Apple Unveils 'iPadOS' Designed Specifically for the iPad's Larger Display

[fredrik9]

I haven't installed the beta but based on the announcements here is my take:

• I still don't think that each app will be able to access the same files and folder structure on the iPad (a showstopper for me)

I don't know exactly what you mean by this but one can already have a folder in Files.app which opens apps (no default apps so one needs to go via the share button, which is cumbersome) directly from Files.app. Take Word for example, I can store a Word document in a folder in Files.app and open it in Word without having it make a copy. Instead, it reads directly from the folder and saves to that folder not making any duplicates.

This was added either in iOS 11 or 12. However, all app developers need to add support for it to work so maybe that's why it is not well-known yet.

 

[kd5jos]

Some solid improvements; however, they're still feeding us features about as fast as a dripping faucet. Keep in mind that desktop operating systems have had everything they're brining for years.

I’ve always been of the opinion that Apple is building the third generation of UI from the ground up. They are only adding the things required for the OS to function, so that there isn’t any cruft in it. Look at what they are doing with 4 GB of RAM in iPadOS.
What I’m saying is, yes, these things existed before. What Apple is trying to do is only add what’s necessary. This way the OS is light, not only is size and storage, but electrical use too. Sure, they could add full motion backgrounds (the ability to play animated GIF’s as backgrounds). But does it add value? The file system... about time. But look how long the OS has been functional without it. Dark mode? About time. Again, look how long the OS has been functional without it.

You confuse the fact that something exists, with it being easily implemented in a different architecture. Not always the case. Not only is Apple designing the hardware, they’re designing the OS too. Yes they could just drop everything into the new OS. Imagine running iOS13 on an A5. Imagine how slow and sloppy it would feel. The point is, the hardware had to get to the point that the software would work well. Remember, we didn’t have Siri in OSX until...

The point is, iOS (and iPadOS) aren’t just OSX on a smaller device. MacOS is learning from iOS. Remember the processor in the 11” iPad Pro is as/more powerful than many i5 processors, but uses 1/10th the power. You don’t maintain that capability by damning the torpedos running full speed ahead. So maybe be a little patience?

 

[PsychOK]

THANK YOU!!! About f***ing time! With these changes the iPad is one step closer to truly replace a computer.

Now hoping for mouse support and the possibility for apps to have access outside of their sandbox.

Was really hoping for mouse support with this update. It would be such a simple, but powerful addition to PadOS that could help so much with productivity.

 

[cppguy]

I hope we can now transfer photos and videos from a camera's SD card onto an external SSD. That would be my favorite feature if that's possible with the new iPadOS. If I could back up my photos and videos on a Samsung SSD while traveling.

 

[Dave-Z]

Mouse support is in accessibility settings. They just didn’t mention it on stage.

Is this confirmed? That Rene Twitter thread and this very thread seems to be confusing with people saying both yes and no.

 

[Abazigal]

I like that they're removing the shackles to offer what Android has had for ages. Still needs mouse support, command shell, background multitasking, standard file manager, more freedom to install apps like emulators, Kodi, torrent client, etc.

Those features don’t seem to have helped the sales of android tablets any.

I mean, we have people who are willing to edit videos on iPads despite the numerous limitations you mentioned.

Don’t see the same enthusiasm for android tablets.

Just saying.

 

[Krevnik]

THANK YOU!!! About f***ing time! With these changes the iPad is one step closer to truly replace a computer.

Now hoping for mouse support and the possibility for apps to have access outside of their sandbox.

Looking at the Mac and how it handles sandboxing, I don't think we will see freely-available access outside of the sandbox in iOS. On Mac, NSOpenPanel and NSSavePanel "puncture" the sandbox to access files directly. On iOS, UIDocumentPicker does something very similar, and allows apps to get access to files outside their own sandbox. It's just been so few providers supported in-place editing, so it still tended to copy files. Perhaps with the "local storage" option coming to iPads now, this feature will get more use? Who knows.

But I expect any sort of external access will require UIDocumentPicker like it does today.

EDIT: I'm a little rusty on drag/drop, but I think drag/drop on iOS also lets an app get a security bookmark to a file instead of copying, if the drag source supports it... but I'm not 100% certain on that. I just remember it creating issues for one of my apps recently.

 

[CE3]

Is this confirmed? That Rene Twitter thread and this very thread seems to be confusing with people saying both yes and no.

https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1135653636145590273

 

[stiligFox]

External drive support works on ANY iPad OS compatible iPad? Or just the 2018 Pros? Curious because the 2017 12.9” Pro is on super sale at B&H today...

Pretty sure it's any device running iOS or iPadOS 13, but haven't seen confirmation yet.

 

[Dave-Z]

I’ve always been of the opinion that Apple is building the third generation of UI from the ground up.

I agree. They're also one of the biggest companies in the world with substantial resources and could probably go a little faster.

But look how long the OS has been functional without it.

Functional is open to interpretation. I cannot use a proper web inspector to develop sites on an iPad; therefore it is not functional for me, though it's nice for reading forums and books.

the hardware had to get to the point that the software would work well. [...] Remember the processor in the 11” iPad Pro is as/more powerful than many i5 processors, but uses 1/10th the power. You don’t maintain that capability by damning the torpedos running full speed ahead. So maybe be a little patient?

The hardware arrived years ago. I literally leave my iPad unplugged and turned on all day (without the auto-sleep/screen turn off thing) and it still has battery at the end of the day. But I cannot have my SIP client (VoIP) running in the background? Nor can Prompt (terminal/ssh) stay in the background for more than a few minutes? Please. There are absolutely no excuses for this.

Frankly, I wouldn't even care if Apple priced these products appropriately. But they're asking mid-range laptop prices for devices that cannot do what a low-end laptop can.

 

[cppguy]

https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1135653636145590273

Thanks, but how do you connect both an external display and a USB mouse at the same time using just one port?

 

[CE3]

Thanks, but how do you connect both an external display and a USB mouse at the same time using just one port?

Will be interesting to find out if it can accept multiple inputs via a usb-c hub.

 

[Krevnik]

Will be interesting to find out if it can accept multiple inputs via a usb-c hub.

My 2018 does that today with a USB C hub and iOS 12. Without the new features though, I mostly only used it for HDMI + SD cards + Keyboard.

 

[CE3]

My 2018 does that today with a USB C hub and iOS 12.

Awesome.. looks like it will still be the case on iOS 13:

https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1135661695089750016

 

[derekamoss]

This is finally the OS the iPad deserved. This is the greatest WWDC in a long, long time. Apple is back baby!

This is nowhere near the OS iPad deserves. It deserves so much more. Did anyone see that they added mouse support? but of course it is an accessibility feature and doesnt actually work like a mouse, just emulates a finger touch.

 

[theLedger]

Can we finally have two windows from the same program open side by side?

It's in there. Now it's up to app developers to support it.

 

[derekamoss]

Was really hoping for mouse support with this update. It would be such a simple, but powerful addition to PadOS that could help so much with productivity.

They did add mouse support but only as an accessibility feature. You cant do anything other than make it emulate a finger press.
[doublepost=1559598471][/doublepost]

Is this confirmed? That Rene Twitter thread and this very thread seems to be confusing with people saying both yes and no.

yes its true but it isn't really mouse support. It allows it only to act like a finger touch.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Isn't that what Apple's always done; make you wait 2-3 generations for the fully featured version? I think they squeezed enough juice out of just about everything in their lineup and are now opening the slow drip of changes again.

I thought, compared to previous years, today's announcements were pretty positive.

Positive but underwhelming, for having 2 years time.
Its just disgusting how less they deliver for that cash You have to pay

 

[CE3]

They did add mouse support but only as an accessibility feature. You cant do anything other than make it emulate a finger press.

Emulating a finger press means you'll be able to do a lot with a mouse on the iPad. iOS was never built or deigned with mouse support in mind. If the feature is popular it will likely be improved upon and refined over time.

Overall iPadOS sounds like a huge step forward for the iPad.

 

[derekamoss]

Emulating a finger press means you'll be able to do a lot with a mouse on the iPad. iOS was never built or deigned with mouse support in mind. If the feature is popular it will likely be improved upon and refined over time.

You wont be able to do a whole lot of anything more than you already can by finger pressing the screen.... It's not a mouse curser, it wont allow you to hold the left mouse button down and select text.

 

[ereddekopp]

Why in the world would they separate the naming from regular iOS. Like iPhone hardware, so fragmented.

I support the features,

However they need a “Gesture” tab in Settings.app, to enable/disable, show all the gestures.

Actually, prior to this announcement, I felt this was exactly what Apple needed to do...they already had an OS for each specific device: WatchOS, TVOS, CarPlay, etc. The iPad needed to be separate from the iPhone. I am sure iOS will eventually go away as a naming scheme and it will become PhoneOS.

 

[Rogifan]

They did add mouse support but only as an accessibility feature. You cant do anything other than make it emulate a finger press.
[doublepost=1559598471][/doublepost]
yes its true but it isn't really mouse support. It allows it only to act like a finger touch.

Oh so you can’t use it for text selection? That’s a bummer.

 

[Krevnik]

You wont be able to do a whole lot of anything more than you already can by finger pressing the screen.... It's not a mouse curser, it wont allow you to hold the left mouse button down and select text.

Press and holding a finger selects text now on the iPad. I wouldn’t be surprised if you can now. But it will be slower than on a Mac still.

 

[derekamoss]

Oh so you can’t use it for text selection? That’s a bummer.

yeah no text selection.

 

[Seanm87]

They did add mouse support but only as an accessibility feature. You cant do anything other than make it emulate a finger press.
[doublepost=1559598471][/doublepost]
yes its true but it isn't really mouse support. It allows it only to act like a finger touch.

What’s the difference?