I have taken the view until recently that tablets, such as iPads, perform a separate function from "regular" computers, and laptops. Some functionality of tablets is almost certainly better for many users, and I have recently found that an iPad Pro provides an excellent way of viewing iPlayer content. There are, however, questions regarding data and backups.
Previous generations of iPads and iOS have shown up problems regarding transfer of data ("files") from iPads to a host computer, and while Apple have always said that backups can be done using iTunes, this has always felt somewhat clunky, and some file types, such as PDFs, don't always get backed up. Apple claim this isn't their problem, as the PDF format is not "one of theirs" - but surely the problem is that iPads have managed, at least at the surface level, to ditch the concept of "file". On most "proper" systems, there are files, and it is nearly always possible to backup up files, as they are all treated as data objects, irrespective of what they contain. In the iOS model it seems that such data is associated with Apps, and backing up data is somehow associated with the backup of each App. It appears to be a crazy system, but allegedly many people find it simpler than having to worry about files, and understand how a "proper" computer system works.
I think more people are now using tablets, including iPads, to store data - though many are simply consuming media - audiot tracks, photos, video streams etc., some, though not all of which, is ephemeral, or can easily be obtained again from common sources if needed.
So, how do people backup iPads, to ensure that all the more important documents/data are secure? Apple will suggust the use of iCloud, but that (arguably) doesn't work for highly confidential documents, which should never leave the control of their users. Other tablet types, based on Android or other software systems may not have such a severe backup problem, because it is possible to freely move "files" to and from a USB memory stick, or drive.
This is particularly important to me now, as my iPad "wants" to upgrade to a newer iOS version, yet I have become aware of some people having access problems (perhaps because of an error they made ...maybe not) after an upgrade. One friend has mentioned that he has done lots of upgrades without any problems and only one bad upgrade. To me and probably many others even one bad upgrade might be one too many.
iPhone users may also have the same concerns, though they are perhaps less likely to have many text or mixed text/diagram documents stored on their devices.
Previous generations of iPads and iOS have shown up problems regarding transfer of data ("files") from iPads to a host computer, and while Apple have always said that backups can be done using iTunes, this has always felt somewhat clunky, and some file types, such as PDFs, don't always get backed up. Apple claim this isn't their problem, as the PDF format is not "one of theirs" - but surely the problem is that iPads have managed, at least at the surface level, to ditch the concept of "file". On most "proper" systems, there are files, and it is nearly always possible to backup up files, as they are all treated as data objects, irrespective of what they contain. In the iOS model it seems that such data is associated with Apps, and backing up data is somehow associated with the backup of each App. It appears to be a crazy system, but allegedly many people find it simpler than having to worry about files, and understand how a "proper" computer system works.
I think more people are now using tablets, including iPads, to store data - though many are simply consuming media - audiot tracks, photos, video streams etc., some, though not all of which, is ephemeral, or can easily be obtained again from common sources if needed.
So, how do people backup iPads, to ensure that all the more important documents/data are secure? Apple will suggust the use of iCloud, but that (arguably) doesn't work for highly confidential documents, which should never leave the control of their users. Other tablet types, based on Android or other software systems may not have such a severe backup problem, because it is possible to freely move "files" to and from a USB memory stick, or drive.
This is particularly important to me now, as my iPad "wants" to upgrade to a newer iOS version, yet I have become aware of some people having access problems (perhaps because of an error they made ...maybe not) after an upgrade. One friend has mentioned that he has done lots of upgrades without any problems and only one bad upgrade. To me and probably many others even one bad upgrade might be one too many.
iPhone users may also have the same concerns, though they are perhaps less likely to have many text or mixed text/diagram documents stored on their devices.
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