Moving, copying and pasting files on an iPad.

iOS uses a different metaphor for computing. It application based. There is no ios file manager. Pick the app you want and app deals with the files. The only commonly shared files are pics and vids. Use the photos app to see your pics and vids. You can create folders to organize stuff.

It takes a little while to get the zen of ios. There is no in-depth help. No tool tips. I was lost and frustrated for awhile.

Look along the top of the screen tends to be navigation icon along the bottom is more action based. I had to do some photo editing. I did all my photo editing on my iPhone 4. All I wanted to do was was cropping and tilting and compression. Nothing simple and free on Linux or Mac OS X. On ios, there are lots of simple and free photo apps. I found a collection of 10 simple and free apps to take care of all my needs.

To copy files to a different app, use the export function. Here what the icon looks like approximately.

apps to get:

befunky -- for photo editing

dropbox.com or box.com

free microsoft office

icab mobile -- file upload plus lots of customization

youtube

chrome

puffin

dukto

fileexplorer

R

iOS and Android are two entirely different operating systems, requiring two very different ways of thinking.

I suggest you familiarize yourself with this (the iPad User Guide):

http://help.apple.com/ipad/9/

An iPad is not centered around a "file system", and does not have a "file manager". The "video" you moved from your Mac was probably a home video (as opposed to a commercial video, which are generally speaking the types that are in the Videos area). Home videos, on the other hand, are treated much like photos.

You can find a way of getting video files into the video folder if that what you want. I suspect you need to do it outside of ios. Of course, you will be limited to what iTunes can do with the file.

see:

Import music and video from a computer into iTunes

http://www.wikihow.com/Import-Videos-Into-iTunes

You can create a folder in photos and move your videos to it.

Find some app the deals only with video files. It will only show videos.

You should not think of the ipad as a different form factor than a laptop. If you want a laptop with a detachable keyboard, then Surface is your thing. I'd rather not have to administer my tablet like it was a Windows desktop. I want to get some work done.

R

were some app just arbitrarily places them.

It's not arbitrarily. Forget thinking about files. You pick the apps you like. You tap on the app. The app decides how to present any data you might need. you do your thing.

It may help you to realize that all apps are sandboxed. An app can only see its data and not other data with the exception of pics and vids. Sandboxing yields a higher level of security. For instance, no virus checking is allowed.

On a desktop os, you find the file the double click on it. Some app comes up based on the file type. Or you start the app, do an open then wonder around the file system to find the file. Or, you start a new document. The ios way has fewer steps. You start the app, decided if you want a new file or an existing one, where the app presents just the files it can handle which leave out all the distracting other files it cannot handle.

If you are into it, there are all-in-one apps.

R

PS. Apple tends to think deeper about computing solutions. And is less concerned about legacy feelings.

There could be a more fluid flow between apps. I have read about some movement by apple for developers to be able to link apps.

chenderson22 wrote:

But, I don't want my home videos in the Photos app and album. I want them in the Videos folder. Can't I have what I want?

No.

You should definitely return to Android / Windows since the "how" it gets done is so important to you.

Sorry, but no. Videos you record are saved in the photo app. The video app is for movies, TV shows, and music videos downloaded from iTunes.

It takes a bit of time to get used to using iOS devices but if you can't (or refuse to) adapt, iOS devices aren't for you. Return or sell it.