Apple Aiming to Make iPad More Mac-Like With iPadOS 16 Multitasking Changes

[aibo82]

What snare traps? I think discoverability is a problem but manual window resizing and placing is only easier because it is familiar. I think that the early multitasking implementations on iPadOS gave people a bad understanding and now people have just given up on it.

I think or for me at least is the 3 spot horror on top of the address bar in safari!

It’s so poorly placed and a few clicks on that you have pop up windows, split screens or an annoying side arrow window!

Countless times I’ve had to help my parents get rid of split screen or the side arrow because they haven’t got a clue or forget. That being said I struggle as it’s multiple swipes to shift them out the way!

Can we have options to at least disable new stuff? Some people do actually just want a simple browser, email or app etc not things jumping out of sides of screens or buttons so close to buttons to cram in an extra feature that you accidentally click that instead.

The current version is a mess for someone who wants to use an iPad as a basic device for online browsing, shopping or everyday tasks it’s now so bogged down with features that people with more experience have moaned about it lacking.

Sometimes what makes an Apple product great for people is it’s simplicity, you can give it your elderly parent and there’s no learning curve or very little.

But it seems Apple is playing catch up with the multi tasking, multi window mess of android while losing its core of what made it great…. Simplicity

 

[bondr006]

I think or for me at least is the 3 spot horror on top of the address bar in safari!

It’s so poorly placed and a few clicks on that you have pop up windows, split screens or an annoying side arrow window!

Countless times I’ve had to help my parents get rid of split screen or the side arrow because they haven’t got a clue or forget. That being said I struggle as it’s multiple swipes to shift them out the way!

Can we have options to at least disable new stuff? Some people do actually just want a simple browser, email or app etc not things jumping out of sides of screens or buttons so close to buttons to cram in an extra feature that you accidentally click that instead.

The current version is a mess for someone who wants to use an iPad as a basic device for online browsing, shopping or everyday tasks it’s now so bogged down with features that people with more experience have moaned about it lacking.

Sometimes what makes an Apple product great for people is it’s simplicity, you can give it your elderly parent and there’s no learning curve or very little.

But it seems Apple is playing catch up with the multi tasking, multi window mess of android while losing its core of what made it great…. Simplicity

Agree 100%! Same with my 85 year old mom. She keeps getting the split screen or side floater window and can't figure out how to get rid of it. I remember when I got her first iPad 7 years ago, it was much easier for her then. They just keep adding stuff that confuses her. I think there should be a couple iPad models for little children and elderly folk that just keeps a simple OS, and the rest can get the more advanced iPadOS. Or at the very least, a switch to choose the simple or advanced OS version.

 

[The Game 161]

I could see sales of 12.9 iPad Pro being more popular if they do bring these changes. I know some who returned theirs after last years WWDC

 

[bcortens]

Agree 100%! Same with my 85 year old mom. She keeps getting the split screen or side floater window and can't figure out how to get rid of it. I remember when I got her first iPad 7 years ago, it was much easier for her then. They just keep adding stuff that confuses her. I think there should be a couple iPad models for little children and elderly folk that just keeps a simple OS, and the rest can get the more advanced iPadOS. Or at the very least, a switch to choose the simple or advanced OS version.

Or a disable split screen option - this used to be a thing - I remember disabling multitasking on my moms iPad and just looked to see if it was still an option, apparently not… seems like a really stupid decision to remove it…

 

[bcortens]

Agree 100%! Same with my 85 year old mom. She keeps getting the split screen or side floater window and can't figure out how to get rid of it. I remember when I got her first iPad 7 years ago, it was much easier for her then. They just keep adding stuff that confuses her. I think there should be a couple iPad models for little children and elderly folk that just keeps a simple OS, and the rest can get the more advanced iPadOS. Or at the very least, a switch to choose the simple or advanced OS version.

Or a disable split screen option - this used to be a thing - I remember disabling multitasking on my moms iPad and just looked to see if it was still an option, apparently not… seems like a really stupid decision to remove it…

 

[VictorTango777]

So you think Apple should stand still? Gorilla arm is a myth. No one is saying a touchscreen should be the only form of input. I use my iPad almost exclusively as a laptop and so do most iPad users I know, and there’s a huge convenience factor in having multiple input options. I can’t tell you how many times I reach up to touch my MBP’s screen, only to realize it doesn’t accept touch input. In a way, it’s actually easier transitioning from my iPad to my Win 11 laptop because it has a touchscreen.

”Gorilla arm” positioning is bad for laptops and touchscreen monitors. It is impossible for iPad to ever be placed in a bad position for touch input. Even when an iPad with a keyboard and trackpad is placed in exactly the same position as a laptop, “gorilla arm” is only a problem for the laptop but not the iPad.

iPadOS supports game controllers, but you don’t want to use a game controller for everything on an iPad. Therefore, iPad should not support game controllers at all.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Countless times I’ve had to help my parents get rid of split screen or the side arrow because they haven’t got a clue or forget. That being said I struggle as it’s multiple swipes to shift them out the way!

Can we have options to at least disable new stuff?

I'm so totally in agreement with you.

I think Apple got caught listening to too many voices in their influencer/podcast/reviewer space (the Vittici's of the world) and assumed that we all wanted the iPad to just keep doing more and more and try to takeover as many Mac workflows as possible.

I'm sure some do want that. But by the same token, the iPad being very different and far simpler than a Mac was a HUGE part of the appeal for many of us (and our older relatives).

I really wish they'd allow a much deeper and more complete ability to revert the iPadOS experience to the very simple roots if one wants.

 

[Tagbert]

”Gorilla arm” positioning is bad for laptops and touchscreen monitors. It is impossible for iPad to ever be placed in a bad position for touch input. Even when an iPad with a keyboard and trackpad is placed in exactly the same position as a laptop, “gorilla arm” is only a problem for the laptop but not the iPad.

iPadOS supports game controllers, but you don’t want to use a game controller for everything on an iPad. Therefore, iPad should not support game controllers at all.

I’m not sure if you are trying to be sarcastic or just had a few too many but those arguments make no sense.

 

[Tagbert]

I'm so totally in agreement with you.

I think Apple got caught listening to too many voices in their influencer/podcast/reviewer space (the Vittici's of the world) and assumed that we all wanted the iPad to just keep doing more and more and try to takeover as many Mac workflows as possible.

I'm sure some do want that. But by the same token, the iPad being very different and far simpler than a Mac was a HUGE part of the appeal for many of us (and our older relatives).

I really wish they'd allow a much deeper and more complete ability to revert the iPadOS experience to the very simple roots if one wants.

This recent version of multi-tasking is much improved and easier for people to use, but it needs an option to turn it off for users who don’t want or understand multi-tasking. The previous, gesture-only version was a nightmare unless you spent way to much time practicing the hidden movements.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This recent version of multi-tasking is much improved and easier for people to use, but it needs an option to turn it off for users who don’t want or understand multi-tasking.

Totally agree.

Even for me, I'd probably disable all forms of multi-tasking save for PiP (if that's even considered MT?)

I use my iPads very much in a "classic" way, with PiP being the only thing I ever really do where two things are happening at once.

 

[Killbynumbers]

Nonsense. The limitations for pro apps aren't the UI, they are in the underlying OS systems of inter app communication, background processing, and other structural issues.

It's still not a computer and that is the reason it's been sitting unused for two months. I prefer to use my 16 "MBP or MBA. Both do far more than my iPad Pro could ever do. All I ever did on the iPad Pro was read books in the books app. That's all it was good for.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm assuming this was talked about and I missed it...

..but I'd say Apple has an iPadOS problem on their hands when Federico Viticci -- literally "Mr. iPad for everything at all costs" -- quietly switched to an M1 Mac for a few months and finally told everyone about it ... and prefers it.

If you can't retain someone like Federico on the iPad, you are failing completely on iPad software/OS stuff Apple

 

[Unregistered 4U]

..but I'd say Apple has an iPadOS problem on their hands when Federico Viticci -- literally "Mr. iPad for everything at all costs" -- quietly switched to an M1 Mac for a few months and finally told everyone about it ... and prefers it.

Not really, he was Mr. Mac well before he was Mr. iPad. He’s just going back to the Mac (plus he really wants to be a part of the M1 Mac conversation for the sake of his business). Gotta admit that it was a smart business decision as his name’s being posted all over the place now

 

[mark_gurman]

Gurman has been saying this for 2yrs now. Nothing cometh yet.

First time I’ve said this.

 

[groove-agent]

If you're going to do snark, then the proper reference would be 1984 for Apple devices.

Mac operating systems - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Of course there were multiple precursors even to that. Invention always builds on foundations.

I remember watching the movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley". If I remember correctly, Xerox was pitching their windows concept but both Gates and Jobs acted disinterested then stole the idea for themselves.

 

[q64ceo]

Mark my words: macOS as we know it will be retired and a new macOS based upon iOS will take its place. I believe that new OS will be from this project.

 

[Abazigal]

I'm so totally in agreement with you.

I think Apple got caught listening to too many voices in their influencer/podcast/reviewer space (the Vittici's of the world) and assumed that we all wanted the iPad to just keep doing more and more and try to takeover as many Mac workflows as possible.

I'm sure some do want that. But by the same token, the iPad being very different and far simpler than a Mac was a HUGE part of the appeal for many of us (and our older relatives).

I really wish they'd allow a much deeper and more complete ability to revert the iPadOS experience to the very simple roots if one wants.

Apple seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

On one hand, you do have a small group of power users who do use their iPads for serious work and want to be able to squeeze out as much use out of it as possible.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have normal average users who just use the iPad to check email, browse the web and watch Netflix.

The challenge is how to give the power users what they want without alienating the latter. I have no answer to this, but I maintain that the answer is not to bring macOS to the ipad, at least.

 

[smulji]

The challenge is how to give the power users what they want without alienating the latter. I have no answer to this, but I maintain that the answer is not to bring macOS to the ipad, at least.

I don't think Apple will bring macOS to the iPad but I do think iPadOS will get featurs once reserved for macOS.

 

[groove-agent]

I'm torn by this... on the one hand it's very welcome. But after MacBooks went M1, I really don't use my iPad as a "laptop" anymore. Sorta wish they would go back to the "tablet" roots and really innovate more in this space. I really do want a *third* device that is different than my laptop and my iPhone as Steve Jobs presented it.

You’re Apple’s ideal customer - someone who wants to buy several devices to fulfill their daily computing needs.

 

[The_Martini_Cat]

A terrific idea us to make this nsc like behavior on the iPad optional, since there isn’t much in system preferences, so without more options to check on and off, even having a system preferences is kind of a waste. Save the settings app! Put more stuff in it!!🍸😺🍸😹

 

[George Dawes]

Keep iPadOS nice and simple but have a pro version for the pro iPads

 

[ww1971]

Despite talk of mac os or mac apps coming to iPad pro, I don’t think Apple will do that this year or for a few years yet. We may see true multitasking BUT I’m not expecting to see Mac apps coming to iPads anytime soon, not this year anyway

 

[ww1971]

Mark my words: macOS as we know it will be retired and a new macOS based upon iOS will take its place. I believe that new OS will be from this project.

i think there will always be Mac OS and iOS as seperate platforms, thats the way apple operates

 

[ww1971]

Just put macOS on it. It'll never be a computer replacement with a locked-down glorified phone OS.

i believe that apple has a reason why it won’t bring Mac OS to iPad. Because Mac OS is a very demanding operating system on hardware and the iPad is not designed to handle mac os. I believe that iPads will always have iPad OS and iPad apps, not Mac apps

 

[George Dawes]

Mark my words: macOS as we know it will be retired and a new macOS based upon iOS will take its place. I believe that new OS will be from this project.

That would be really really sad

A real dumbing down the masses moment