Apple Seeds First Beta of iPadOS 16.1, Confirms Delayed Launch

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming iPadOS 16.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software available alongside the standard iOS 16 seventh beta that was provided today.

Registered developers can download the iPadOS 16 profile from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta will be available over the air.

Apple has decided to delay the launch of iPadOS 16 in order to continue working out bugs and other issues with the Stage Manager feature that is coming to M1 iPad models.

In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple said that there will be no iPadOS 16.0 version at launch, with the company instead planning to ship iPadOS 16.1 following the launch of iOS 16.

This is an especially big year for iPadOS. As its own platform with features specifically designed for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule. This Fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS, as version 16.1 in a free software update.

iPadOS 16.1 introduces new Stage Manager features, according to TechCrunch.

The big update this time out is the ability to resurface the Stage Manager side rail with a gesture while the feature is full screen. The other updates with 16.1 are the standard spate of beta bug updates

Apple rarely splits iOS and iPadOS launches apart, but it has opted to do so in this case because the latest version of iPadOS is still riddled with bugs and seeing a number of complaints about the multitasking Stage Manager option.

Article Link: Apple Seeds First Beta of iPadOS 16.1, Confirms Delayed Launch

 

[ProfessionalFan]

That explains it, alright then. Makes sense really so they can continue to be on the same version number publicly once it is released.

 

[profets]

Makes sense given likeliness of new iPads at an October event and iOS 16.0 being ready for September.

And then I guess we see iOS 16.1 alongside iPadOS 16.1 in October.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I thought it was a bug. Glad, Apple is on a timed schedule. Good stuff!

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Good.
Not the first time this has happened either, iPadOS 13.1 was the first update that year, shipping about a week after 13.0 for iPhones.
And back in 2010, the iPad went from OS 3.2.2 to iOS 4.2.1, there was no 4.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.2 or 4.1 updates for the iPad.

 

[ss2cire]

Interesting decision. But it sounds like from the beta testing reports, a good one.

 

[contacos]

Eh pretty indifferent about it for my iPad Air 4 anyway. You could have installed the beta on my device in secret and I wouldn’t even have noticed that I am not running iOS 15 until seeing the Weather App

 

[GMShadow]

Eh pretty indifferent about it for my iPad Air 4 anyway. You could have installed the beta on my device in secret and I wouldn’t even have noticed that I am not running iOS 15 until seeing the Weather App

The Files app improvements have been the biggest thing for me. The old version used to choke loading 10MB< images, now it can handle 50MB+ ones with ease.

 

[dantracht]

Take your time.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

So iPadOS 16.0 isn't delayed, but cancelled and they go straight to 16.1.

 

[siddavis]

"we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule."
But we must demonstrate this independence by keeping the version numbers in sync.

 

[klasma]

“This is an especially big year for iPadOS.”

I don’t see it.

 

[Dwalls90]

I can't imagine Stage Manager is that big of an overhaul to command a month delayed release vs. iOS? Must be due to new hardware launching in October.

I guess September will be Phone, Watch, accessory (AirPods?) and Home (Apple TV, HomePod?) related, and we'll see iPads and Mac sin October.

 

[WhackyNinja]

“This is an especially big year for iPadOS”

Me:

 

[Ludatyk]

So iPadOS 16.0 isn't delayed, but cancelled and they go straight to 16.1.

I wonder if this Apple attempt to remove Stage Manager off iPadOS 16.0... while they work on fixing the bugs.

Then release it for iPadOS 16.1.

 

[anshuvorty]

So iPadOS 16.0 isn't delayed, but cancelled and they go straight to 16.1.

Marketing at its finest...

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

“This is an especially big year for iPadOS.”

I don’t see it.

I think the only thing Apple is referring to for iPad OS is "Stage Manager".

 

[w5jck]

Apple can take a decade to release iPadOS 16.x, and it will still be a garbage OS that doesn't turn the iPad into a workhorse. It merely makes it an incrementally better toy...

 

[Razorpit]

I think the only thing Apple is referring to for iPad OS is "Stage Manager".

Don't forget the weather app! 😉

 

[anshuvorty]

Interesting decision. But it sounds like from the beta testing reports, a good one.

Now, they just have to delay/cancel Ventura from 13 to 13.1 to fix the System Settings UI and we will be all good! LOL!

 

[chrfr]

I wonder if this Apple attempt to remove Stage Manager off iPadOS 16.0... while they work on fixing the bugs.

Then release it for iPadOS 16.1.

iPadOS 16.0 will not be released. iPadOS 16's first release will be 16.1. https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/23/apple-delivers-ipados-16-1-beta-ahead-of-ios-16-fall-release/

 

[alpi123]

Interesting decision. But it sounds like from the beta testing reports, a good one.

It's because they will release new iPads this October, and what better way to introduce them than the full release of iPadOS 16.

Just like how they introduce the new iPhones and then the new iOS version. Same will happen with Macs.

 

[antiprotest]

“This is an especially big year for iPadOS.”

I don’t see it.

Only for M1 models.

Because Apple cares so much about user experience and Apple knows better because we are not engineers, so if Apple says something we must all accept it and shut up, according to macrumors users on here.

 

[pavelbure]

People on WFH are working so hard they’re already going to a delayed 16.1.

 

[CarAnalogy]

“This is an especially big year for iPadOS.”

I don’t see it.

It was supposed to say buggy but, you know, autocorrect.