As I have mentioned (probably multiple times) one of my biggest problems with the Files app is it’s failure to sync at times. Others have said that is not an issue at all. Since my post above from 2 days ago when it did not sync, I have been trying to use the Files app more often, a couple of times a day. it still drives me nuts in other ways, but it has been syncing in a timely matter since then.
So my theory is since I usually only go into the app about once per week, if that, it is causing problems with syncing. The OS is probably shutting down the app from updating since it hasn’t been used recently, so when I do open it, it’s trying to update files, rebuild links with 3rd party apps, etc. Now that I am using it daily, it’s keeping itself updated, and working correctly.
Which is a problem in itself, but it’s nice knowing that may be the cause of my issues with that part of it.
Side note: ATP’s member after show this week is about John Siracusa’s son’s MacBook crashing iCloud and John having to save all the files. It’s a unique case that most user’s won’t have, but yet another reminder to not trust iCloud (or Google for that matter, this week they accidentally deleted an Australian company’s account and all of the back ups for it).
One thing that I would never do with any cloud service is allow said cloud service to only store my files in the cloud. I’ve never used “Optimize Mac Storage”. I want to have all of my files stored locally on my laptop, but I need access to some of them when I’m in the field.
The lesson to learn is that a Cloud sync service is NOT a backup. Backups are key in ensuring that your data is safe, that only happens when you take ownership of your data, set up good backup mechanisms, check that they’re happening and test restores of your data on a regular basis.
Yes, but unless you are sort of tech savvy, cloud services are also difficult to backup. They aren’t in reality, but you do have to know what you are doing. As John Siracusa did, of course.
Also, cloud services sell themselves as backups, and non-techies believe it.
The whole offloading files issue is bizarre because it is a clear violation of the “rule” that software should not behave in a way that surprises the user. (I think this is called the principle of least astonishment,) We expect files to be available. Give iPad users who have tight storage constraints the option to enable offloading. Heck, allow users to select (like Dropbox does) folders and files that will always be available. #FreeMyFiles
I haven’t seen a cloud storage service that doesn’t advertise the offloading of files as a prime benefit of cloud storage. Makes no sense to me with the availability of external local storage; just baffling - I’ll never understand why.
I think I’ve said this story before here, but one time I inadvertently backed up a folder with 2000 photographs for a client of mine. But the “files“ were just pointers to files that only lived in OneDrive. [cue the scream at the end of “Black Bear Road” by C.W. McCall :)]
OneDrive has a file versioning system, but you can only access it “one file at a time”. It took me 16 hours of work to restore all of his files. That was on a dual core Celeron with 4 gigs of ram running Windows 11. I got a $50 tip for taking the time to fix that, but still…
Good point. Perhaps, the issue is that the files “look”
like they are there but act like they aren’t. I had a similar problem. I used SCP in the terminal one time to back up my whole drive. Learned years later that, as with your case, the files were just pointers. While, I was able to recover much from other back up sources, there is a whole swath that was lost forever. Like burning one’s finger on the stove top, I think I learned my lesson the first time around.
In the cases where files are offloaded, seems like OSes need to be designed with offloading in mind so the files pointed-to will be visible to other apps and the OS could call on the service to download the app when the pointer-files are accessed.
Windows 11 actually nags you to set up a “back up” to OneDrive. It got to be so annoying that I uninstalled OneDrive. I have it installed on my Macs, but not my PCs. It’s crazy.
Since I spent 2K on my new ipad pro and accessories, I feel motivated to use it. My main workhorse computer is my fully loaded 16" M1 MBP. This week I’ve found several new uses for it as I’m having to move my aging mom out of her house into an apartment closer to us:
1-I’ve been spending time at her house preparing for the move, but I have scheduled conference calls. The new improved ipad pro let’s me do that without lugging my Mac.
2-I have an app on my phone that lets me take photos of the apartment and notate measurements. I can sync the drawings to the iPad where they are more legible.
3-Have to edit some client Word documents. Magic keyboard makes it a snap.
I bought a folio and the keyboard and I switch the device between them several times a day. Folio for consumption, keyboard for work.
I bought a messenger bag and everything I need is easy to grab and go.
Finally, part of my purchase was a gamble that WWDC will bring some AI use that I will be happy to have. Time will tell if that bet pays off.
No, I think your phrasing is emblematic of thinking in clever hot takes. It’s a simplification of reality. iPadOS cannot be described by one aspect/design flaw in its implementation of external display support.
I do agree, he found a very notable problem with the function/design of external display support. But content creators do well with drama, frustration and rage so instead of just pointing out the problem he also puts on a big show to dramatize his exasperation. It’s entertainment. And then people run with it creating forum posts to reinforce the meme that iPadOS is just a hot mess.
Similarly, I’ve seen people complain that Stage Manager on the Mac is confusing and poorly implemented. By the same logic, well, macOS is just a disaster. But no, the response is more level headed and people correctly conclude that it’s not MacOS but Stage Manager or one aspect of Stage Manager that is confusing.
I think the better take away from the video is simply that Apple still has work to do in its implementation of external display support.
Side note: I’ve been using external display support off and on as needed for certain work that benefits from two screens and while I’ve had the occasional moment of confusion I had not bumped up against this problem/design flaw. My workflow with an external display is to reference extra apps of content/files/text while I do layout/design using Publisher on the iPad screen. In general my take-away is that external display support has, while not perfect, been a positive experience that increases my productivity on the iPad.
Exactly: there’s an entire ecosystem running on manufactured outrage to stimulate clicks – even from people who don’t personally gain financially from doing so, such as in forum posts, they get attention.
There’s a bias against considered judgement and it’s thoroughly depressing (and an easy trap to fall into, as I’ve done here, even for those of us who are put off when other people do it. I’ve told myself ten billion times not to exaggerate.)
Sadly, this is true of most news media. They manufacture outrage and crisis for eyeballs and advertising dollars. The manipulation and mendacity is not limited to online forums or YouTube.
I use an iPad all day, every day, and I’ve never been tempted to even try Stage Manager. IMO it’s always seemed to be a compromise, bolted on to iPadOS, to satisfy a very vocal minority. That want a touch screen Mac.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting that. The only problem is the device that meets most of their requirements runs Microsoft Windows.
I don’t run Stage Manager either (whenever it’s useful to have more than one thing on screen at a time I’ll use Slide Over or Split View). This is less of a commentary on Stage Manager than it’s about the size of the screen. I don’t spend much time using overlapping windows on a 13” Mac laptop either, it’s generally one maximized app or maybe a 2/3 1/3 split.
