- At WWDC, Apple announced a new tablet operating system called iPadOS
- What are the iPadOS features? This article answers that question
At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple announced that it is detaching the iPad operating system from iOS in favor of a new tablet operating system called iPadOS is coming this fall.
What are the iPadOS features? Here is an overview:
iPadOS includes a new Home screen with more apps and a newly designed Today View. And iPadOS also features the same Dark Mode that was announced with iOS 13. And the new iPadOS also introduces new ways to work with apps in multiple windows.
“iPad transforms how people work and express their creativity, and with iPadOS, we’re taking it even further by delivering exciting capabilities that take advantage of its large canvas and versatility,” said Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi. “iPadOS delivers exciting features, including a new Home screen with widgets, more powerful multitasking and new tools that make using Apple Pencil even more natural.”
1. New Home Screen
The Home screen has been redesigned with a new layout so it can show more apps on each page. And the Today View can now be added to the home screen so you can quickly access widgets including headlines, weather, events, and tips.
2. Split View And Slide Over
With the iPad, you can now work with multiple files and documents of the same app simultaneously with updates to Split View. Or you can quickly view and switch between multiple apps in Slide Over. For example, users can compose emails while viewing another email side-by-side or access multiple apps such as Messages or Calendar with a swipe. And App Exposé provides a quick view of just the open windows for any app with a simple tap.
3. Apple Pencil Update
The Apple Pencil is even more integrated into the iPad experience with iPadOS. Users will be able to mark up and send entire websites, documents, or emails on iPad by swiping Apple Pencil from the corner of the screen. And there is a redesigned tool palette that gives quick access to tools, color palettes, shapes, object eraser, a new pixel eraser for removing strokes, and a rule for drawing straight lines.
4. New Files App
The Files app is considered a central place for quickly accessing and managing documents. And with iPadOS, it gets better with iCloud Drive support for folder sharing. Anyone with access to a shared folder will see it in iCloud Drive and will always have the ability to access the latest version.
And iPadOS also supports external drives so that users can easily plug in USB drives, SD cards, or log into an SMB file server within the Files app.
The Files app also has a new Column View with high-resolution previews to help users navigate directories while supporting Quick Actions such as mark up, rotate, and create PDF. Plus iPadOS also introduces local storage, zip and unzip, and new keyboard shortcuts.
5. Desktop-Like Experience On Safari
iPadOS will automatically present the desktop version of the website scaled appropriately for the iPad display and optimizes it for touch so web apps such as Google Docs, Squarespace, and WordPress work well in Safari for iPad. And Safari also supports new features like a download manager, 30 new keyboard shortcuts, and enhancements to tab management.
6. Text Editing Improvements
Apple made some major text editing improvements in iPadOS. It will be easier and faster to point with even more precision and speed. And you can select text with just a swipe and use new gestures to cut/copy/paste/undo.
7. Other iPadOS Features
– Dark Mode – Shows a dark color scheme that works system-wide and is easier on the eyes in low-light environments
– Custom Fonts – This feature allows you to install fonts across the system, which helps make documents look even more creative. Plus fonts found from vendors like Adobe, DynaComware, Monotype, Morisawa and Founder will be available on the App Store.
– Floating Keyboard – There is a new floating keyboard for saving space and it includes support for QuickPath, meaning one-handed typing is easier and it leaves more room to display apps. Plus customers can pinch in to enable the floating keyboard and drag it anywhere on the screen.
– Photos – The Photos app in iPadOS will feature the best images and automatically hide clutter and similar photos to showcase significant events over the past day, month, or year. Plus photo editing is more intuitive with new tools that are easier to apply/adjust/review.
– Sign In With Apple – Apple has added a feature that allows you to log into apps and websites using your Apple ID.
– Maps – The Maps app has a new Look Around feature with street-level imagery of cities using high-res 3D photography. And Collections is a new way of sharing restaurants, shops, or destinations. Plus Favorites offers quick navigation to frequent locations.
– Performance Improvements – Apple made iPadOS more responsive with faster Face ID unlock and a new way for packaging iPad apps on the App Store so that download sizes are reduced by up to 50% and app updates are up to 60% smaller.
