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One of iPadOS 16's key new features is Stage Manager, which allows users to resize apps into overlapping windows for an improved multitasking experience. Stage Manager also fully supports an external display, allowing users to work with up to four apps on the iPad and up to four apps on the external display simultaneously.

ipados-16-stage-manager.jpg

To the disappointment of some users, Stage Manager is limited to iPad models with an M1 chip, including the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air. In a statement shared with Rene Ritchie, Apple explained its rationale for this limitation by asserting that the Stage Manager experience "requires large internal memory, incredibly fast storage, and flexible external display I/O, all of which are delivered by iPads with the M1 chip."

Apple's full statement, as shared by Ritchie:For example, the M1 iPad Pro is available with up to 16GB of RAM, compared to 6GB in the previous-generation iPad Pro. Apple also said the M1 iPad Pro has 2x faster storage than the previous-generation model.

While the Stage Manager feature is limited to iPad models with an M1 chip, iPadOS 16 as a whole is compatible with all iPad Pro models, the third-generation iPad Air and newer, the fifth-generation iPad and newer, and the fifth-generation iPad mini and newer. The update is currently in beta for developers, with Apple planning to release a public beta in July. iPadOS 16 should be released to all users around September.

Article Link: Apple Explains Why Stage Manager is Limited to M1 iPads in New Statement
It appears that Apple software developers just suck. Samsung has been offering this type of UI (Dex) for many years now on all sorts of devices, including their phones.
 
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I have the iPad Air 4. Sure it'd be nice if it supported Stage Manager. But oh well. I didn't buy it to use Stage Manager. Didn't even exist when I bought the iPad, nor did I expect that it would come to exist. So, I haven't lost anything.
 
I have the iPad Air 4. Sure it'd be nice if it supported Stage Manager. But oh well. I didn't buy it to use Stage Manager. Didn't even exist when I bought the iPad, nor did I expect that it would come to exist. So, I haven't lost anything.
I like the optimistic, glass-half-full mindset. I too still love my iPad ninth gen and so far it is running beautifully with iOS 16.
 
Apple creates software that takes advantage of features only available to the newest models. It’s how they incentivize you to dump older models that could have certainly had very similar features run on them but that would make you want to keep the older model longer. Apple has been doing this sort of thing for years. It’s not about what features make your computer work better, it’s about what features can get you to buy a new computer this year. They are there to make sales, everything else is spin and marketing.
 
Apple creates software that takes advantage of features only available to the newest models. It’s how they incentivize you to dump older models that could have certainly had very similar features run on them but that would make you want to keep the older model longer. Apple has been doing this sort of thing for years. It’s not about what features make your computer work better, it’s about what features can get you to buy a new computer this year. They are there to make sakes, everything else is spin and marketing.
This would make sense if they replace existing models.
 
In other words, we want you to replace hardware on an annual basis so that Tim Cook has even more $$$. Introduce subscription already and start emptying consumer pockets more efficiently.
 
People are going to still whine, but Apple just provided a definitive technical reason. As far as I’m concerned the case is closed.

The same goes for new iOS versions on older iPhones. It’s a super laggy experience that most people wouldn’t actually want, which is why Apple periodically stops supporting older models.
Yes and Apple also deliberately was slowing its hardware down in the past. Time for more lawsuits.
 
In other words, we want you to replace hardware on an annual basis so that Tim Cook has even more $$$. Introduce subscription already and start emptying consumer pockets more efficiently.
If they introduced subscriptions to make more money, Apple gambled and lost on me because compared to when I was buying music from iTunes, I spend a tiny fraction on Apple Music. They also lost my iTunes Match revenue when they included it with Apple Music for no additional cost.
 
Apple creates software that takes advantage of features only available to the newest models. It’s how they incentivize you to dump older models that could have certainly had very similar features run on them but that would make you want to keep the older model longer. Apple has been doing this sort of thing for years. It’s not about what features make your computer work better, it’s about what features can get you to buy a new computer this year. They are there to make sales, everything else is spin and marketing.
That's what they say, not necessarily what they do. In this case, what new feature did they use?
 
Aside from marketing and "greed" it is really a tough call to implement something that isn't blazing fast on your platform. You get kind of ****** experience on A12 and M1 is smooth af. Implement ****** or "force" users to buy a new model.
 
Selling a device they knew they couldn't support for a decade is nefarious. Apple markets iPads as computers. Computers should see more than one February 29th.
Yeah, but you know how much things progress in 4 years? I think this is a struggle between smoothness and features. You cant do it both ways.
 
bs... A 2017 base model MacBook Air on Intel can do stage manager. Just be honest, Apple.

Which comes with 8Gb RAM and has a low resolution of 1440 by 900 pixels.

iPad models with 8+GB of RAM:
  • iPad Pro 12.9" (5th generation)
  • iPad Pro 11" (3rd generation)
 
that only means that Apple hardware is inferior to 200$ netbook class of devices.
I pity those that paid 1500$ for a "pro" machine that can't handle multi tasking... And still missing a torrent client. Think of that. You can't even run the software you choose to run.
 
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Actually, they have been cutting out features on older devices for some time, and they never actually say anything nor make any statements, and people would've just shrugged it off.

But the different thing with this one is, Apple actually came out and made a statement about it. It's as if it's intentional. Apple marketing probably thought this would encourage people to upgrade to the M1 iPads.

They probably could make it work since those A12X/Z systems with nVME SSDs are actually desktop class system. Apple themselves were the one bragging how the A12X/Z were faster than most PCs.

Staying silent, status quo, would've probably been better rather than making vague statements without hard data to back it up.
Imo it's part of Apple knowing this year would be rough with all those lockdowns in China, shortage, inflation, etc. So they're pulling all stops to nudge people to upgrade. Gotta keep those record breaking quarters. Without solid data, the decision sounded more financially motivated than actually due to technical reasons.

They normally mention supported devices for new features as well. It’s just never garnered as much attention until now.
 
I believe that Apple has a reason for not including it in pre-M1 iPads but the reasons they are providing are nebulous and not very believable at face value (due to being so nebulous). The folks who are just credulously accepting what Apple is shilling in this statement disappoint me. The issue is likely technical not financial but they're not going inside baseball enough for me to buy it as a person who has done software development for nearly 2 decades.

My assumption is that the A12Z and older are incapable of page file swapping and this feature's good performance relies on faster SSDs and the M1's swap space capability. That's not quite what they've said so I'm generously connecting the dots.
 
Apple knew this would be a point that was going to be brought up and surely even had this statement and response ready.

Apple challenged themselves with their new M1 chip to push iPadOS to a new limit and achieved it.

Stage Manager looks great. And true external monitor support, cmon.

:apple:
A true macOS-like file system is way more important than this fluff. Store Manager is little more than form over function. Even the M1 iPads are nearly useless for office style work (programming, spreadsheets, documentation, presentations, etc.). iPadOS is a dog, and pushing features like Store Manager instead of a real fie system and better input capability is a waste of time.
 
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