Apple to Delay iPadOS 16 Launch Until October

[tobybrut]

Jason Snell has been sounding the alarm on Stage Manager not being ready for prime time so if this is true it’s a good thing.

Most of the problems with Stage Manager are with external displays. It’s still very buggy. I tried running YouTube on it and it’s a horrible experience. I kept getting AirPlay errors and screen formatting bugs. I had no idea YouTube used AirPlay to work on a second monitor. A bunch of other apps don’t work well with external monitors either. I think that’s where the bulk of the work is going to be.

A lot of third party apps are going to have to make changes, too, to work well with Stage Manager. Those that already work with Split View will have minimal to no changes, but those that don’t are not going to be fun using.

 

[tobybrut]

I disagree - it works fine on the iPad Pro 11, but is really made for the external display. Its true shortcoming is window placement/resizing. You can’t just move a window to any location or size; it constantly gets snapped back to an arbitrary location and size, in fact stacking the latest touched window over all others even if that wasn’t intended. I’ve been told this is due to the necessity to let users have touch access to move/size windows on the iPad itself, but it only adds confusion on the larger external screen, where it really should work just like MacOS for window placement/resizing.

There are two reasons why windows move around and resize the way they do on the iPad while you have free form resizing and positioning on the Mac. iPad apps don’t support free form resizing at all, so Apple has to limit how they size or else everything will look as awful as Instagram does. You’ll notice that the proportions are those of Split View. Apps that support Split View will work just fine in Stage Manager. Those that don’t are going to have problems.

The iPad also does not have a precise pointer like a mouse. You’ll remember that the cursor simulates a finger, not a mouse, even if you have a mouse attached. Just imagine if you get in a position where your app is hidden by another with just a tiny sliver showing. You’ll have a really tough time getting out from behind the app without moving the other app first. So Apple moves apps around so enough is sticking out to make it easy for a finger cursor to move it.

 

[calstanford]

Apple has become too big, too unwieldy. Output is going down year after year. Delays for what really is a non-upgrade is embarassing.

 

[AstroRexaur]

Continuity!

Is it really delayed tho since new iPads will be introduced in Fall October's event?

It would make sense to release the new iPad OS with the launch of new iPads on the lineup.

THIS!

 

[Blowback]

Apple is planning to delay the launch of iPadOS 16 until October, which means the iPad software will not launch alongside iOS 16 in September as it typically does, reports Bloomberg.

Apple has been developing a new multitasking feature for the iPad called Stage Manager, with the option designed to offer a more Mac-like multi-window multitasking experience. The delayed launch of iPadOS 16 is said to be partly due to the implementation of Stage Manager as Apple is still working out bugs. A delayed launch will allow Apple to devote more time to finishing iOS 16, and then the company will be able to shift to working on iPadOS 16.

Stage Manager is limited to the M1 iPad Pro and iPad Air models, and it is not available on older iPads, which has caused some controversy. Apple maintains that it is not possible to offer an acceptable multitasking experience on older iPads, hence the limitation.

Since Apple split iPadOS into its own operating system in 2019, iPadOS releases have largely been tied to iOS releases, with software updates for the iPhone and the iPad launching at the same time. The delayed launch of iPadOS 16 will mark a departure from Apple's standard release plans.

Introducing iPadOS 16 in October means the software will be timed to launch closer to new iPads. Apple is developing a new M2 version of the iPad Pro with an M2 chip, and an entry-level iPad that features a USB-C port, both of which are expected to debut later this year.

Article Link: Apple to Delay iPadOS 16 Launch Until October

Bloomberg. Whose batting average is????

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

It used to be a 18 months to 2 year cycle at the beginning.

No it didn’t.
iOS has always been on a yearly release cycle.
Even Mac OS X has (for the most part) always been on a yearly cycle, except for between 2005-2010 where the releases slowed to focus on the Intel transition and the launch of the iPhone.
Besides that, 10.0 Chita, 10.1 Puma, 10.2 jaguar and 10.3 Panther were all released within 14 months of each other, and ever since 10.7 lion has been on a yearly schedule.

 

[MartyvH]

Spend another 11 months on it if necessary, just make sure it's right.

Making sure it's right, to me, needs to start with facilitating and encouraging actual pro applications on iPad Pro that use the vast amount of horsepower, especially M1. M2 will be yet more overspend. (At the risk of spamming about this issue.) Everything announced so far for iPadOS is minor compared to that.

 

[CornBeef4]

The people that protect Apple here and in every other thread are TikTok levels of cringe. iPadOS 16 is literally iPadOS 15 I've yet to see one difference besides a font change for the lockscreen clock and that useless stage manager thing.

I can't believe iPad owners wait one year for some updates, get this absurd 15.1 version and still protect Apple.

The only reason you might be doing this is if you don't actually own an iPad pro and you're just an Apple fanboy sleeping with the Apple stickers on your pillow

 

[kiensoy]

Who says? Just because it was that way before, doesn't mean it has to be. They never promised you it would be out the same time as iOS. They said "Fall" that's it.

Lol sorry if the word “fail” is triggering you.

 

[satchmo]

Putting the final touches on a stock iPad calculator app.

 

[markgpearse]

Podcast app still sucks at syncing across devices. Tonight’s rant!

 

[genovelle]

In years when they have an iPad event doesn’t it always come out in October?

 

[svish]

Maybe iPadOS 16 first comes preloaded with the new iPad Pros later this year!!

 

[freedomlinux]

Could we get MULTIPLE USER LOGINS? Like for families and maybe education?

of course not! If it was easier for multiple users to share an iPad, sales might decrease

 

[macduke]

Introducing iPadOS 16 in October means the software will be timed to launch closer to new iPads.

Also Apple: We decided to only launch Stage Manager on the new iPads. Suck it!

 

[Apleeseed84]

So New ipad delayed until October, Noted.

 

[petvas]

A new iPad was not expected for September anyway. It will probably come in October/November.
I like that Apple decided to delay the release (if that is true). Better to get the bugs fixed and then release a more quality OS.

 

[yegon]

I installed the beta purely for Stage Manager. Tried it for a couple of days then concluded I’m unlikely to ever use it. I find the 12.9” screen just too small for that degree of window management, and suddenly the old split screening etc seemed more effective than it seemed before.

Admittedly, l use a mac for a lot of stuff.

 

[Funny Apple Man]

Can Apple also add the new customizable Lock screen to iPadOS while at it? That would be nice.

 

[CornBeef4]

Can Apple also add the new customizable Lock screen to iPadOS while at it? That would be nice.

That would come in iPadOS 17

 

[Funny Apple Man]

That would come in iPadOS 17

Yeah that's what they're going to do. Just like with App library and widgets, they won't come until the next iPadOS version.

 

[bluecoast]

I’ve not seen it in action but I wonder if this is something that absolutely needs to launch in October if it’s still very shaky (as I’ve heard).

I’m guessing stage manager isn’t tied to any new hardware releases - as it’ll be available on M1 iPads.

And given that it’s being very much positioned as a power manager feature until - presumably - it is made more discoverable for mortal users, it surely makes sense to only launch it with a rock solid 1.0 release ‘when it’s ready’.

 

[bluecoast]

I'm hoping that's tongue in cheek, as otherwise that wins the prize for the most absurd post on this forum.....

I’ll join you, but I’m lobbying for green baize being bought back in games center & magnetic tape heads in podcasts (did that actually happen!?)

 

[kshitijshah]

Does Stage Manger make sense on an M1 iPad Pro 11?

 

[bluecoast]

Beta may be stable, but stage manager is in no way shape or form polished in its current state. There is A LOT of work that needs to be done to it. It’s kind of a mess. At least on my iPad. Going into the traditional multitasking recent apps view is janky as all hell, and scrolls the view to seemingly random points of the list when invoked. The new window controls barely function, with the add window button not even working at all.

On top of general jankiness, I genuinely believe that iPadOS stage manager needs more time in the oven in terms of concept and user interface. It is not anywhere near as intuitive as on macOS Ventura, due to the Macs established windowing controls being much easier to understand conceptually.

Idk, I personally am not surprised to see this. I think stage manager needs a lot of work before being considered a polished implementation.

Wonder if it makes sense to launch stage manager on the Ventura first - in October - get additional feedback from that and plan to launch stage manager on iPadOS in March or so.

I’ve not used it but It’s surely the future of multitasking on both the iPad and the Mac and launching it half-baked out of pride - as no other thing seems to be driving it - is really not going to fo Apple any favours.

See also: single tabbed row safari UX from last year on iPad and Mac 😱