Im not sure if Android has caught up but the iOS file explorer app is excellent.

Saying "I'm not sure if Android has caught up" when Android is decades ahead of Apple in that regard is some kind of... something.

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sussmannbaka 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Certainly wasn’t ahead with the stock file manager that came with my last Android phone.

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stavros 8 hours ago | parent | next [-]

What about after you spent the two seconds to install a different file manager?

	▲	sussmannbaka 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Ghost Commander was better but I think I still prefer the iOS Files app.

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esseph 25 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That also could have been from the phone manufacturer OR from the carrier.

This is why I've avoided non Pixel phones since the Pixel5 came out. None of that 2 or 3 apps for the same thing so everybody can get their ad cut payout.

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DANmode 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Your Samsung or whatever manufacturer bloated trash ≠ Android.

	▲	sussmannbaka 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I used the AOSP app I think? I’d usually agree with you but in this case I really wanted some more bloat because that one was dire :)

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BoredPositron 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Still no smb/webdav/sftp somehow...

	▲	DANmode 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		https://sites.google.com/site/ghostcommander1

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esseph 27 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Was the list time you had an Android pre-2017?

It was around that time it (Files app) got a major refresh.

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bigyabai 9 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm pretty sure that iOS only has a file explorer app because Android supported it.

There was almost a whole decade there where Apple pretended that the feature just didn't need to exist.

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kevin_thibedeau 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

To be fair, Android lacked a stock file browser for much of its existence.

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stavros 9 hours ago | parent [-]

The difference is that iOS still doesn't show you the files on your device. It only shows you files in a small area.

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wkat4242 9 hours ago | parent [-]

I love Android but Android does that too. Apps have their internal storage area which you can't access unfortunately (not without root anyway). Nor system files.

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TheGoddessInari 8 hours ago | parent | next [-]

There's a difference between "can't see 'special' folders" & "can't access anything but the app-specific storage". iOS loves the latter, while Android lets you organize files mostly normally even if doing highly stupid/discouraging things for power users & some app developers making questionable non-default choices.

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sussmannbaka 8 hours ago | parent [-]

While I bet there’s some technicality I’ll get gotcha’d on, iOS apps do the exact same nowadays.

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bigyabai 6 hours ago | parent [-]

iOS apps didn't, for the majority of the iPhone's lifespan. I explained this "technicality" upthread:

> There was almost a whole decade there where Apple pretended that the feature just didn't need to exist.

	▲	sussmannbaka 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The history lesson is appreciated but how does this relate to the current state of the stock file explorer that ships with the OS? I’m using my phone now and not ten years ago. edit: oh, I think I get it. My original post wasn't intended to be read "iOS invented the file explorer, has Android also a file explorer app" (which would be silly, of course) but "when Files app released, the AOSP file explorer that commonly ships as the default was lacking, has this improved (caught up to Files app)"

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stavros 9 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

When I had an iPhone (a few months ago), there was no way for apps to see files in the filesystem. I wanted to play some music and I had to copy it over to each of the music player apps separately. Is that not the case any more?

	▲	badc0ffee 8 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		VLC for iOS uses the filesystem. You can add files with Finder (newer macOS), iTunes (older macOS), or the Files app on the phone. You are correct that each app can only see a specific part of the filesystem, unless the apps are by the same developer and part of an App Group.
	▲	sussmannbaka 8 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		That’s entirely up to the app developer. Of course apps can see files if they’re developed to do that.

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sussmannbaka 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Am I supposed to be mad about them not supporting a feature during a time when I didn’t use iOS or is this somehow supposed to impact my current day use of Files app?

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creaturemachine 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Remember folks, the iphone was released in 2007, and the files app in 2017. Cut & paste? Apple didn't give ios a clipboard until 2021.

	▲	joshstrange 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> Apple didn't give ios a clipboard until 2021. Apple added copy/paste in iOS 3.0 in 2009

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rcMgD2BwE72F 9 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Try connecting to a WebDAV server on File. It's possible but it's shitty. And try using Syncthing on iOS to keep your files synced across devices without having them uploaded to servers you don't control.

Also, on Android, you can choose any file explorer. You're stuck with Files and it sucks (but it looks nice).

	▲	raw_anon_1111 23 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		The difference is that the Files app works with third party cloud storage providers.
	▲	sussmannbaka 8 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I don’t have one of those! I do have an SMB share mounted that I’m currently playing music from, though, and it’s working perfectly fine.