We had been waiting for this update for years and finally Apple meets expectations. iPadOS 16 introduces a big change in multitasking management, perhaps the point most demanded by iPad users. Together with iOS 16 and watchOS 9, in this WWDC 2022 they have taught us all the news of iPadOS 16.
The powerful hardware of the iPad Pro was already asking for a renewal and finally Apple will deliver it to us in iPadOS 16 with a new interface and the possibility to resize the “windows” of the applications.
iPadOS multitasking inspired by macOS
Last year iPadOS timidly tried to get closer to macOS with widgets, but clearly fell short. iPadOS 16, however, is a leap in multitasking design, mainly due to the arrival of resizable windows. As with desktop systems, users will be able to freely adjust the size of applicationsbeing able to place them at the height we need and using several at the same time.
The new iPadOS feature is Stage Manager, the same new feature that has been introduced in macOS Ventura. This way of rearranging the windows will also work even on external screens, being able to combine up to 8 applications at the same time.
The inspiration for this new version of iPadOS with macOS is clearer than ever. Over time, the same M1 chip has governed both desktop devices such as the MacBook Pro or Air, such as the iPad Pro or iPad Air. With this redesign of the windows, Apple manages to reduce the difference between them even more.
Adaptation to external monitors
iPad Pro and iPad Air with the M1 chipset will be able to accommodate external monitors, such as MacBooks. If we connect one of these iPads to an external screen, instead of seeing black bars on the sides, the interface will fit to fill the full width of the screen. With this we can take better advantage of the new function of multiple overlapping windows.
Freeform, a new collaborative application
With the arrival of iPadOS 16 Freeform will also be available. It is an application to collaborate between several users, with support for Apple Pencil and a combination of slides, text and images, in combination with FaceTime and the Messages app. It will be available at the end of the year.
The Weather app comes to iPad
Years have passed and it seemed that it was never going to be the time, but finally Apple has also decided to bring the Weather application to iPads, as a complete stand-alone app and not just as a widget. We have access to the same functions and information as in iOS, but adapted to large screens.
Changes to iMessage, Mail, and iCloud
Several of Apple’s core apps have received various improvements. iMessage will now allow mark a conversation as unread and edit messages already sent. It will also allow you to delete sent messages when we cannot edit them. These are functions that are already available in many messaging applications and now Apple wants to reduce the distance.
The Mail application will allow you to cancel the sending of an email when it has been sent by mistake and you can also mark some emails to read later. Additionally, the internal search function has been restructured. In the case of iCloud, Apple has introduced the new shared photo librariesan option also available in iOS 16.
LiveText on video, Personal Safety and other features
iPadOS 16 incorporates multiple new features, among which we find the LiveText function in video. That is, we can extract text from videossomething that before with iPadOS 15 could only be done in images.
Other features include improved focus modes, a new Personal Safety feature that lets you turn off location in an emergency, and a new Game Center profile.
iPadOS 16: availability and release date
iPadOS 16 will be available in its final and stable version between the months of September and October. During this summer we will receive the first beta versions. The models compatible with iPadOS 16 will be from the 5th generation iPad to the 9th generation, through the iPad Mini, all iPad Pro models and iPad Air from the third generation.
In development… you can follow all the information from WWDC 2022 live here.
More information | Manzana
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism