You can easily go to the Recently Deleted section and restore any files you accidentally delete. It doesn’t actually completely remove it from cloud for 30 days. You’d have to accidentally delete the file, and then accidentally go to the Recently Deleted section to accidentally delete it from there, oh, and also accidentally select yes when the prompt asks you “do you want to permanently delete x file?”. I don‘t think even Jar Jar Binks could make that many concurrent accidents…
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iPad Why does iPadOS not feel like true OS?
- Thread starter Bubble99
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I posted this elsewhere, but the thing that makes ipadOS not feel like a real OS, to me, is that it is designed like an appliance OS. It lacks a whole bunch of very specific general purpose OS features:
1. You can’t build software to run *on* the OS *in* the OS -- you have to use a tool suite on another OS.
2. You can’t install software onto the device except from one repository, and that repository has very strict rules about functionality that is permitted in packages it hosts. There are whole classes of software that are ”not present” on iPads not because ipadOS can’t run them, but because Apple’s App Store rules prevent them from being offered to iPad users to install. And the EU alternate app stores still allow Apple to arbitrarily control what software *those* stores offer (see the example of UTM, which uses a JIT)
3. You can’t modify most of the OS behavior via modules or plugins or extensions, and what you can modify requires explicit blessing and agreement from Apple. This is tied to #2, but is at a different layer. Think fonts or printer drivers or mouse button remapping. There are clumsy OS level abstractions for bits of this in ipadOS, but it’s more limited than in most general purpose OSes.
4. Interprocess communication and data access (ie, file system stuff) is very different than most general purpose OSes.
5. You have no arbitrary background processes — everything is killed at a moments notice when not in focus or when the device is slept. This blocks server processes — which is also part of the rules in #2 — and requires awkward workarounds in the few places it’s allowed to exist at all.
Additionally, you can’t run any non-Apple-blessed arbitrary OS on their hardware, even if you want to. They control when the device is obsolete, not you, based on when they stop supporting OS updates on it. Which a MacBook, you can install Linux or BSD or something on it when Apple stops supporting it. Not so with iPads. They effectively become e-waste en masse.
There are reasons for all these limitations — some security, some business, some “user experience” — but the fact they exist, and there is literally no way around them, makes ipadOS work very differently than a general purpose OS.
Very broadly, iPads work like games consoles — you need specialized hardware to write software for them, and you need to have a business relationship with Apple to sell that software, and their rules control what you the user or you the developer can do with the machines and the OS. Apple being Apple, many of their rules are far more restrictive or arbitrary than most of the games consoles (as I understand them).
All of that is Very Different from pretty much any general purpose OS.
1. You can’t build software to run *on* the OS *in* the OS -- you have to use a tool suite on another OS.
2. You can’t install software onto the device except from one repository, and that repository has very strict rules about functionality that is permitted in packages it hosts. There are whole classes of software that are ”not present” on iPads not because ipadOS can’t run them, but because Apple’s App Store rules prevent them from being offered to iPad users to install. And the EU alternate app stores still allow Apple to arbitrarily control what software *those* stores offer (see the example of UTM, which uses a JIT)
3. You can’t modify most of the OS behavior via modules or plugins or extensions, and what you can modify requires explicit blessing and agreement from Apple. This is tied to #2, but is at a different layer. Think fonts or printer drivers or mouse button remapping. There are clumsy OS level abstractions for bits of this in ipadOS, but it’s more limited than in most general purpose OSes.
4. Interprocess communication and data access (ie, file system stuff) is very different than most general purpose OSes.
5. You have no arbitrary background processes — everything is killed at a moments notice when not in focus or when the device is slept. This blocks server processes — which is also part of the rules in #2 — and requires awkward workarounds in the few places it’s allowed to exist at all.
Additionally, you can’t run any non-Apple-blessed arbitrary OS on their hardware, even if you want to. They control when the device is obsolete, not you, based on when they stop supporting OS updates on it. Which a MacBook, you can install Linux or BSD or something on it when Apple stops supporting it. Not so with iPads. They effectively become e-waste en masse.
There are reasons for all these limitations — some security, some business, some “user experience” — but the fact they exist, and there is literally no way around them, makes ipadOS work very differently than a general purpose OS.
Very broadly, iPads work like games consoles — you need specialized hardware to write software for them, and you need to have a business relationship with Apple to sell that software, and their rules control what you the user or you the developer can do with the machines and the OS. Apple being Apple, many of their rules are far more restrictive or arbitrary than most of the games consoles (as I understand them).
All of that is Very Different from pretty much any general purpose OS.
1. Swift Playgrounds allows for development and deployment of apps to the App Store on the iPad.
2. Most people don’t want to get software from other repositories. Even on my Mac, I hate it when a developer makes me have to sideload their app from a website rather than be able to just download it and update it from the App Store. App Store distribution is way safer because everything‘s actually vetted, sideloading, nothing’s vetted, so you run much higher risk of installing malware or getting scammed.
3. Another great security feature.
4. It’s also easier and more intuitive.
5. Better for power efficiency. And this is a lot different with M-Series iPads, I’ve run plenty of processes in the background just fine without them pausing or closing.
You are entirely missing my point. Virtually everything you said is the same thing I said here:
There are reasons for all these limitations — some security, some business, some “user experience” — but the fact they exist, and there is literally no way around them, makes ipadOS work very differently than a general purpose OS.and what I said here:
the thing that makes ipadOS not feel like a real OS, to me, is that it is designed like an appliance OS. It lacks a whole bunch of very specific general purpose OS features:I am not trying to argue that ipadOS needs to be different than it is (although do think that), I am trying to explain why it isn’t a general purpose OS. I already know why Apple has designed it this way.
And, additionally, Swift Playgrounds does not let me build a C++ app for ipadOS. Xcode on MacOS does.
"not a general purpose OS" is a good description and considering the intended user group a wise decision from Apple.
It is the word "real" that is confusing. At least in my native language "real" is problematic. Consider "He is a real man". What does "real" provide? A man is determined by genetics but in this case "real" suggest some particular properties of a man (muscular, aggressive or whatever else that describe a "real" man). Most of us men are not muscular and aggressive but still men by a genetic definition that can reproduce, raise kids, go to work etc. Ie we have all function needed without being a "real" man. I think the same thinking applies to various OSs.
Not sure I can agree. Example: I want to Tag files both within « On my iPad » as well as associated or similar files within say the PDF Expert « App container ». I create a favorite to the files within the PDF Expert container. From there I can see those files from within Files. It even gives me an action choice to write a file Tag to those files or directories. They don’t stick. The issues within iPad OS having separate App-centric containers where you want say, a group of disparate files associated to that project could be circumvented via a Tag-based work around, however it appears you cannot even do that. Result, if I want a traditional-based files structure, I have to scrape all of those files « natively« out of the App containers and place them manually all into directory structure I created within « On My iPad ». At least enabling an across the board, file Tagging system from within Files would be nice. Just One example where Files is not « basicly the same as Finder«. One may prefer one over the other, but they are not identical.
I’d be happy to have someone point out I am doing something wrong, in that case, problem solved.
Why not just save files to that consolidated folder in the first place? Most iPadOS apps have a “Save to Files” option which gives you a mini window of files and allows you to name your file and choose the destination where you want to save it, just like on the Mac with Finder. So with the vast majority of iPad apps, you don’t even need to save your files in the app’s folder. Most of the files stored in the app folders are files used by that app itself, such as templates or other assets that the app uses.
Top of my wishlist? Freeflowing windows, snap to sides, etc.
I understand the battery usage problems with allowing all open apps to run in the background, but there are some cases where it’s useful to have. One trivial example might be Discord, but any app that requires a persistent connection can benefit. One solution would be a toggle (default off) that allows selected apps to run in the background.
Keep iPad OS as it is with the following changes (in this order):
- True Desktop Safari (i.e. squarespace, webflow to work properly)
- Better file management
- Increased battery life
- Advanced apps like Final Cut to gain plugin support
- True Desktop Safari (i.e. squarespace, webflow to work properly)
- Better file management
- Increased battery life
- Advanced apps like Final Cut to gain plugin support
I honestly don’t really need much new change in iPadOS. As it is, it’s great for my workflow, and I prefer it over macOS. There are some things I’d like to see though. One would be the window tiling features added in macOS Sequoia. Also full AirPlay Receiver that works with mirroring iPhone display on iPad rather than being limited to the Vision Pro.
Maybe they could add a setting for those who want more freeform window positioning, but I actually see the iPad’s window snap grid as a strength. It’s super easy to create neat and orderly looking workspaces, something that macOS struggles with in my opinion. I really hope we don’t lose that advantage with the iPad in the name of pleasing a few people who are upset by it. Like I said, give those people a setting option.
Maybe they could add a setting for those who want more freeform window positioning, but I actually see the iPad’s window snap grid as a strength. It’s super easy to create neat and orderly looking workspaces, something that macOS struggles with in my opinion. I really hope we don’t lose that advantage with the iPad in the name of pleasing a few people who are upset by it. Like I said, give those people a setting option.
iOS is the 3rd largest OS in the world with Android being #1. So Apple don’t really care if MacRumors think iOS doesn’t “feel like a true OS” because it is, as it is only beaten by Windows and Android.
This specific limitation always cracks me up. Want to debug your website on iPad? Alright! First step - bust out your Mac to enable debug mode in Safari. At that point I'll just use my Mac!
What do you think of stage manger? Do you like it or hate it.
What would you do to stage manger if you where Apple?
What would you do to stage manger if you where Apple?
I love it! 👍🏻. I prefer the iPad’s implementation of Stage Manager over the Mac’s. It’s simple and efficient to create a clean looking workspace thanks to the window snapping on iPadOS. And it keeps workspaces nicely organized with separate stages for different tasks. 👍🏻
Hate it - horrible design and implementation. Apple should junk it and start over clean rather than the normal "lipstick on a pig" approach of tiny, incremental improvements.
I love the design and implementation, and I’m sure that many other iPad users do as well… This is just going to be a bunch of Mac people wanting the iPad to be a Mac complaining about the iPad not being a Mac… 🤦🏼♂️
The problem with threads like this is that many of the people commenting are Mac users that dislike iPadOS in the first place, so we’ll see a disproportionate number of such people complaining about iPadOS features and trashing on the iPad because it isn’t a Mac. But Apple knows what they’re doing with the iPad, the iPad is an extremely successful product, they usually outsell Macs, and even often rake in about the same or more revenue than the Macs, even though most Macs are more expensive than most iPads. The iPad leads the tablet market, not the Surface Pro. The reality is that many iPad users like the iPad because it isn’t a Mac, because it is an iPad. It doesn’t have as many legacy desktop OS underpinnings that are less intuitive and weigh down the experience. It’s a fully touch optimized OS that’s fully optimized for the iPad’s hardware. It’s a more modern and intuitive platform to many. There is definitely a place for macOS, but for many, iPadOS is the better and simpler option. Again, there is definitely a place for the Mac, and Macs are great for certain things, but we don’t need to turn the iPad into another Mac, clearly the iPad is extremely successful as an iPad…
I'm sure there are some that like it and a bunch more that don't - as evidenced by the complaints every time it is discussed. I don't need macOS on the iPad (and Apple won't do it), I just want something that isn't a simplistic hack.
I like the way Stage Manager works on iPadOS. That’s fine if you don’t, but I prefer a clean windowing environment where I can precisely center an app window on my screen without having to use a buried option in the Menu Bar. This is just so much simpler on iPadOS because it has that nice snap grid. And perfectly aligning app windows is a breeze! It’s like the snap options in my graphic design software, it’s so much nicer than having non-aligned windows that aren’t centered like on the Mac. And I can’t as readily completely burry an app window under another one to where it’s then a pain to get back to, the system automatically pokes a bit of that window out from under the stack so I can easily resurface it. It’s just so much nicer and more efficient for me.
This sounds like rationalization for the shortcomings of iPadOS. I have to use both an iPad and a Mac because of the them. That doesn't mean I expect or want the iPad to be a Mac. It does mean that because of the shortcomings, I have to use my Mac a lot more than I should for certain tasks. The reports that Apple will be addressing some of the shortcomings means that even Apple agrees. There are many things that can cleaned up in iPadOS that won't ruin the touch experience.