Apple unveiled iPadOS 16 as its new software release for the iPad at the WWDC 2022 keynote on Monday. The new iPadOS release comes with a redesigned multitasking interface that aims to help increase productivity. This app brings the ability to overlay windows just like how you can on a Mac or Windows machine. 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 initially released iPadOS 16 For developers who are part of the Apple Developer Program. The new iPadOS release will also be available to users through a public beta next month. In addition, iPadOS 16 comes as a free software update for iPad (5th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), and all iPad Pro models this fall. will be available.
iPadOS 16 Features
Continuing to quietly bridge the gap between the MacBook and the iPad, Apple has introduced its new multitasking interface on iPadOS 16, called Stage Manager, which is also available for Mac machines via macOS 13 Ventura. It allows users to access multiple apps on the iPad at once by overlaying them on each other. The experience gets even better when you connect your iPad to an external display. It’s an upgrade over the existing interface where users are allowed to access apps in a similar full-screen view on the iPhone or two apps side-by-side in what Apple calls Split View. In addition, there is an option to slide an app from side to side, which is called slide over.
iPadOS 16 update will also enable users to resize app windows like a Mac or a windows Laptop. However, this feature is exclusive to iPad models that are powered by M1 piece. This means you won’t get the new experience if you don’t have the latest iPad Air or iPad Pro.
iPadOS 16 Features at a Glance
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Users with the M1 chip on the iPad also get support, so that users can collaborate on different tasks. Users can access this feature through Notes, Safari, Keynote and other preloaded apps on the iPad. Apple said the collaboration feature is also coming to iOS and macOS later this year.
Apple has also brought an app called Freeform to enhance the collaboration experience. It lets users share files, write notes or draw diagrams with others. Developers will also get a new API for integrating collaboration into their apps.
similar to iOS 16, iPadOS 16 comes with Live Text and Visual Look Up. The new release also includes the Home app with a brand new design and support for Matter. In addition, the iPadOS update brings the new Messages app that is available through the new iOS release so that users can edit or recall a text message.
For gamers, iPadOS 16 brings a better gaming experience that supports Metal 3. The company has also come up with a background download API that allows users to multitask while the game download is complete. The Gamer Center has also got Activity on the Dashboard to let users see the performance of their friends. The activity of the users will also be visible on the Game Center profile of the users. In addition, multiplayer games played through Game Center can access SharePlay to start sessions with your friends.
Apple said that all updates to Game Center will be available to users later this year as updates to iPadOS 16. These features will also be available for iOS and macOS users in the future.
The iPadOS 16 update also brings live text updates that are coming to the iPhone through iOS 16. Similarly, there is the updated Family Sharing feature that helps users add new age-restricted features. The new iPadOS release also includes an updated Home app with an improved interface and lock screen widget.
Apple introduced Quick Note, previously available for the Mac, so you can quickly write notes. The new iPadOS release also comes with the new Safari browser which is also available on macOS Ventura and brings features like shared tab groups and passkeys. Additionally, Apple has brought the Weather app to the iPad via iPadOS 16. It also brings full-screen animations as well as tappable modules for access to detailed information. Developers are also getting WeatherKit so they can integrate weather updates into their apps.
Additionally, Apple announced ‘desktop-level’ apps coming to the iPad through iPadOS 16. These will be able to use system elements such as undo/redo across systems, availability view in 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 size, and expand folders in list view. There are also system-wide features that aim to provide improvements to the apps, including a redesigned search-and-replace experience, Files, Pages, and Documents menus in Keynote, and a customizable toolbar for users to add the tools they want. Are included. Apple has also added a feature called Reference Mode to enhance color viewing on the Retina XDR displays that characterize the iPad Pro.
For Pro users on an iPad with the M1 chip, iPadOS 16 brings users the ability to increase the display’s pixel density and see more in their apps. This is especially useful when running two apps in split view. Apple has also brought virtual memory swap so users can use the onboard storage on their iPads to increase the available memory for their apps by up to 16GB.
The expansion of Apple’s Pro app to the iPad, along with the list of new features coming through iPadOS 16, is likely to help the company increase revenue coming from the tablet over time. The update will make the iPad a better pick for pros over Android tablets.