iOS 16 iPad - Stage Manager

[return2sendai]

What size iPad do you use? I’m wondering if stage manager is perfectly fit for 12.9”.

12.9. It's cool. Stage Manager is easy to turn on/off and retains settings when turned off/on, enabling you to use split view, then back again to SM; dragging to fullscreen is easy, then back; resizing windows is a bit fiddly and needs to allow the user more freedom; but it's cool so far, on Beta 3, which is quite stable.

 

[TooMuchPhone]

How can you jump to the top of a window in stage manager? Touching the top of the window doesn’t work for me.

 

[Ludatyk]

How can you jump to the top of a window in stage manager? Touching the top of the window doesn’t work for me.

Same with me... Hopefully Apple address the issue soon.

I tried to look for a keyboard shortcut that can help me jump to the top of Safari and I didn’t see it.

 

[nickpro]

Command + Up Arrow

 

[Ludatyk]

Command + Up Arrow

Smh… something that appears so obvious. Surprised I didn’t see it in the keyboard shortcuts.

 

[nickpro]

Late to this thread, so not sure if it’s been discussed, but if you haven’t already, make sure you enable “More Space” for the display — WOW, what a difference. Feels like Stage Manager was designed with this setting in mind, it now looks “like it should” compared to the Standard mode if that makes any sense. Anyway, give it a shot if you haven’t already, makes a huge difference in appearance/usability

 

[SteamedHams]

How does one cycle through the windows in a stage? Keyboard shortcut Globe + < does that, but is there a way to do this without keyboard?

When using full screen windows, it's a bit difficult to get to the window that's not currently visible.

 

[VaruLV]

Installed public beta last night, tried out center stage without external display.
I find 4 apps per screen limitation unnecessary, at least on my 12.9 I can easily squeeze 2 more apps on screen with other apps still being visible and usable.
I dont like how OS decides to move apps to sectors of screen that I didnt want it to, i.e. putting apps into predetermined locations depending on apps size etc.
Often apps that are the bottom part of screen will have their very bottom of their windows kind of below the lowest part of screen thus resizing corner is not visible and I have to pull app higher to resize it thus losing my order on screen.
Moving some apps to the left of the screen either moves them away from current "desktop" or resizes them to full screen either on top of other apps or in its own desktop(dont remember atm).

Will try it out on external display next week when Im home, but, overall, aside from some artificial limitations set by Apple I find it very promising for my use.

Ive been trying to go iPad only for the past 3+ years and lack of proper external display support and lack of few full fledged desktop-like apps were the only limiting factors to me.

I ordered 14" MBP, wait time is few weeks up to a month, so I will get plenty of time to play with this beta, who knows, perhaps I will learn to love it and be productive with my 12.9 iPad on it, finally! Then, who knows, I might as well return/cancel my 14 MBP order and go for either 1TB 12.9 or pissible rumored M2 iPad Pro upgrade.

I know were years away from Surface Book like solution, but with this version of OS its finally much more usable!

Sorry for my long rambling, been carried away a bit with all this decision making and research, again... 😅

 

[krspkbl]

i can't get into Stage Manager. it feels so awkward to use. hope the new beta has some improvements to usability.

 

[DMG35]

I'm not a fan of it. I would say that the vast majority of people won't ever use this, and Apple knows this as its not on by default and you'd specifically have to find it in settings to turn it on.

I don't really understand why Apple continues to try and make the iPad more complicated, when it could be so much less complicated if they just moved to be more like MacOS and moved it away from iOS.

 

[The Game 161]

Huh? If Apple doesn’t listen to feedback explain what happen to Safari during beta cycle last year. Once people gotten a hold of the iOS 15 beta… changes were made due to feedback specifically with Safari.

And as far as I know… this is the first time Apple applied settings for users to choose which preferences they want because of feedback. I understand some feedback will never be addressed, but let’s not go so far as to say Apple doesn’t listen to feedback.

It’s like some people don’t understand the beta precess lol

 

[stocklen]

I'm not a fan of it. I would say that the vast majority of people won't ever use this, and Apple knows this as its not on by default and you'd specifically have to find it in settings to turn it on.

I don't really understand why Apple continues to try and make the iPad more complicated, when it could be so much less complicated if they just moved to be more like MacOS and moved it away from iOS.

Why would you say this...?

By definition, iPadOS IS the simplistic version of MacOS. MacOS is aimed at largely a different audience.

I know of many, may people who choose an iPad BECAUSE of the simplicity of one-at-a-time full screen apps and not having to faff around with the windowed environment you find on a traditional desktop machine.
iPadOS does not and will never lend itself to the same windowing paradigm that MacOS does... it should always be a touch first experience.

I agree with you in that Apple continues to make iPadOS more complicated.... BUT, even with the inclusion of Stage Manager, everything else can and does continue to operate as before if needed and continues to work as a full screen app environment to those who want it. Thankfully stage manager has to be specifically switched on. For example I have no worries that my 80 year old mother, on upgrading to iPadOS 16, will suddenly have no idea how to work her beloved iPad.

the trouble is that whilst Apple panda to those screaming that they want the iPad to be a Mac... they risk alienating those who dont want it.
To those who do want a MacOS windowed environment they they are welcome to buy a MacBook - job done.

I do feel that stage manager, though clunky in these early beta builds... can and will be a good solution for those wanting to do more on the iPad especially those who will dock the iPad with an external screen.... it seems to me to be those customers who apple are targeting with this latest iteration of the OS.

 

[Ludatyk]

i can't get into Stage Manager. it feels so awkward to use. hope the new beta has some improvements to usability.

This beta is miles better than the previous one.

By definition, iPadOS IS the simplistic version of MacOS. MacOS is aimed at largely a different audience.

I'm curious... where are you getting this definition?

 

[UnlikelyLass]

Here’s an interesting thing I’ve noticed — there doesn’t seem to be a gesture for accessing the “recent apps” sidebar when you have a full screen app and have stage manager on.

With a mouse or touchpad, if I push the cursor against the right edge of the screen — much like if I push against the bottom to bring up the dock — I get that recent apps sidebar showing. This is true even if I have the recent apps hidden all the time — the mouse lets me bring it up. But with gestures, there doesn’t seem to be any way to reach it.

 

[ics55]

Here’s an interesting thing I’ve noticed — there doesn’t seem to be a gesture for accessing the “recent apps” sidebar when you have a full screen app and have stage manager on.

With a mouse or touchpad, if I push the cursor against the right edge of the screen — much like if I push against the bottom to bring up the dock — I get that recent apps sidebar showing. This is true even if I have the recent apps hidden all the time — the mouse lets me bring it up. But with gestures, there doesn’t seem to be any way to reach it.

I have the same issue! Anyone find a way around this?

 

[Gherkin]

Installed public beta last night, tried out center stage without external display.
I find 4 apps per screen limitation unnecessary, at least on my 12.9 I can easily squeeze 2 more apps on screen with other apps still being visible and usable.
I dont like how OS decides to move apps to sectors of screen that I didnt want it to, i.e. putting apps into predetermined locations depending on apps size etc.
Often apps that are the bottom part of screen will have their very bottom of their windows kind of below the lowest part of screen thus resizing corner is not visible and I have to pull app higher to resize it thus losing my order on screen.
Moving some apps to the left of the screen either moves them away from current "desktop" or resizes them to full screen either on top of other apps or in its own desktop(dont remember atm).

Will try it out on external display next week when Im home, but, overall, aside from some artificial limitations set by Apple I find it very promising for my use.

Ive been trying to go iPad only for the past 3+ years and lack of proper external display support and lack of few full fledged desktop-like apps were the only limiting factors to me.

I ordered 14" MBP, wait time is few weeks up to a month, so I will get plenty of time to play with this beta, who knows, perhaps I will learn to love it and be productive with my 12.9 iPad on it, finally! Then, who knows, I might as well return/cancel my 14 MBP order and go for either 1TB 12.9 or pissible rumored M2 iPad Pro upgrade.

I know were years away from Surface Book like solution, but with this version of OS its finally much more usable!

Sorry for my long rambling, been carried away a bit with all this decision making and research, again... 😅

I’m trying to go iPad only as well… If Apple would announce Final Cut Pro with the 2022 iPad Pro this fall I think I could do it. Even if it was a Final Cut “Lite” or something, if it was a little more full featured than Premiere Rush.

It’s kind of insane you can configure a $2300 iPad Pro but Apple has no “pro” apps available.

 

[Jedimindtrick]

Been using the latest beta for a few days. IMO I feel like I’m able to have more freedom on window placement, slightly less shifting around on its own. Still some crashes here and there, but generally pretty stable.

One thing I did notice is depending on if you have the dock and side bar turned on, that will determine on how skinny you can make a window (in portrait orientation). With dock and sidebar turned off, you can make 4 skinny windows that are all within view, no overlapping from other windows. With either of those turned on, you cannot. There will be some overlapping.

Overall, Stage Manager is growing on me. Still a bit convoluted, but can be useful.

 

[SoYoung]

I'm not a fan of it. I would say that the vast majority of people won't ever use this, and Apple knows this as its not on by default and you'd specifically have to find it in settings to turn it on.

I don't really understand why Apple continues to try and make the iPad more complicated, when it could be so much less complicated if they just moved to be more like MacOS and moved it away from iOS.

That's exactly what Apple try to accomplish with Stage manager ; trying to please people who want the iPad to be a complete laptop experience with a desktop OS. If the iPad become by default closer and closer to macOS, I can guarantee it will lose the vast majority of its current consumer.

All the iPad need is being able to make it in clamshell mode with external monitor with a more flexible stage manager and with a true "multitasking" sound that won"t stop anytime a new media source were played and we'll be good.

I don't need my iPad to be like macOS. The iPad is a iPad because of the current simple and intuitive UI.

 

[return2sendai]

Clicking on the three dots brings a drop down list to click again: Zoom/Add Another Window/Minimise/Close.

For a "more Mac-like experience"...TRAFFIC LIGHTS! Green for Zoom / Yellow to Minimise / Red to Close.

These dots and dropdown menus are ugly. Give us TRAFFIC LIGHTS!

(Bet we get TRAFFIC LIGHTS in 17.)

 

[return2sendai]

Also, I don't like the ordering down the left. Maximise one, and the previous one minimises into that slot, etc. All gets confusing. Let us move the side panes (whatever they're called) up and down freely.

Also, with all the windows and side panel in action, swiping up from the bottom makes everything disappear! Then I have to swipe up again to get into the open view (whatever its called) but I cannot move things around in there either.

It needs work. Not intuitive. Fiddly.

And did I mention I want TRAFFIC LIGHTS!

 

[return2sendai]

That's exactly what Apple try to accomplish with Stage manager ; trying to please people who want the iPad to be a complete laptop experience with a desktop OS. If the iPad become by default closer and closer to macOS, I can guarantee it will lose the vast majority of its current consumer.

All the iPad need is being able to make it in clamshell mode with external monitor with a more flexible stage manager and with a true "multitasking" sound that won"t stop anytime a new media source were played and we'll be good.

I don't need my iPad to be like macOS. The iPad is a iPad because of the current simple and intuitive UI.

an iPad

 

[ThailandToo]

12.9” newest iPad Pro M1. So disappointed with this feature. They just need to realize that the SoC can run MacOS and they’re trying to do everything differently with iPadOS. Just let it go and allow us iPad Pro users to run MacOS in a VM or dual boot on it.

 

[SoYoung]

12.9” newest iPad Pro M1. So disappointed with this feature. They just need to realize that the SoC can run MacOS and they’re trying to do everything differently with iPadOS. Just let it go and allow us iPad Pro users to run MacOS in a VM or dual boot on it.

If you want to run macOS so bad, why don’t use a MacBook instead? iPad will never switch to a 100% desktop OS otherwise what would be the purpose of the iPad ?

 

[ThailandToo]

If you want to run macOS so bad, why don’t use a MacBook instead? iPad will never switch to a 100% desktop OS otherwise what would be the purpose of the iPad ?

The problem is Apple has done almost nothing to utilize the power of the iPad Pro. Every year we get our hopes up. This year they deliver something that still doesn’t make sense. It’s not user intuitive, it doesn’t allow sizing the way a user wants, and it’s really not a fluid experience.

When the MacOS parts came to iOS that was to help iOS. When the iOS parts came to MacOS that was to simplify MacOS. There’s not point in putting an M1 in these things if they cannot deliver a user experience that matches the price premium.

The price premium doesn’t equate to value. ProMotion? We have had that for years. It’s Apple’s main separation between the non Pro and Pros. Now the Air has USBC. The Air has the M1. What do we get for double the costs? Or up to $2k USD? A shotty experience all the way around. It sucks. It’s not getting better. Either fix it or leave it dumber down and sell it for $699 not a high end of $2k USD. It’s not a good value proposition and it’s not fair to buyers who keep expecting Apple to deliver. They said we’re introducing the iPad Pro with M1, then they have users who bought them NOTHING? Faster Thunderbolt over USBC? That’s the big win?

Seriously, think about the end users. There’s a way to fix it. Bring over operability of features related to MacOS to allow us to properly run a multitasking “what the f4ck is a, computer?”

 

[Ludatyk]

The problem is Apple has done almost nothing to utilize the power of the iPad Pro. Every year we get our hopes up. This year they deliver something that still doesn’t make sense. It’s not user intuitive, it doesn’t allow sizing the way a user wants, and it’s really not a fluid experience.

You do realize that this is the FIRST time Apple brought features specifically for (latest) iPad Pro users and you might not like Stage Manager, but I think it’s the step in the right direction.

And I think @SoYoung should have phrased it better, because allowing dual booting macOS onto the iPad… would question the existence of a MacBook (Air).

Clicking on the three dots brings a drop down list to click again: Zoom/Add Another Window/Minimise/Close.

For a "more Mac-like experience"...TRAFFIC LIGHTS! Green for Zoom / Yellow to Minimise / Red to Close.

These dots and dropdown menus are ugly. Give us TRAFFIC LIGHTS!

(Bet we get TRAFFIC LIGHTS in 17.)

I highly doubt we get that. This is a touch UI.