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Comment by raw_anon_1111 | Hacker News Reader

What else does the OS need to do? There are real windows and real background processing.

Normal-ish files and filesystem access, and dev types could use access to the terminal (on the system)

What’s not “normal” about the files and why do most people need access to the file system and not a method to share files across apps that’s already available?

> a method to share files across apps that’s already available

like a filesystem ?

like a filesystem ?

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/files/id1232058109

You didn’t answer the question, what feature can’t you do with the Files App and the ability to save and load files across applications?

How do you know you have the right application to open the file? I have tried at least a dozen apps to open *.stl files... some work, most don't. Some have features I need and don't work opening files. Some are sensitive to stl's that require repair and stop working... and I could go on and on for different file types. The point is; sharing isn't "guaranteed" to work across apps and is generally far, far from "it just works". You have almost zero control over the actual files because there might not be a way to save different formats from the app you are using, or the files app doesn't recognize the extension, or you can't find the folder for the other app, or it doesn't have a user accessible folder, or it will not load files from the "files app"... or <insert 50000 more "what if's here>. The whole things just sucks so, so bad.

And how do you know a Word file will work seamlessly across other word processors on a computer that are suppose to read Word files or export to Word? What modern productivity software doesn’t support using the Files app? It has been around for well over a decade.

- Rename, organize, and delete files that span across a number of different applications

- Convert one file type to another

- Choose which application to use to open a file

- Inspect the details of files in a consistent manner

On your computer, do you inspect the details of a file using Explorer? On the Mac do you do that with the Finder. Or do you actually open the file with an application?

Do you expect to use Windows explorer or the Finder to “convert file types”?

Using iOS 26 on my phone, I held down a file and there is an “Open With” option that gave me a choice of how to open the file.

Across applications? Applications these days save files using the File dialog, they may by default store them in a folder accesible by Files. Yes I know some apps still store their data in their own sandbox. But that’s not the case generally for standard productivity apps.

If I need to know the details of a file (eg file extension, size, location, etc) I generally use the Finder for that, yes.

I do frequently convert file types through the Finder. Bulk converting a bunch of photos, for example, is easier to do through a file browser. Even if I were opening a different app to do that, a standard file browser would be the interface I would want for that.

It’s great if more iOS applications are storing files as regular files on the filesystem now. Apple should have encouraged that in the first place. There was some goofy notion they were going to get rid of the idea of “files” with iOS, but that’s not actually a good idea.

> If I need to know the details of a file (eg file extension, size, location, etc) I generally use the Finder for that, yes.

As you would with the Files app…

> Even if I were opening a different app to do that, a standard file browser would be the interface I would want for that

Which iPad apps that allow you to work with files don’t use the standard files app interface when you open and save a file? How else would they work?

> It’s great if more iOS applications are storing files as regular files on the filesystem now. Apple should have encouraged that in the first place.

The Files app and the APIs were introduced in 2017.

Do you use "files"? Its garbargio on steroids. You can't just open a <insert about 100 file extensions here> file from the files app. Moving files around is cumbersome at best and downright infuriating most of the time. The "sandbox" nature of iOS is simply not intuitive enough to know how things will react when you move and try to open a file in another app. It just sucks so bad.

Furthermore, "sharing" is broken. Does it copy the file? Does it move the file? Am I duplicating this 200mb pdf when I move it to books? How the ____ do I know? There is a dearth of information and I imagine most people, like myself, give up and use it to read before bed or watch a few videos on the couch. I am never going to by another iPad until the OS is useful beyond drawing, creating music or reading.

You can’t open random file extensions on a computer either unless you have an application that understand the format.

Moving files around works just like on Windows and Macs - cut and paste.

And it has the same semantics as Windows and Macs - if I drag a file from one place to another on the same drive - it moves it. If I drag it to another storage location - ie another hard drive on a computer or another storage provider in Files - iCloud, Google Drive, etc it copies it.

It never ceases to amaze me that when computer “experts” criticize people for not wanting to learn how things work - do the same.

It's a useful device if you're an artist, if you're a developer the best thing you can do with it is buy the cellular model and use it as a very thin VNC client

Yes and developers are a very small slice of the computer using consumers.

There's a whole spectrum of use cases between artist and software developer. Honestly most people that I see at work just use Office software, web browser, and Teams.

Office is a great use for a $350 regular iPad. Honestly the same one I'd recommend to developers, or worst case an $800 iPad Air for the 13" screen size.

The $1000+ iPad Pro isn't helpful for any of that.

That's true, and I would have gone for a 13" iPad Air when they were introduced, but ultimately went for the iPad Pro because I liked the OLED and 120Hz.

None of that requires the power of an M5.

Neither does developing software given we've all been doing it for ages despite the M5 not existing, still nice to have though.

Plus you get more longevity, I'll keep my M4 iPad Pro until doesn't get OS updates anymore. I still feel no impetus to update my M1 laptop despite it being 4 years old.

> buy the cellular model

You probably have your iPhone with you every time you got an iPad with you, so just use that.

Except the iPad battery will last longer and will not kill your phone while you do stuff

>inb4 buy a battery bank

Hmm, I will be honest, I was either always close to a power outlet or it lasted long enough for me. You only need to tether if there is no Wi-Fi.

I have a 20000mAh with me when I intend to work remotely though. Either way cheaper than paying for another plan for iPad and buying a more expensive iPad.

With T-Mobile, I have unlimited data on my iPhone and iPad. But limited tethering data. My iPad data plan is $20-$25 a month.

It would be great if they allowed JIT compilation in apps. This would allow things like Dolphin (Wii, Gamecube emulator) to run.

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