> files especially when it comes to media since iTunes and the iPod in 2001

As a non-Apple user, this is not something that happened to me. I literally have a "Files" app on my Android phone and my laptop/desktop.

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integralid 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

As a technical person, who only ever used Android, I have no idea how files really work on my phone. I even used adb a few times but still. From my PoV there are no "files", just photos, videos, screenshots, downloads, application data, applications and system data - all completely different kinds of data.

In my files app i see "downloads" "images", "videos", "apps", "starred", "safe folder". In "images" i see pictures tagged "downloads", "camera", "DCIM", "screenshots" and one odd "2024-12-03_description_here" that I clearly names myself but don't remember doing that.

I have no clue how that maps to a physical phone filesystem, even though I know it's there. I'm sure teenagers don't know that too.

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raw_anon_1111 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Right as an Android user you don’t have a separate photo library where pictures go to? (yes I know this isn’t true).

Yes there has been a Files app on iOS devices for well over a decade

	▲	esseph 8 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		[delayed]

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GuinansEyebrows 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That's what the file browser is called on iOS as well :)

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jen20 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Both iPhone and iPad have an app named "Files" too.

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dexterdog 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

But it gives you access to almost none of your actual files

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raw_anon_1111 3 hours ago | parent [-]

So exactly which of “your actual files” do you need access to?

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alpaca128 3 hours ago | parent [-]

The Files app cannot access images in the Photos app or music in the Music app. The only way to add music to the Music app is to copy the files onto the iPhone from a computer. You can however install VLC player and copy the files into the VLC folder. I guess VLC player is more trustworthy than Apple Music considering it's less isolated. Or Apple really wants you to pay the Music subscription, who knows. Want to give another app access to these files? You'll have to duplicate them, using up more storage space.

I get that it's supposedly about security, but this is not the only secure way. It is however the most convenient secure way for Apple, as now the only simple method of backing up and syncing files through all those isolated containers is iCloud.

	▲	raw_anon_1111 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		That’s a fair point. I was expecting the typical HN geek answer that you can’t access system files on iOS and you don’t have root access

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5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

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