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FileBrowser handles all the major cloud platforms, sFTP, WebDAV and just about anywhere else you can store files plus it extends the Files app so anything accessible in FileBrowser is within the Files app as well. Just about the only thing missing for it to be a full filesystem to me is the ability to read & write directly to external drives, I currently do that via a NAS using the Ravpower FileHub but that is a pain.

I can even copy photos as files from my camera or memory card direct to the Files app bypassing the Photo library and import into Lightroom from the Files app using the FileHub and then connect an external drive to the FileHub to back them up, just wish you could do that directly without the NAS.
Perhaps it then works better than Documents? In Documents, I can sync a folder with Dropbox. But that synced folder is not visible from the Files app, only local files in Documents are visible.
 
... With iCloud is a mission impossible on a Windows machine. For this reason I try to not to use iCloud and I make sure to configure this in settings for every apps that allows me to do it.
Its working for me, but not for you: ergo it doesn't work. I appreciate the frustration, because
it would not work for me initially. I could not even find a thread that discussed trouble shooting
icloud and windows. Then, after several re-installs with no luck, special icon folders for
Sketchbook and Scanbot appeared in my windows icloud folder and it was working great.
Good luck!
 
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The file system is locked out because unlocking it knocks down the walled garden. I'm sure there are many people that want exactly that, but that's clearly not what Apple intends.

Apple spends great effort keeping things locked down. It would actually be easier for Apple to just have an open file system, but then they'd lose control. Apple lives and breathes vertical integration--they don't want to lose control.

I do not think we'll see an open file system on an iPad until/unless Apple makes MacOS tablets.

I think the best we'll see in iOS tablets are very small, very controlled enhancements that don't conflict with the walled garden.
 
can people provide real world examples of what a “proper’ filing system is and looks like? What are the pros and cons? I use cloud services and just upload what I can when I am online. The only frustration I have with iOS filing system is he lack of ability to copy iTunes content and then watch it on other devices registered with same account. For this I need a Mac.
 
I just need to be able to hook my ipad up to a pc/laptop/chromebook, usb flash drive, portable ssd drive, microsd card hub...whatever so I can just simply drag and drop my files (any type). This locked garden mess is crap (we are the consumers who pay loads of money to them, we should get what we ask for especially if its something simple). I don't want to access itunes or load up files on icloud/google drive at times. Sometimes its just faster to select all and paste. A general file manager with simple copy and paste like on other OS's should be no big deal at all.
 
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The file system is locked out because unlocking it knocks down the walled garden. I'm sure there are many people that want exactly that, but that's clearly not what Apple intends.

Apple spends great effort keeping things locked down. It would actually be easier for Apple to just have an open file system, but then they'd lose control. Apple lives and breathes vertical integration--they don't want to lose control.

I do not think we'll see an open file system on an iPad until/unless Apple makes MacOS tablets.

I think the best we'll see in iOS tablets are very small, very controlled enhancements that don't conflict with the walled garden.

To be fair, part of the benefit of the lockdown is security and ease of backups/upgrades/migrations. Any nontechnical user can get a new iPad, do a restore from an iCloud backup, and find everything exactly where it was on the old iPad. Having seen how this has made so many nontechnical users feel empowered and in control of their own data, I have to say Apple has a point.

The trick is whether Apple can maintain that advantage of lockdown while opening up more "holes" for power users who need the control. The jury is still out so far, but I'm still optimistic that Apple's incrementalist approach will ultimately work out.
 
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To be fair, part of the benefit of the lockdown is security and ease of backups/upgrades/migrations. Any nontechnical user can get a new iPad, do a restore from an iCloud backup, and find everything exactly where it was on the old iPad. Having seen how this has made so many nontechnical users feel empowered and in control of their own data, I have to say Apple has a point.

The trick is whether Apple can maintain that advantage of lockdown while opening up more "holes" for power users who need the control. The jury is still out so far, but I'm still optimistic that Apple's incrementalist approach will ultimately work out.

Oh, I'm well aware of the benefits. Even as a very technical user I love the walled garden. Every time I pick up the iPad it works instantly, perfectly, and consistently.

Every time I fire up my Windows tablet it is almost completely unusable for a couple hours because of Windows Updates. I also spend a lot of time doing troubleshooting/maintenance. For example I'm doing things like getting the latest touchpad driver, or unrolling an automatic Windows update that broke the wi-fi, or editing the Registry, or using Notepad to change the config.ini for a game because the resolution/aspect ratio of the tablet isn't compatible with the game, or endlessly switching tablet mode on and off because some things are better in tablet mode but some things only exist with tablet mode off, or Googling for what I need to fix because I can't figure out myself.

This are issues that almost don't exist on the iPad. If I'm on the iPad, I'm using the app I intend to use. Period.
 
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can people provide real world examples of what a “proper’ filing system is and looks like? What are the pros and cons? I use cloud services and just upload what I can when I am online. The only frustration I have with iOS filing system is he lack of ability to copy iTunes content and then watch it on other devices registered with same account. For this I need a Mac.

I have over 3000 contracts that I need for my field employees to have available. The field for them is not on the internet so they need to have them all downloaded ready for use. They are word docs. On a computer with a file system I can have these files downloaded and ready for use. The iPad can do this but you got to jump thru hoops. I am tired of it.
 
Dropbox works with the files app though...?
Yes. The whole problems is that this does not necessarily mean that apps have access to Dropbox through the files app. They have to implement Dropbox access (and Onedrive, Google drive etc.) separately.

But anyway the files app does not work well with Dropbox: you cannot see recent files, and you cannot search. That only works for iCloud.
 
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I have over 3000 contracts that I need for my field employees to have available. The field for them is not on the internet so they need to have them all downloaded ready for use. They are word docs. On a computer with a file system I can have these files downloaded and ready for use. The iPad can do this but you got to jump thru hoops. I am tired of it.
Why would ipad be a choice for this work? You should--imo-- get surfaces or laptops.
The ipad is great for some tasks, but not others.

[doublepost=1545266186][/doublepost]
Every time I fire up my Windows tablet it is almost completely unusable for a couple hours because of Windows Updates. I also spend a lot of time doing troubleshooting/maintenance
Total BS. Period
 
Total BS. Period

Nearly all of my Windows use is on desktops, so the rare instance that I need to use it portable, enough time has gone by that there are ALWAYS large, multiple, pending updates.

Not BS. Period.

P.S. Don't call people liars just because their experience is different than yours. People have different use cases.
 
iOS has - and always has had - access to the filesystem.

Only (for apps) it's a sandboxed filesystem that is accessible only by that app or app group. (The same publisher can - if they choose - share files across their own apps.)

And, now, iOS, watchOS, tvOS and MacOS all use the same type of filesystem - APFS - to boot.
 
True. But my interest is for those times when I am traveling for significant periods in areas with poor to no Internet connectivity. Because of that, I don't count on cloud services and would like better on-board file management. I currently use FileBrowser as a de facto file manager.
I’m not sure I understand. With Dropbox, I can store files on my device indefinitely. I can make changes to them multiple times while without internet, no problem. It’s on-board file storage and management. I just pull down what I need (or everything) before a trip, and sync it all back when I have a strong internet connection.
 
Why would ipad be a choice for this work? You should--imo-- get surfaces or laptops.
The ipad is great for some tasks, but not others.

[doublepost=1545266186][/doublepost]
Total BS. Period

No one wants to lug a laptop around.

You do not even know what they are doing with the ipad so you are making a judgement without knowing what we do.

We tried Surface and returned all 4 units within a week. The iPads work fine with Dropbox but would prefer to have a real file system.
 
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No one wants to lug a laptop around.
You do not even know what they are doing with the ipad so you are making a judgement without knowing what we do.
We tried Surface and returned all 4 units within a week. The iPads work fine with Dropbox but would prefer to have a real file system.
First you write you are "sick of jumping thru hoops" with the ipad, then you correct to ipad's work fine with Dropbox?
Weight difference between Surface pro or similar superlight laptop and the ipad pro with keyboard is a fraction of a pound: but you don't want "lug" that around. Then more BS surface hate: returned it within a week? You must have put a lot of research into that purchase! I find your whole scenario confused and not credible.
 
iOS has - and always has had - access to the filesystem.

Only (for apps) it's a sandboxed filesystem that is accessible only by that app or app group. (The same publisher can - if they choose - share files across their own apps.)

And, now, iOS, watchOS, tvOS and MacOS all use the same type of filesystem - APFS - to boot.

The way it's implemented is really annoying when it comes to file management. Now you can't just open and create any folder structure you need but have to use those app folders. iOS doesn't need more than user level file system but it needs to be organizable like you want and apps should be able to open them anywhere in the user level file system if given the permission. Instead you have to jump through all kinds of export, import and share hoops to pass a file between apps etc.
 
First you write you are "sick of jumping thru hoops" with the ipad, then you correct to ipad's work fine with Dropbox?
Weight difference between Surface pro or similar superlight laptop and the ipad pro with keyboard is a fraction of a pound: but you don't want "lug" that around. Then more BS surface hate: returned it within a week? You must have put a lot of research into that purchase! I find your whole scenario confused and not credible.

That is OK as I find you not credible in your attempt to judge my company. We grew by 40% in 2018 so we must be doing something right. How is it doing at the farm?
 
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