Apple announced it at the Conference for developers during the opening of the WWDC 2016, and has been one of the features that has gone more unnoticed, without too much media coverage. But the reality is that it is going to affect all those who have an Apple device, so better to know what is the APFS, what consequences will be for us and how we will make the change, because all (Yes, all) Apple devices will start to use this new system files from 2017, either a small Apple Watch or a Retina of 27-inch iMac.
What is APFS
It’s a new file system that Apple released in 2017 in all its operating systems. And when I say everyone, I mean absolutely everyone from watchOS to macOS, passing through tvOS and of course, iOS. Become the substitute for HFS +, a system that has been on our Macs since 30 years ago, and that it is high time that Apple it renew, because it was designed at a time in which there were no memories flash or discs SSD, storage systems that are now the norm in Apple products.
What advantages has APFS
Obviously if Apple will use a new file system, it will be because it is better than the current, and thus is. Apple File System is a more modern and better adapted to new technologies and needs. For starters, it has support for SSDS with TRIM, and for sharing files on the network will be required to use SMB. It is optimized to have much shorter than the old HFS + access times.
Security, something that Apple is watching much lately, will be reinforced in this new system APFS. Already you must not use FileVault to encrypt your hard drive, because it will be something native of the new system. Have three options of encryption : none, with unique key and key multiple, depending on the type of file. The ability of create clones of files without occupy space extra, or the new system of metadata that protects our data in case of blocking or restart unexpected are only some examples additional of them improvements of APFS facing HFS +.
Disadvantages of APFS
Not everything can be advantages, but there are some disadvantages that come with this new APFS, some of which we do not know if they continue to be present when it is already available publicly. At the moment this new system on the partition of the system, or Time Machine, or using Fusion Drive disks can not be used. We hope that these limitations disappear and only the result of testing phase in which is now APFS, but we have no confirmation of this from Apple.
This is also a case sensitive file system, and not is configurable in this aspect, which may cause conflicts with other systems that are not. Not is compatible with OS X 10.11 Yosemite or versions previous of the system, by what not can pass files of Mac old to disks formatted with this system of files.
The change will be easy
We don’t know yet when it will be available APFS, but we do know that Apple will make the transition very easy for the user, who won’t have to worry about anything. Not have that format your disk hard and reinstall the system, will be a change perfectly organized and almost imperceptible for the user, something that always is of thank. Meanwhile, better go knowing well this APFS, who may be with us for 30 years, as its predecessor.
