk on the iPad - but Keynote on the iPad cannot view files that iDisk has fetched.

This is a major pain right now! This one needs to get fixed asap. So far the only way I have found that you can sync files with the iPad for use by the iWork apps is though iTunes and plugging in the iPad.
 
schulzmc said:
You can use the iDisk app to fetch files from your iDisk and view them in iDisk on the iPad - but Keynote on the iPad cannot view files that iDisk has fetched.

This is a major pain right now! This one needs to get fixed asap. So far the only way I have found that you can sync files with the iPad for use by the iWork apps is though iTunes and plugging in the iPad.
Click to expand...

That is annoying! I don't see why Apple would do this, and am hoping its just they haven't got around to really integrating mobileme into the ipad. It seems to me they could just have it that you can save files within specific apps to the idisk, and also access those files from within apps. That would be the true cloud computing experience. It would also make a ton of people sign up for mobileme, so seems strange they don't have that function in place already.
 
dannyar said:
One app, two syllables... GoodReader. . Game OVER!
Click to expand...

First of all, GoodReader is THREE syllables...

Second, it doesn't allow you to edit the files in other applications, which is what the original poster was saying.
 
schulzmc said:
You can use the iDisk app to fetch files from your iDisk and view them in iDisk on the iPad - but Keynote on the iPad cannot view files that iDisk has fetched.

This is a major pain right now! This one needs to get fixed asap. So far the only way I have found that you can sync files with the iPad for use by the iWork apps is though iTunes and plugging in the iPad.
Click to expand...

Man that sucks!!

Does iDisk for Pages and Numbers work or do all three have the same problem?
 
MoblieMe = $$

If they fix the iDisk issue, it just gives Apple another reason to make more money off me as a user! I spent $699 on a 64GB iPad and people think iDisk is the solution? Sounds more like ransom!

iPad to compete in the NetBook space needs to be a hybrid of iPhoneOS and a traditional OS like OS X.
 
Two issues:

1) Getting docs from (iDisk/dropbox/googledocs) into the iWork apps. There are ways to do so in all cases, some easier than others. Googledocs is the easiest funny enough - when you open a googledocs you're prompted with a 'which app to use' type prompt. So you could select Pages for example.

2) Getting docs from iWork apps *back* into (iDisk/dropbox/googledocs). There's currently no way that I know of to do this other than kludgy workarounds, and it's a big ****ing deal IMO.

It's definitely the biggest thorn in the side of my plan to use my iPad as my primary computer. Still intend to do so though :)

My hope is that OS4 will provide a robust solution that allows in/out transfer of docs b/t apps and storage systems, as well as organization beyond the flat-file structure of the iWork docs.

If it comes as part of an overhauled mobileme that hooks iDisk tightly into the iPad...I'm okay with that. I subscribe already and get plenty of utility from the cloud syncing as is.
 
I have a patchwork of 3rd party apps in my attempt to get a filesystem up and running. I have airsharing HD which allows me to copy files over from ftp sites, sorry no smb or afp yet. I can then open them in the associated apps but I haven't yet proven to myself I can get them to make a round trip.

I also have goodreader. I also have filebrowser. Lastly I have Mobile Studio. None of these can see any of the others' files. I also have the freeware iDisk iPhone app (running in 2x mode) and it does NOT allow me to download and edit files from mobile me. It only allows me to view them.

For now, if I'm serious about editing something, I turn to Remote Tap (another iPhone app running in 2x mode) and use my iPad as a remote terminal to operate my Mac.

anthonymoody said:
Two issues:

1) Getting docs from (iDisk/dropbox/googledocs) into the iWork apps. There are ways to do so in all cases, some easier than others. Googledocs is the easiest funny enough - when you open a googledocs you're prompted with a 'which app to use' type prompt. So you could select Pages for example.

2) Getting docs from iWork apps *back* into (iDisk/dropbox/googledocs). There's currently no way that I know of to do this other than kludgy workarounds, and it's a big ****ing deal IMO.

It's definitely the biggest thorn in the side of my plan to use my iPad as my primary computer. Still intend to do so though :)

My hope is that OS4 will provide a robust solution that allows in/out transfer of docs b/t apps and storage systems, as well as organization beyond the flat-file structure of the iWork docs.

If it comes as part of an overhauled mobileme that hooks iDisk tightly into the iPad...I'm okay with that. I subscribe already and get plenty of utility from the cloud syncing as is.
Click to expand...

These issues aren't merely about using an iPad as a primary computer. For an iPad to be useful as an email platform, I need to be able to receive a spreadsheet and edit it and send it back to the sender under a different filename. I need to be able to get files on and off the iPad on demand. Sure these are things you want on a general purpose computer, but in reality they are things that should be there on a media device that is capable of running iWork. Apple should never have touted iWork if they hadn't already worked out a way to get files on and off the iPad in a seamless manner without resorting to a hodgepodge of third party hacks or jailbreaking. I hate to think that jailbreaking would be required to get a basic function like access to iWork files I created in the first place!
 
I can't possibly agree with you more! For many of us, the ability to email isn't just limited to "yo lol I'll brt, etc". We need to be able to work on files, make revisions and get them either onto a website or email. My sincerest hope that 4.0 will grant us this wish!

r0k said:
I have a patchwork of 3rd party apps in my attempt to get a filesystem up and running. I have airsharing HD which allows me to copy files over from ftp sites, sorry no smb or afp yet. I can then open them in the associated apps but I haven't yet proven to myself I can get them to make a round trip.

I also have goodreader. I also have filebrowser. Lastly I have Mobile Studio. None of these can see any of the others' files. I also have the freeware iDisk iPhone app (running in 2x mode) and it does NOT allow me to download and edit files from mobile me. It only allows me to view them.

For now, if I'm serious about editing something, I turn to Remote Tap (another iPhone app running in 2x mode) and use my iPad as a remote terminal to operate my Mac.



These issues aren't merely about using an iPad as a primary computer. For an iPad to be useful as an email platform, I need to be able to receive a spreadsheet and edit it and send it back to the sender under a different filename. I need to be able to get files on and off the iPad on demand. Sure these are things you want on a general purpose computer, but in reality they are things that should be there on a media device that is capable of running iWork. Apple should never have touted iWork if they hadn't already worked out a way to get files on and off the iPad in a seamless manner without resorting to a hodgepodge of third party hacks or jailbreaking. I hate to think that jailbreaking would be required to get a basic function like access to iWork files I created in the first place!
Click to expand...
 
There's more at stake here anyway

At least from what I've read (admit-tingly not experienced) is that PAGES and KEYNOTE do not import 100 percent of the document (things are changed/omitted) and therefor when you port back, you are porting back a changed document.

In other words - you format your keynote on the mac. you port to the iPad - you lose groupings, speaker notes, fonts beyond the ones supported on the iPad and other things. You edit your keynote preso. If you send back to the mac, you're going to have to re-jigger the preso again.
 
Don't the iWork applications have integration with iWork.com to download and edit within Keynote, Pages, and Numbers?

According to Apple: http://www.apple.com/iwork/iwork-do...-090702-00004&cp=APP-IWORK-00004&sr=IWORK.COM

Do More From Your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch

Easily access your documents while on the go by using iWork.com's redesigned Sign In and Shared Documents pages for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. The new interface is optimized for scrolling with your fingertips, and makes it easy to find your documents faster. You can see a high resolution view of your document right on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch and even download it to edit with Keynote, Pages, or Numbers on your iPad.

Visit www.iwork.com using Safari on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to access and view your shared documents.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you just download, edit, click "Share" and the current version gets loaded back up to iwork.com
 
chriskzoo said:
Don't the iWork applications have integration with iWork.com to download and edit within Keynote, Pages, and Numbers?

According to Apple: http://www.apple.com/iwork/iwork-do...-090702-00004&cp=APP-IWORK-00004&sr=IWORK.COM



I'm pretty sure you just download, edit, click "Share" and the current version gets loaded back up to iwork.com
Click to expand...

That's fine for something I want to share. What about if I'm editing my last will and testament or durable medical power of attorney and want to email it to my attorney for review? Or a response to a job offer? Or an offer to purchase real estate? Do you really think I want to wait 'till I get back in front of my Mac to mark it up with my counter-proposal when I'm sitting in front of my iPad?

I may not choose to have such a sensitive document go through iwork.com. Of course the same argument could be made for family budgets, organization budgets, faculty hiring review commitee minutes, disciplinary review board memos, subpoenas, property title work, patent disclosure drafts, etc, etc. Some (if not all) of these things might be ok to send through email but the author might not want to have to deal with using iwork.com as an intermediate stop off point simply to move documents around. And if you're gonna tell me I shouldn't be using my iPad for anything confidential or proprietary, I'll say you signed up for that as soon as you (meaning Apple in this case) told me I could use the thing for email.

Just to put this in perspective, I had this capability on my ancient Palm Treo 650. I have this capability on my (somewhat) gracefully aging Blackberry 8830. Why on earth would I not want this capability on my iPad?
 
This is a major problem and it could become what copy-paste was to the iPhone. Considering the increased functionality for productivity on the iPad, it's an even bigger problem, and since Apple is setting the stage with their own iWork apps, it's not something they can blow off for long.

I do suspect it'll be addressed, maybe not to everyone's satisfaction, but it will be improved. Just as the original iPhone had few features and many small glitched, the iPad will get some refinements as well.

One thing I'm not confident will go away soon is the reliance on iTunes (and the desktop or laptop it's running on) for so many things. This is looking like an increasingly clunky solution for a company known for an elegant user experience. I wonder how long they can hold onto this antiquated model.
 
The trouble isn't that there is no file system, the trouble is that there is no support on the desktop side of things.

What we need is for iWork to treat documents like iTunes and iPhoto do with their media. Give us a database style browsing experience and just have docs sync up!
 
I'm willing to give Apple a minor pass until what we get out of the announcement on Thursday.

But if that comes and goes without something definitive in this regard, then I'll be grousing as loud as anyone. I'll never be hater, but come on - this is just poor.

That said, even a robust file system won't be particularly useful unless the iWork apps learn to play nice with formatting, fonts, footnotes, etc...
 
I tested uploading files to iWork.com before the iPad was released, and at that point in time, you could upload Numbers files, and people in turn, could download a .numbers file, a .pdf, or a .xls. Now? No .xls.

That's an oversight, and it should be fixed.

Update: You can still upload Numbers docs from OS X to iwork.com and have them downloaded as .xls files. Still can't do it from the iPad. That's... retarded. I was fully expecting to be able to use Numbers in lieu of anything spreadsheet-oriented because I would simply direct people to the iwork.com version so they could pick whichever version they wanted. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
 
Why are so many people still unaware that you can move files to your iPad via iTunes. And 3rd party apps can gain permission to use these files. GoodReader for example can read PDFs, .txt etc that are put onto the iPad via iTunes. If you're wondering, you go to the Apps tab and at the bottom is the File Sharing area.
 
When you export and "Share via iWork.com" what happens next? Does the file appear in the iWork.com file folders? Speaking of which, I don't have/use iWork.com - would someone please describe the file structure to the extent it has one?

Realized you could go to iWork.com in Safari, open the document in say Pages, and export it back out to iWork.com (depending on the answer to my question ^^^)
 
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