Biggest IPad Changes to IPadOS Since WWDC 2019
Apple made some really big announcements about the future of all of its products during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday – WWDC for short – but one of the most significant should be that the iPad now has its own operating system, iPadOS. Instead of iOS, the same software found on the iPhone, the iPad can go its own way. Judging from the presentation, this will allow it to better follow the path that separates the difference between a phone and a laptop, making it a viable alternative to a home computer for basic tasks like typing and web browsing.
In its founding year, iPadOS has a lot to do with iOS 13 , the next version of the mobile browser. Both devices are undergoing a change, despite the fact that they are primarily intended for tablet users. (Three-finger pinch on the phone? Come on). And of course, only the iPad has a few changes. Let’s go through the main points so you know what’s in store for your iPad this fall.
Smoothing moving edges
With the move to iPadOS, the iPad home screen will change slightly. The frequently used apps bar at the bottom of the tablet is narrower, allowing you to install more apps and feel more like a laptop. You also have the option to pin widgets – the tiles you see when you swipe left from your first app page in iOS – allowing you to bring them to the home screen in an app with a quick click.
Transforming multitasking
The biggest improvement that has come to iPad since the move to iPadOS is the ability to multitask, which gives you the ability to work (or play) on your iPad just like you would on a laptop. Now you can open multiple windows on one iPad screen. This means you can use two apps at the same time or bring up two screens from the same screen.
Also, if you click on the app you are using, you can access “App Exposé”, a task manager similar to the flight control feature in macOS – fun fact: flight control used to be called Exposé on the Mac, which allows you to select one from all open applications, including screens with multiple applications open at the same time. You can have multiple iterations of each application open, so you can switch between a separate Word document and a different “space” or screen with Word and another application. Basically, it is a way to simulate (and then organize) the experience of using this open window stack, which defines the interaction with a laptop or desktop computer. (Ok, maybe this is just my experience with a laptop. Don’t judge).
Slide Over, an iPad feature that allows you to pin an additional app to the side of the screen, can now easily switch between different apps as well. By dragging your finger from the bottom of the screen, you can see all the apps open with Slide Over, giving you an easy way to choose what you want. You can also swipe left and right across the bottom of the slide above the tab to move around. The ability to move Slide Over apps as easily as standard makes this feature more convenient.
Use your iPad as a second screen
If you have a laptop and a Mac, a new Mac app called Sidecar gives you the ability to use your iPad as a second touchscreen display for your laptop or desktop. Even when connected to your Mac, the iPad still behaves like an iPad, which means you now have a touch interface for your macOS computer. Plus, Sidecar supports Apple Pencil, which suggests you can use Sidecar to bridge the gap between your more powerful computer and touchpad. It’s not a big boon to me, but I suppose users who grew up with iPhones and iPads (or anyone who prefers touch control to keyboard and mouse / touchpad) will find it pretty liberating.
New Files app lets you search on your tablet just like you do on a Macbook
The new Files app is available for both iPadOS and iOS, but it’s far more important for your tablet. The new app has been redesigned to mimic the macOS file system, allowing you to organize and search for files just like on a laptop, using all of Apple’s standard file views – icon view, list view, and column view. You can organize and access groups of documents regardless of the apps they rely on: Files also support the ability to connect devices such as USB-C hard drives and directly upload or download files, bypassing apps and the iOS share. menu. If you use a laptop and like the way it works, it will make your life a lot easier.
Don’t worry, iPadOS is a nice new iOS 13
Just because the iPad runs its own OS doesn’t mean iPad owners will miss out on the new features announced for the next version of iOS. All major improvements coming in iOS 13 , from dark mode to new location data security updates, to the Sign In with Apple button and those sweet, sweet Memoji, will also carry over to iPadOS.
The two paths may drift further over time, but for now, the difference seems to have more to do with the inclusion of new iPad features that don’t make sense to the phone than removing or cutting down useful tools for any device.
So when can I try this?
Like all new Apple operating systems, iPadOS is currently in developer-only beta testing. If you’re a developer (or willing to pay to join the developer program), you can download it today. For most people, I would advise to wait until the beta is out to the general public in July, or until the final version is available to everyone this fall.