As we all know, iOS 11’s Drag and Drop is cool for dragging content across apps. But most of the time, we like a picture, a paragraph of text, we do not necessarily need to use it immediately, which requires a temporary storage of fragmentary content: just like on the laptop, we like to leave temporary files on the desktop, can be retrieved when we need. IOS also has apps that cater to temporary access needs.
These emerging apps have a vivid name: Shelf App. As the name implies, they are like a storage Shelf, which can store anything on it temporarily for easy access when needed. With Split View/SlideOver and Drag and Drop, they have developed into a unique family of apps.
All of these apps like to say they “Store Anything.” In fact, most of them come in a limited number of formats and offer a variety of experiences. With the world in mind, I’ve selected a few that are worth a try.
Full function preferred: Yoink
Yoink’s format support is the most complete application in this article, continuing its excellent features on macOS. I haven’t found anything that can’t be stored in it for the time being. It belongs to the most reliable tool, no matter what files you think of, just throw them into Yoink.
The card design is very clear, showing the file name, type and preview, and you can click on it to view it in detail — if it’s a web page, you can open it directly in SlideOver. The lock in the lower left corner is a nice little control that can change Drag and Drop to “cut” and delete the file in Yoink after pasting.
Collecting, pasting, and previewing are the core functions of the Shelf App. Yoink has its own tricks, too. You can click edit and select multiple items to form a Stack, which allows you to drag and drop a bunch of content at once. The stack can also be dismissed at any time when it is no longer needed.
The only thing to tease is the card design, which shows too few cards on one screen, like the famous clipboard Paste on macOS. On the other hand, most people don’t have as much paperwork as I do, so that’s not a weakness. Besides, in the face of these high level of appearance, live and good applications, you still have what to expect.
Yoink has been doing well on macOS, and it’s doing well on iOS. Yoink’s ambitions go beyond Shelf apps. It also supports clipboards, Share sheets, iCloud Drive, and album imports, and seems to be taking over your little files.
Related Reading: Transit station for temporary files: Yoink for iOS reviews
Native experience, automatic classification: Dropped
Dropped’s interface is reminiscent of the system album on the iPhone, and its fonts, ICONS — and even its unusually wide “forehead” — are said to have been copied from the native app. Want the best Shelf App for iOS 11? That’s what she did.
The biggest advantage of Dropped is automatic classification, which can be divided into media, text, website and other files. Click the bottom bar to quickly filter out the types you need. However, the use of Drag and Drop cannot be used properly. Only Drag and Drop can be collected and pasted, but the file cannot be deleted quickly. I still need to select and delete the file in the traditional way.
Files Integrated, compressed Files: Gladys
Gladys is the one who knows the most about the new system. While everyone is playing with Drag and Drop, Gladys is the first to integrate into Files, which sets the stage for platform-wide growth. For those who primarily use iCloud to sync their files, Gladys could become a Shelf on the cloud, a place to collect and paste.
But what I use the most is the compression feature. I can drag a compressed file directly from Gladys, which is handy when I’m emailing without adding files one by one. It would be nice if we could improve the compression rate in the future.
When it comes to looks, Gladys must be impressed by Yoink’s good looks, and her beautifully rounded cards are delightful. Unfortunately, the latter’s preview function can only be said to be unsatisfactory, many texts, links can only display a corresponding logo.
User-friendly labels: The Shelf
I like The Shelf Shelf: in The upper right corner of each piece of content, The document type is specially marked, so there is no need to worry about The difference between image, web page and PDF. However, the preview function is weak, especially for images, which can only be shown in small portions, while PDF and web pages do not provide preview. To see the details, click on the view. But Dropped and Yoink also support it.
Although The display of The Shelf is weak compared with The previous two applications, it also means that it occupies less space, and more items can be displayed on one screen. Dragging in batches has advantages.
Speaking of batch drags, The Shelf free version only supports three files, so… We’ll do as we see fit.
Scrawl Pouch
Compared with The Shelf, Pouch’s preview is commendable. A SMALL size card can display project details at The same time, but it does not support clicking to enlarge The display…… It’s hard to choose.
Unfortunately, you can’t zoom in by clicking on it, but you can edit it, which is something no other app can do. Cut, rename, and remove items. Maybe Drag and Drop is so popular that people ignore the normal click operation.
Oddly, Pouch does not support even the common PDF at “unspecified times,” but does store a mind map and display it as an “unknown document.” While it can’t preview these files, can Ann tell whether they are male or female?
Workshelf
Workshelf features customized groups, which is indeed unique in the Shelf App. However, I think people will gradually support groups in the future. If Workshelf doesn’t develop other highlights, its status will be awkward.
Another feature is format conversion, but there is only rich text and plain text. In general, Workshelf’s features have a near-something feel.
The latest version is a refreshing departure from the “IBM blue” color scheme, with different sorting methods such as titles and file sizes. Rather than that, I’d like to see one feature polished.
Good word processing partner: Copied
Strictly speaking, this isn’t a Shelf App, but a clipboard management tool. But its automation is powerful enough to be a Shelf for wordsmiths.
Collected a link and want to convert it to Markdown format? Copied a golden sentence and want to use the quotation format to copy it down? All of this can be Copied – just download the official template or make your own. My favorite is to combine multiple histories into a list and drag it directly into my notes:
There are also the most annoying Markdown format image links Copied and can also be generated by one-click conversion. Don’t understand the requirements? That’s okay, that means you’re not an Copied audience… Cough.
Synchronization with macOS is another advantage, not only content, but also rules for formatting. I’ve been switching between iPad and MacBook regularly lately and have Copied this as an inspiration collection book on the cloud.
Copying currently only supports plain text, links and images, but if you’re looking for a large and complete Shelf, copying is difficult to accomplish. It is more suitable for those who “live with words” all day, such as writers, editors, students.
Minimalist: iPaste
If you’re a heavy clipboard user, you probably don’t need a separate Shelf App. But one problem Copied is the limited format support available, so iPaste is another good choice. Grouping and Pin can pull out common content, while synchronization is also a highlight and works with iPaste on macOS.
But iPaste doesn’t support file preview, just displaying a Mount Fuji emoji 🗻 in front of the file name. If you’re an amnesiac, you probably forget what you’ve saved for so long… Sometimes, minimalism and convenience just don’t go together.
Unlocking Drag and Drop support costs a fee, and you can try it for a week before deciding whether to buy it or not.
The tail
When I was reviewing the clipboard tool, I “stockpiled” a lot of material and had an idea: Clipboards already support a variety of file formats. Could they be used as a hub for managing bits and pieces? I started to purposefully use Copied instead of native memos and found that dragging and calling collected content was much easier on the iPad than using the Notes app.
So I took the liberty of defining these evolved clipboards as “shelf apps,” describing them as being as easy to access as the shelves at hand. As it happens, MacStories recently published an article introducing a new concept: the Shelf App. The name of the shelf in my mind happens to be the same.
It’s the Drag and Drop feature of iOS 11 that sparked the rise of Shelf apps. In most cases, I find the Shelf App more convenient than the macOS App. It is more intuitive than the trackpad to directly drag and select multiple files in one go. IPad users will finally be able to exclaim that they have something to do with their files.
Shelf is a niche area, and if you just use the iPad as a device to watch TV dramas, there may be no need for it. But for people who often deal with bits and pieces of content, the productivity gains of a couple of dozen yuan are self-evident.