Apple to Delay iPadOS 16 Launch Until October

[Isengardtom]

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

I’ve tried it out on my 12.9” iPad and to me it feels like a very useful feature when working with an external display.

When just interacting with the tablet, even docked in the magic keyboard I prefer to still use the old split / slide over way with the shelf.

Having multiple floating windows open on a tablet is more “distraction creating” than “multitasking” in my view.
I always compare it with how I work with a computer for my work: 1 app open per screen, at most 2 (via a split).

The smaller the screen gets the less likely multiple windows become useful.

Everybody has different workflows though off course

 

[kshitijshah]

I’ve tried it out on my 12.9” iPad and to me it feels like a very useful feature when working with an external display.

When just interacting with the tablet, even docked in the magic keyboard I prefer to still use the old split / slide over way with the shelf.

Having multiple floating windows open on a tablet is more “distraction creating” than “multitasking” in my view.
I always compare it with how I work with a computer for my work: 1 app open per screen, at most 2 (via a split).

The smaller the screen gets the less likely multiple windows become useful.

Everybody has different workflows though off course

Thanks, I think a smaller screen will just make the experience cumbersome. no wonder the rumors say they are supersizing the iPad Pros.

 

[TMRJIJ]

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

No, no it wasn’t. There were only four macOS releases that had a 18 month to 2 year cycle.

 

[anthony13]

I still wish my 2018 iPad Pro 12.9” could run stage manager and I’m still a little surprised they went this route. By all accounts it’s still blazingly fast. And it’s funny cause since that 2018 iPad Pro was released, there have been so many reviews and articles that talked about how iOS would one day take advantage of all the power under the hood.

 

[cainewest]

I was using the latest iPadOS 16 last night and I thought there was no way it was releasing in September. It's extremely buggy in its current state.

 

[Yebubbleman]

So, they're going to delay all of iPadOS due to still needing time to work on Stage Manager, a feature that they've, for reasons that still seem insanely stupid (given that macOS for Apple Silicon was shipped on a A12Z-powered Developer Transition Kit that was still plenty more powerful than most Intel Macs that also get the Stage Manager feature), limited to only the three highest end iPads that have an M1 (Air, third gen 11" Pro, fifth gen 12.9" Pro)...

Have they not forgotten that each individual device gets its own .ipsw file and therefore checks for its own individualized update? Ship the nothing-burger that is iPadOS 16 to literally ALL OTHER supported iPad models and just delay it for those three until October when they finally finish over-engineering Stage Manager for iPad. Problem solved.

And...just to pre-address anyone crying foul about "fragmentation" here with that solution, (a) it's only for a month, (b) it's not like you don't have fragmentation among devices that get dropped from iPadOS 16 (having been supported on iPadOS 13.x and earlier through 15.6), (c) most users fatigue on constant major Apple OS releases anyway.

 

[Piplodocus]

I can't even really remember what they said was new other than Stage Manager, which won't run on my pretty new A12Z iPad anyway. I got universal control already which was pretty good, so I really don't give a hoot when it turns up as long as it's not buggy.

I'm more interested in Ventura (and Metal 3), but Monterey works fine in the meantime and I can't really remember any groundbreaking must-have in that either (or any nice little mods for UI things or window management I'd like). At work I'm running Windows 10 the last few years and it's not like I've missed some yearly update. Just got given a new work laptop and it's got Win10 like the rest of the company is running, so I expect it'll be a while til IT changes over still.

I really don't need a new OS every year, just keep it stable and do point updates for minor tweaks or to add features - it's not like universal control didn't appear part why through the OS cycle. Normally they break something, or some driver, at least for a bit, so usually every year force developers to update pro SW or hardware drivers meaning it's annoying and/or risky to update half the time anyway.

 

[falkon-engine]

Tried Stage Manager on my M1 iPad Pro 11", didn't like it, turned it off.

I just want to use windows on my iPad the same way I always used windows on macOS and Windows:

- Let's supose I have Safari already opened, then I click on Mail to open it. The way I expect it to work is Mail to be opened alongside Safari. But this is not what happens with Stage Manager: it opens Mail on another app group, then I need to drag Mail to the Safari group, kind of merging the two app groups. That's a huge waste of time

- macOS and Windows remember the size and the position of each app/program, so every time I open the same app I know it will be opened with that same size and at that same place. But Stage Manager doesn't remember windows' sizes and positions, in fact it resizes and repositions each app depending on how much windows are opened at the same time. That really sucks.

Really, this is just a gimmick with small practical usage, at least for me. I don't want to resize and reposition the same app every time I open it.

I couldn't agree with you more. Stage manager's current implementation, opening new windows in a new app group (or stage) and placing existing windows off to the side is jarring and frankly dumb. Just do what Linux, Windows, and macOS currently do: open a new window on top of the existing one and be done with it. I don't understand how Apple really believes this stage manager experience actually enhances task management. It's like somebody dreamt up of an alpha release window manager, and Apple felt it ready to unleash on to us, the paying public.

macOS's Window Server already works fine, so why not just use it as inspiration for iPadOS? Even if on iPadOS, windows snap into pre-determined positions on screen, and pre-determined sizes/aspect ratios.

Also, iPadOS should really add the traffic lights just like on macOS (for window management features such as close, minimize, full screen, move window to another display).

Finally, iPadOS and macOS should implement a feature similar to Rectangle or Mosaic on macOS or Windows 11's default implementation, and allow the user to Snap windows into pre-determined shapes/regions. I can't believe Apple hasn't done this... the MacBook Pro 14"/16" are hallmarks of innovation, same with the original M1... It would be great to see that same innovation and "wow" moment come to the Window Manager.

 

[Razorpit]

I have been using the Betas since day one on my M1 Pro, they all have been nothing but good. Maybe there have been issues with the older iPads.

I’ve heard that one before. Not falling for it again. 😉

I'd love to try the beta, but I can't risk running into a bug that breaks things for me. So while it'll probably work fine, I'm taking the safe option and waiting.

Exactly, I can wait. I use my iPad for work stuff.

So that means this astonishing fact:

My 2014 iPad Air 2 will have a month longer full support than my 2016 iPhone 7.

The Air 2 is truly the iPad that won’t die.

We bought two of them for the kids in 2017 on a crazy Black Friday deal. Both are still in use daily.

What a made up story by Mark Gurman. The latest beta 4 showed a lot of fixes and it's not like it would be delayed at all, certainly not by a whole month apart from iOS 16. We all remember Universal Control, if something isn't ready then its delayed to an another minor release.

I’m thinking there’s some hidden features in it for the new iPads and they want to wait until they are announced before they release the OS.

The problem is the newest iPad mini just came out not even a year ago and doesn't have an M1. It's a bit too early for Apple to be dropping features.

You can’t “drop” what you never had.

M1’s advantage over M1 is the presence of a ProRes encoder/decoder. This will matter for those using video editing software like Luma Fusion. If Apple adds an M2-exclusive feature, it’d probably be some sort of ProRes video related feature. Of course, taking video with an iPad is just weird.

I could see a use case for video, just not with the current cameras. You could have a camera and production studio all in one. Great for students and amateurs.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

So, they're going to delay all of iPadOS

They didn't delay it. They said Fall and it is coming in the Fall.

 

[Realityck]

They didn't delay it. They said Fall and it is coming in the Fall.

It also not uncommon for the grouping of these betas to complete and be released in October sometimes either.

 

[txscott]

This is why I still wish Apple would decouple apps from the OS. This is going to leave people confused if they enable iCloud Shared Photo Library on their phone and then can't see quite a few of their photos on the iPad.

This exactly. Photo sharing is one example and the same is true of Apple Home. There are major changes there that may not be available if everybody connected to the home is not running the latest version. People might also like to get the new email version, changes to files and safari updates at the same time on their phones and iPads. All that stuff ought to be decoupled from the OS and released on their own schedule.

 

[Paddle1]

What features is Apple dropping? No one is losing any features they had when they bought their hardware.

You can’t “drop” what you never had.

You can see it that way but realistically I'd argue that many people expect to receive updates with new features and security updates and relatively lengthy support when they buy an iPad. Not everyone upgrades constantly and make their purchases with longevity in mind. In a way you are missing something when basic headlining features are unavailable on your device only a year in. Same kind of thing with the 2020 iPad Pro, some bought it for its unused potential only for Apple to go and restrict things to M1.

You can blame the buyers for making assumptions though you just don't know what to expect with Apple, you've got this on one side of the spectrum, but on the other hand the 2015 iPhone 6s and iPad Pro are still receiving software updates.

 

[Realityck]

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

Time will tell if Stage Manager is enough justification to use with an external display and keyboard, instead of just using a Mac laptop. Add up the cost, it’s not that cheap. I use my iPad standalone.

 

[Ethosik]

People are going to complain no matter what. The fact remains that iPadOS was a very minor update, delaying it doesn't do well for demonstrating the quality of their engineers, but yeah, working from home had 0 to do with it..... It's alright, you don't have to defend everything apple does, they are a huge company, they will be okay without you defending them.

Yet iOS and macOS that have more updates are still on time. So even if you are correct (which you aren’t Apple’s quality has been an issue for YEARS now), it would impact iOS and macOS more.

 

[Ethosik]

given that macOS for Apple Silicon was shipped on a A12Z-powered Developer Transition Kit that was still plenty more powerful than most Intel Macs that also get the Stage Manager feature

You are forgetting that the DTK had 16 GB of RAM. More than the pre-M1 iPad had.

 

[Premium1]

Yet iOS and macOS that have more updates are still on time. So even if you are correct (which you aren’t Apple’s quality has been an issue for YEARS now), it would impact iOS and macOS more.

Except for the fact they could have more working on those two since that is their cash cow hence why no slowdowns or delays. Also, yes the quality has been an issue for years, although it seems to be getting worse and worse.

 

[quietstormSD]

That’s a big boner kill for a month.

 

[Schizoid]

Get back into that big, shiny, circular building you slackers!

 

[GuruZac]

Stage Manager is cool, but I think it depends on how you use your iPad to start with. I was clamoring to have multi-window support more like macOS, but it feels awkward still. The way you can minimize windows on macOS, adjust windows to any size, not just pre-set sizes Apple decided on in iPadOS. It just feels clunky. I wanted so badly to make iPad Pro a laptop replacement, but for me it's just not going to happen. Once the M1 Macs arrived, the combination of insane power, efficiency, portability (MacBook Air especially) has made me fall in love with the Mac all over.

Another awkward thing with iPadOS is the cursor feels imprecise. I have used Epic and Allscripts, EMR/EHR software in the hospital/clinics on my iPad Pro and both types of software show a traditional pointed cursor which feels much more precise. The best part of Stage Manager in my opinion is the proper external monitor support now. Otherwise, for all of you with 2020 iPad Pros, you're not missing much of anything with iPadOS 16.

 

[GuruZac]

Ha, I don't think that's even an open. Apple was not satisfied with the results. That idea was shot down in Cupertino a long time ago.

My intake: Apple wants everyone to order new iPad equipment with M1 and M2 chips period 🙏

Yeah, and I think you're right about the comment on timing. They may launch iPadOS 16 with the M2 powered iPad Pros.

 

[ipedro]

New iPad Pro confirmed for October event

 

[ProfessionalFan]

That’s a big boner kill for a month.

Install the beta in September and make believe it was released.

 

[cvam1985]

I have loved my 2018 Pro 12.9 very much since I bought it. I feel like it has a lot of life left in it, so I won’t be tablet shopping for a while.

But when I do, I’ll be shopping for a Samsung or something.

This horrible idiocy of hiding new things and features (in this case , the best new feature) behind the excuse of “it needs our chip” as the reason to make a 4 year tablet obsolete is making me question why I have so much Apple stuff. F them. I hate them for this.

 

[TinaBelcher]

They never said it'd be part of the iPadOS16 so safe to assume it won't be. Maybe it comes in iPadOS 17

and maybe in ios 18 we will get a calculator... omg its like macos!!!!!