Apple announced iPadOS 16 as a new software release for the iPad at its WWDC 2022 keynote on Monday. The new iPadOS release comes with a redesigned multitasking interface that enhances productivity. It brings the ability to overlap application windows the same way you can on a Mac or Windows. Similar to iOS 16, iPadOS 16 includes updates including Live Text and updated Messages for iPad users. The new release also includes support for games developed using the Metal 3 engine.
iPadOS 16 . Availability
Apple originally released iPadOS 16″ for developers participating in the Apple Developer Program. The new iPadOS release will also be available to users through a public beta next month. Furthermore, iPadOS 16 will be available as a free software update for iPad (5th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), and iPad. all iPad Pro models this fall.
Features of iPadOS 16
Continuing to quietly bridge the gap between MacBook and iPad, Apple has introduced its new multitasking interface on iPadOS 16, called Stage Manager, which is also available for Macs through macOS 13 Ventura. It allows users to access multiple apps on iPad simultaneously by overlapping them. The experience grows even further when you connect your iPad to an external display. This is an upgrade over the existing interface, where users are allowed to access apps in full-screen view like on an iPhone, or access two apps side-by-side, which Apple calls Split View. Furthermore, there is an option to slide through an app from the side, called Slide Over.
The iPadOS 16 update will also allow users to resize the app window as above Mac or one Windows laptop. However, this feature is exclusive to iPad models powered by M1 Chips. This means you won’t get a new experience without the latest iPad Air or iPad Pro.
Brief overview of iPadOS 16 . features
Image credit: Apple
Users on iPads with the M1 chip also have the Collaboration feature to allow users to collaborate on different tasks. Users can access this feature through Notes, Safari, Keynote, and other pre-loaded apps on the iPad. Apple says Collaboration will also arrive on iOS and macOS later this year.
Apple has also brought in an app called FreeForm to enhance the collaboration experience. It allows users to share files, take quick notes or create diagrams with others. Developers will also get a new API to integrate Collaboration into their apps.
Similar to iOS 16, iPadOS 16 comes with Live Text and Visual Look Up. The new release also includes a Home app with a brand new design and Matter support. Furthermore, the iPadOS update brings a new Messages app available through the new iOS release to allow users to edit or recall a text message.
For gamers, iPadOS 16 offers an enhanced gaming experience that supports Metal 3. The company has also brought in a background download API that allows users to multitask while the game download completes. . Gamer Center also got Activity into the dashboard to allow users to see the performance of their friends. User activity will also appear on the user’s Game Center profile. Furthermore, multiplayer games played through Game Center can access SharePlay to start a session with your friends.
Apple says all updates to Game Center will be available to users as updates on iPadOS 16 later this year. These features will also be available to iOS and macOS users in the future.
The iPadOS 16 update also brings with it Live Text updates that are coming to iPhones through iOS 16. Similarly, there’s an updated Family Sharing feature to help users add new age-restricted features. The new iPadOS release also includes an updated Home app with an improved look and lock screen widgets.
Apple introduced Quick Note, which was previously available for Mac, to let you quickly write notes. The new iPadOS release also comes with a new Safari browser that’s also available on macOS Ventura and brings features like Shared Tab Groups and Password Lock. Additionally, Apple brought the Weather app to iPad via iPadOS 16. It brings full-screen animations as well as editable modules for accessing insights. Developers are also getting WeatherKit to allow them to integrate weather updates into their apps.
Additionally, Apple has announced ‘Desktop Level’ apps are coming to iPad via iPadOS 16. These apps will be able to use system elements like system-wide undo/redo system, view availability in the calendar, and find and merge cards in Contacts. The company has also updated the Files app on the new iPadOS release with the ability to change file extensions, view folder sizes, and expand folders in list view. There are also system-wide features that deliver improvements across apps, including a redesigned find and replace experience, document menus in Files, Pages, and Keynote, and a possible toolbar Customizable to allow users to add tools of their choice. Apple also added a feature called Reference Mode to enhance color viewing on the iPad Pro’s Retina XDR Display.
For Pro users on iPads with the M1 chip, iPadOS 16 offers the ability to allow users to increase the pixel density on the screen and see more in their apps. It is especially useful when running two applications in Split View. Apple has also included Virtual Memory Swap to allow users to virtually expand the memory available for their apps by up to 16GB using their iPad’s built-in memory.
The list of new features included in iPadOS 16, as well as Apple’s expansion of professional apps for iPad, will likely help the company grow its tablet revenue over time. Updates will also make the iPad a better choice for professionals than Android tablets.
