Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
IpadOS 26.1 beta 2 brings back slideover
- Thread starter Mrbiggestman
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Not better than before, worse, with a lot of things missing, hope it's just as first step
I don't know about it being worst or even better.
What Apple implemented here is a "pin" feature similar to how it's used to be on Samsung DeX and you are the first to say how classic DeX is a better multitasking system than iPadOS. And you think this is a first step... but it's only so much they can improve on it.
Only improvements I can see added... is when a SlideOver window (app) is active, user can drag a new app onto the SlideOver window and it replaces the old one. Because trying to do it the way it was before then what's the point in resizing windows and having 3 or more on display... you get what I'm saying?
The fact you cant use it in full screen mode is worse by far. I just don’t want to use my iPad in windowed mode and as long as Apple won’t understand this I won’t update my main iPad and it will be my last one if the still force me to use that mode to get this festure back.
I don't think I have said that Dex is better than iPadOS recently. I said, before iPadOS 26, that OneUI was a better at multitasking than iPadOS, but with 26 they got much closer. Classic Dex, as far as I am concerned, is just used for external monitors, as it's more similar to Windows.
What this slideover is missing, in addition to dragging from the dock, is having multiple windows in slideover like before, but even more importantly, Slideover makes more sense as an addition to full screen apps, not in Windowed mode. Most of the time I (and I am not alone) want to use full screen apps only and don't want to trigger resizing by accident, which happens regularly in 26. But want slideover to be available in this mode.
I get what you saying here... but I think you are missing the whole idea of the new multitasking system. SlideOver, the way it was previously with multiple windows made sense given we were limited to only two SplitScreen windows (apps).
The new multitasking system allows for more freedom with resizing windows and having more apps on the display... so it would make the system more complex than what it is now. Resizing windows on top of multiple SlideOver windows... you get what I'm saying?
Full Screen mode exist for users that don't care for multitasking, not sure why folks keep bringing this up. There was a whole discussion years ago how users wanted a mode that was free of multitasking because they kept accidentally evoking SlideOver/SplitView gestures. That's why Apple had to put a setting in place to remove multitasking from the Full Screen Mode.
Now it's possible with 26.1. We can have an app in full screen and use SlideOver (under Stage Manager or Windowed Mode).
I use the resizing only occasionaly, just like I did with stage manager in the past. So, I am much better off keeping it off, to avoid triggering unwanted resizing (it has happened to me many times).
But if I turn it off I cannot use the equivalent of slideover (which before 26.1 cannot be pinned, and now can), which I use relatively regularly for alarms, calculator, notes, etc.
So no, keeping apps in full screen in windowed mode causes unwanted resizing.
And it's totally possible to add slideover and even the old split screen in the full apps mode, by using a toggle that is turned off by defaults. So those who never want any form of multitasking have nothing to do.
Those who want full size for 90% of iPad usage and no unwanted resizing can still use enalbe slideover or even split screen (never had unwanted stuff pre-IpadOS 26).
So far I have 26 on my M1, but still 18 on M2 and M4. And even 17 on older devices like the 2018 pro and the mini5.
I haven't seen much benefit from Windowed mode, but I really like the new dock (I have been requesting this for years) and I generally like liquid glass.
I know it's possible.. by how it was done in 18. Full Screen Mode, SplitView/SlideOver and Stage Manager, I think what people are asking for is 4 modes. But highly doubt that's what Apple wants for the iPad.
I don't use Windowed mode... but folks like the idea of taping (or clicking) an app and it opens, then another and another.. etc. Similar to how it is on traditional OSs.
Prefer Stage Manager because I like being able to control my windows or (stages) under the Recent App area... do you like the menu bar?
just because you can’t have a carousel of windows inside of the slideover view? It took me a really long time (like 4 years long time or around about IpadOS 18.5) to know that feature even existed. This beta’s slideover achieves exactly what the previous did though it is weird how they didn’t bring slideover to full screen.
If your talking about the handle bar at the bottom left or right causing accidental resizing then I would have to disagree though if it was the menu bar then i would partially agree with you but then again you can disable the menu bar in the multitasking settings.
my main issue, as I explain in the following comments, is that it's not associated to the full screen mode
No, I am not talking about that, I am talking for instance double tapping the upper part of an app will resize, or maybe some other action I don't remember, but it happens every now and then when I try to do something
At first I didn't. I am mainly a Windows guy, although I am using Macs more often recently. still not as much as Windows. I guess it adds some value, but I confess I use it rarely. I should try to experience more with it in the apps I use the most