There are plenty of places where OS X and iOS overlap. Files can be shared with ease through iCloud-enabled apps, Messages keeps our conversations in sync, and even our open Safari tabs can be viewed across our MacBooks and iPhones. But there's nothing on the touchscreen side that really replicates the experience of handling files on our Macs.
The aptly-named Files App might be the closest thing to Finder that iOS will ever see. With the ability to import just about anything from just about anywhere, Files keeps a close watch on all of your documents, photos, movies, and music while giving you the control you need to get things done. Its linen texture matches the iOS design aesthetic well, but powerful features and file handling make it feel like much more than a mobile app.
Like the Finder on Mac, Files App is sort of a way station where your files can be quickly accessed, shared, and viewed, but unlike its OS X inspiration, your files don't naturally live there. Instead, they need to be added manually, and in that regard, the app offers a wide array of importing options, including Dropbox, Google Drive, email, and Safari, along with sharing from your Mac wirelessly via IP address or over USB through iTunes.
Once it's filled up (which takes some time), Files App lets you quickly view or print a wide array of documents, play music and movies, and unzip any compressed attachments. Files can be viewed in icon or list mode (with the latter offering a set of familiar sorting options), and you can rename, duplicate, and compress files for easy sharing. Desktop-caliber organization lets you create folders and subfolders, and while you can't edit your documents within the app, a quick tap will send it to one that will.
Files App is certainly fun to use, as it's a nice change of pace from usual mobile files maneuvering, but we've become so accustomed to iOS' app-centric navigation that we often found it slowing down our productivity. Also, a lack of iCloud syncing makes it that much harder to keep your documents in order.
The bottom line. Files App brings a Finder-like experience to iOS, but it might not be the productivity-boosting solution you were looking for.
iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 5.0 or later
Nice interface. Good control over files. Excellent organization.
No iCloud syncing. Time-consuming import method. No in-app editing.
