66 MACWORLD MARCH 2020
iOSCENTRAL REVIEW: DOCUMENTS 7mmmmh
Documents 7
PROS- More complete file
manager than Files app. - One-tap Plus button now
available on iPhone. - Files app integration.
CONS - Can’t share advanced PDF
Expert 7 subscription-only
features. - Connections don’t sync
between devices.
PRICE
Free (in-app purchases)
COMPANY
Readdle
Documents 7 can effortlessly transfer files between iOS
devices and personal computers using any web browser.network-attached sources.
Naturally, there’s also integration
with the built-in Files app
for seamlessly accessing
content stored there, as
well as opening files saved
in existing Locations within
Documents 7.
PDF MASTER
From the beginning,
Documents 7 included a
built-in web browser, which
now offers private browsing mode. On the
iPhone, browser settings are conveniently
located from any open tab—no more
hopping back to in-app settings just to
clear data or change the location of file
downloads. There’s even a new option to
choose DuckDuckGo, Yandex,
Ecosia, or Yahoo as the default
search engine instead of
Google. (Yay, privacy!)
While Documents has always
been a very capable PDF reader,
version 7.0 introduces an option
to turn the app into a full-fledged
editor as well. After upgrading to
an annual subscription ($50 per
year), Documents 7 unlocks a full
complement of professional
tools, allowing users to edit,
convert, and reduce the size of
PDF files.
If you already own PDF Expert 6, those
editing features are available free of charge
in Documents 7. Unfortunately, three
advanced tools recently added to PDF
Expert 7 do not get shared, so the only way
to customize the Favorites toolbar or convert
and compress PDF files is to pay
for another annual subscription.
That stinks, but Readdle offers a
discounted upgrade to PDF Expert
owners ($10 for the first year). For
the moment, this is the only in-app
purchase offered—everything else
is absolutely free.BOTTOM LINE
For those underwhelmed by the
built-in Files app, do yourself a
favor and install Documents 7, the
free file manager worthy of being
installed on every iOS device. ■