iPadOS 26 is an Absolute Mess

[says_stuff]

I wouldnt be arguing if people werent trying to paint black as white though, which i find ridiculous.

I also wouldnt bother arguing if i had known those features that were removed from the stable version of the os would be fuly restored in the end or if. It would be cool of apple to have reassured their users. Not a prophet here but good for you for knowing whats coming.

I would also happily try the new os if apple wouldnt remove the option to restore, so thats on them, not me.

I can absolutely have an opinion about this whole issue though without beta testing, even more as a paying customer and you can too.


If it wasnt for this thread, having updated my ipad would have caused major trouble for me working so i would like to keep the issues at hand, as clear as possible like how slideover is incapable of more than one app, currently.

You have spent more time arguing in this thread about the shortcomings of a system *that you’ve never even used* than the (extremely minor amount) of additional time you will spend in a lifetime of setting up your windows under the new system. And - as per a post just a few minutes ago - most of those capabilities are still being added back every revision!

A standard i guess reply to my stated fact that slideover just isnt multifactorial anymore.

And i shouldn’t have an opinion to discuss in a thread for an os i’m supposed to install this time because i didn’t waste time confirming that it doesn’t work for me while im a heavy user of the slideover which as we speak is gimped and noone knows how it will turn out. The tos says so too i guess. I should absolutely waste time to test all this.

This has been the wildest thread i’ve ever participated in and i’m having a blast, thanks guys.

 

[Slartibart]

I ve had thirteen inch laptops and the same limitation was apparent there too, they also never had an elegant way to display two (or three) windows such as the previous multitasking ux on the ipad which is why i personally ditched them.

??? I mean I agree regarding that the screen iPad size(s) comes with limits, but command + tab to cycle back and forth between running apps, as well as command + ` or + " for cycling between windows, or e.g., using command + 1,2,3 to cycle through tabs in Safari, etc. - all that works on iPad.
Yes, you need an external keyboard, but who would write a research article without? It depends on the field and personal preferences, but if writing a research articles to submit it to a journal means to bring your analytical results, graphs and notes into article form, you can do that on an iPad - better a Air or Pro 😇
Stage Manager can probably help here to - but that clearly depends on whether Apple‘s way is your way. 😃

nota bene: if you want write research articles EXCLUSIVELY on an iPad — meaning, depending on research field, doing the analytics, visualisations, graphs, diagrams, bibliographic reference management, lab notes, collaborative edits, et cetera, you will probably have to jump through a lot of hoops… and in my opinion that will at least make the whole ordeal of writing a paper felt much slower compared to a laptop - YYMV of course.

 

[says_stuff]

??? I mean I agree regarding that the screen iPad size(s) comes with limits, but command + tab to cycle back and forth between running apps, as well as command + ` or + " for cycling between windows, or e.g., using command + 1,2,3 to cycle through tabs in Safari, etc. - all that works on iPad.
Yes, you need an external keyboard, but who would write a research article without? It depends on the field and personal preferences, but if writing a research articles to submit it to a journal means to bring your analytical results, graphs and notes into article form, you can do that on an iPad - better a Air or Pro 😇
Stage Manager can probably help here to - but that clearly depends on whether Apple‘s way is your way. 😃

nota bene: if you want write research articles EXCLUSIVELY on an iPad — meaning, depending on research field, doing the analytics, visualisations, graphs, diagrams, bibliographic reference management, lab notes, collaborative edits, et cetera, you will probably have to jump through a lot of hoops… and in my opinion that will at least make the whole ordeal of writing a paper felt much slower compared to a laptop - YYMV of course.

I was responding to how multiple open windows at the required size to be readily available would be impossible to work with and how for that reason i havent been excited with that specific addition. I have been working perfectly on my ipad utilizing two windows, finding more than that impossible to use simultaneously and heavily using a third multifunctional slideable window the slideover so yeah ymmv

 

[Mrbiggestman]

Nope.

As it currently is, split screen is more difficult to evoke, slideover cant utilize more than one app. Annoyance.

idk what you mean. the current public release maybe. the new beta version is not a chance. slideover carousel feels more optional than a must have tbh.

 

[says_stuff]

slideover carousel feels more optional than a must have tbh.

And thats your opinion, idk what you want me to do about it.

idk what you mean. the current public release maybe. the new beta version is not a chance.

Not even sure how you claim you dont understand what i was commenting about ( the missing drag gestures ) making the ipad slower/harder to evoke split screen since you just started a thread about it returning in the latest beta, a fact i was unaware of. Keep up tho, i will too.

 

[TigerMSTR]

Whoever is pushing the direction of iPadOS at Apple, whether it be the Product Managers or executives, haven’t got the slightest idea what they’re doing with iPadOS.

They started off my removing a perfectly fine multitasking system, seemingly under the impression that it would be a hit with the public. Turns out they were wrong, and now they’re slowly rebuilding the old multitasking system (but worse) feature-by-feature.

There is zero indication of long term planning at Apple regarding iPadOS. Just throwing caution to the wind, and throwing sh*t to the wall.

I don’t know anything about Apple’s internal politics, but the iPadOS platform cannot sustain one or two more release cycles of destruction. It only takes a handful of bad releases to ruin a platform. The person/people responsible for pushing these features need to be removed from their position of influence, lest they do any more damage to the iPadOS platform.

 

[steve62388]

I mean, it’s just like any other operating system with resizable windows now. You don’t need to be able to fully see the entirety of every window to make this ‘windowing’ system useful. It’s not by accident that every desktop operating system ever uses this design.

Your definition of 'usable' is very different than mine.

 

[steve62388]

I mean, like you say that’s really a screen size problem, no longer an iPadOS problem. Window resizing works much more flexibly in iPadOS 26 however, so I question whether your concern about resizing is actually still an issue? PDF’s resize just fine as far as I can tell.

You're right, it is a screen size problem, and iPads only come in very specific screen sizes: 8.3" to 13". Nobody would expect an iPhone to use the same windowing system as iPadOS, that would be silly and unusable. My contention is that the 26's windowing is less useful than 18's on a mini and 11". I haven't used a 13" so I cannot possibly comment but I know it's worse on an 11" so I really feel for those people that have a mini.

 

[steve62388]

I believe in choosing the right tool for the job, so in my research I would never willingly force myself to work on an 11” screen. No matter what operating system it ran. My iPad typically acts as a reference device next to my laptop and/or my laptop and 30” screen.

Bingo. This is the problem. You're using your device as a second monitor therefore it's a different use case.

I was having the same discussion with someone else about that being all well and good for them but for others who use their iPad as a tablet, by removing the old systems (slide over etc) it was a downgrade. It was not even necessary to remove them, they could have been maintained in a 'Classic' style.

 

[steve62388]

You have spent more time arguing in this thread about the shortcomings of a system *that you’ve never even used* than the (extremely minor amount) of additional time you will spend in a lifetime of setting up your windows under the new system. And - as per a post just a few minutes ago - most of those capabilities are still being added back every revision!

I don't know why you think your opinion is superior, because it's not, everyone else's is just as valid.

And if they're re-introducing these features (the 'new' slide over is still inferior) that tells you they know they made a mistake.

 

[zhenya]

Bingo. This is the problem. You're using your device as a second monitor therefore it's a different use case.

I was having the same discussion with someone else about that being all well and good for them but for others who use their iPad as a tablet, by removing the old systems (slide over etc) it was a downgrade. It was not even necessary to remove them, they could have been maintained in a 'Classic' style.

That was simply an example of one use case. The rest of the time I use the iPad as a combination of small form factor laptop and tablet, hand-held, in vertical orientation, for reading and writing.

The introduction of a proper windowing system is the biggest improvement the iPad has seen since the introduction of the form factor we have now back in 2018 (thin symmetrical bezels, magnetic pencil, magic keyboard with trackpad).

 

[says_stuff]

As it currently is, split screen is more difficult to evoke, slideover cant utilize more than one app. Annoyance.

So after avoiding answering, you prefer to keep stating inaccuracies. Ok, so you guys are the only ones constantly moving the posts, enabled by apple slowly re adding the features as they should, but basically admitting how stupid it was to remove them in the first place. You seem like you can’t handle facts like my quote above and prefer to dismiss opinions that aren’t up for dismissing as they are opinions, based on imaginary rules. Fun to watch cause its really the first time for me to witness such a uniform behavior by multiple people in here.

Most of the people that are upset by the removals have consistenly asked for the missing features back right from the start, no post moving there. I dont give a flying ..penny for stacking windows as it changes nothing workwise and i only asked you to show me how multiple windows simultaneously on screen would look like on the ipad. Not an improvement for me as I was even willing to entertain this idea pushed endlessly by you (to what end?) that we are missing something great by not embracing the update. You have consistently failed to prove your point and resorted to personal attacks now. That’s typical for this thread.

The introduction of a proper windowing system is the biggest improvement the iPad has seen since the introduction of the form factor we have now back in 2018 (thin symmetrical bezels, magnetic pencil, magic keyboard with trackpad).

Thats straight PR at this point. Not an opinion neither a fact.

I really dont understand what you are trying to prove here. If you are content with the os, you can enjoy it freely, no need to change the minds of people still missing their favorite tools, therefore being motivated to post here in an effort to publicly push for restoration. Why the relentless push for us to accept your pov?

 

[Ludatyk]

I really dont understand what you are trying to prove here. If you are content with the os, you can enjoy it freely, no need to change the minds of people still missing their favorite tools, therefore being motivated to post here in an effort to publicly push for restoration. Why the relentless push for us to accept your pov?

But it's not about changing people minds... it's attempting to balance out this thread with all the negativity about iPadOS 26. Because some users in this thread think its the worst update ever and I believe that's far from the case.

And yeah, I get it. You want iPadOS 18 multitasking returned... but when people come into this thread to explain how they actually like this update it's countered with "but it doesn't do this or that." Whereas in iPadOS 18... stackable SlideOver windows make sense, because users are limited to only two windows on screen (which isn't the case anymore).

I've repeatedly told you this... there were restrictions in iPadOS 18, past iPad reviews have constantly complained that multitasking needed a change. Folks act as if Apple did this without any regards for how the public felt... Apple gave us this new multitasking system and to think that there won't be revisions going forward is plain silly.

It boggles my mind to think that we are admitting Apple was stupid for removing features since they are adding them back. It took Apple years to get SlideOver the way it was... it didn't immediately start with stackable windows, SplitView wasn't as easy to get into when it launched (we had an app picker).

 

[says_stuff]

it's attempting to balance out this thread with all the negativity about iPadOS 26. Because some users in this thread think its the worst update ever and I believe that's far from the case.

Yeah but why though? Hobby? Genuine curiosity as I wouldnt bother writing if my expectations were met.

but when people come into this thread to explain how they actually like this update it's countered with "but it doesn't do this or that."

which are established facts, opinions and personal preferences. like how i tried to discuss how would the new system help me in my research but stacking windows of a4 pdfs zoomed out won't, that's just me (or maybe not?)

I've repeatedly told you this... there were restrictions in iPadOS 18, past iPad reviews have constantly complained that multitasking needed a change.

I know people complained about getting full OS functionality like macos's from apple. nobody asked for this multitasking system ONLY, which btw would be more than welcome and fun to use if it didnt mean erasing a mode in return. i still wish the new mode stays and my favorite mode is also reinstated as an option. hopeful.

Folks act as if Apple did this without any regards for how the public felt... Apple gave us this new multitasking system and to think that there won't be revisions going forward is plain silly.

It boggles my mind to think that we are admitting Apple was stupid for removing features since they are adding them back.

as you can see this unneeded secrecy has led to a much deserved and frankly expected backlash. which in itself has been undeniably stupid of apple, gaining nothing of the reactions, as they really could have shared their plans with the consumers being upset seeing their tools gone. unless they are making it up as they go. the fact remains that if i would have mindlessly installed the update i would have had major trouble working for the last two months.. so it's really not stupid to complain and point the missing features out. i witnessed lots of talk by people surprised by the lack of said features.

retroactively adding features back and you guys pretending you knew all along, clapping after every update while maintaining that these features have been a burden in the first place is wild.. i hope i wont have been bored by all this repetitiveness, to witness your reactions when/if they do add the slideover multifunctionality back.

We would be grateful for a quick resolution of all this by xmas, Apple 🎅

 

[achappy]

It boggles my mind to think that we are admitting Apple was stupid for removing features since they are adding them back. It took Apple years to get SlideOver the way it was... it didn't immediately start with stackable windows, SplitView wasn't as easy to get into when it launched (we had an app picker).

Exactly. Anyone with any software design experience would know that Apple adding some of the features (I haven't tried 26.2 Beta) doesn't mean it wasn't originally in the long term plan. iPadOS18 multitasking version was limited so the whole system had to be redesigned and architected which takes time. So the new "slideover" and "splitview" is not the old functionality returning, but new functionality being extended from the redesign. This is why the slideover window can be any size and it's not stackable (at least it's not in 26.1).

 

[says_stuff]

Exactly. Anyone with any software design experience would know that Apple adding some of the features (I haven't tried 26.2 Beta) doesn't mean it wasn't originally in the long term plan. iPadOS18 multitasking version was limited so the whole system had to be redesigned and architected which takes time. So the new "slideover" and "splitview" is not the old functionality returning, but new functionality being extended from the redesign. This is why the slideover window can be any size and it's not stackable (at least it's not in 26.1).

so basicaly you just want this thread gone as a detriment to your software designing experience, knowing the talking points will be redundant when apple adds all these features back. ok, but why? are there rules against criticizing apple moves, is it about server space, do you feen compelled to fight back, answering on this particular topic like how i feel compelled to point out that the new slideover has a big difference now, isnt useful to me if it isnt multitasking and i would like to have this restored hoping for more awareness of the issue?

 

[steve62388]

But it's not about changing people minds... it's attempting to balance out this thread with all the negativity about iPadOS 26. Because some users in this thread think its the worst update ever and I believe that's far from the case.

The clue is in the thread title.

 

[turbineseaplane]

On the plus side iPadOS 26.2 beta 3 brings back splitview along with the one drag features. These can only be used in windowing mode.

View attachment 2580399

Good to see.
Soon we'll be nearly back to iOS 18.

"Perfect!" 😂

 

[Mrbiggestman]

Whoever is pushing the direction of iPadOS at Apple, whether it be the Product Managers or executives, haven’t got the slightest idea what they’re doing with iPadOS.

They started off my removing a perfectly fine multitasking system, seemingly under the impression that it would be a hit with the public. Turns out they were wrong, and now they’re slowly rebuilding the old multitasking system (but worse) feature-by-feature.

There is zero indication of long term planning at Apple regarding iPadOS. Just throwing caution to the wind, and throwing sh*t to the wall.

I don’t know anything about Apple’s internal politics, but the iPadOS platform cannot sustain one or two more release cycles of destruction. It only takes a handful of bad releases to ruin a platform. The person/people responsible for pushing these features need to be removed from their position of influence, lest they do any more damage to the iPadOS platform.

I find this at least better than Apple just kicking the can down the road doing absolutely nothing for the OS like they have done in the last couple years. Stage manager from ipadOS 16 to 18 was just like changing to a wider jail cell even though the layout is virtually the same. Splitview was functional in practise but had too much left to be desired, once you went through the same system over and over again. Slideover is a bit better than splitview but the moving in and out, left to right constantly just because I wanted to use all three windows (splitview and slideover) at once just caught up to me.

Only in iPadOS26 did they test the boundaries without a sometimes random or just permanent limitation that they put in.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Whoever is pushing the direction of iPadOS at Apple, whether it be the Product Managers or executives, haven’t got the slightest idea what they’re doing with iPadOS.

They started off my removing a perfectly fine multitasking system, seemingly under the impression that it would be a hit with the public. Turns out they were wrong, and now they’re slowly rebuilding the old multitasking system (but worse) feature-by-feature.

There is zero indication of long term planning at Apple regarding iPadOS. Just throwing caution to the wind, and throwing sh*t to the wall.

I don’t know anything about Apple’s internal politics, but the iPadOS platform cannot sustain one or two more release cycles of destruction. It only takes a handful of bad releases to ruin a platform. The person/people responsible for pushing these features need to be removed from their position of influence, lest they do any more damage to the iPadOS platform.

It's all rooted in way too much listening to the extremely vocal public figures who insist on trying to make the iPad a Mac.

It makes no more sense than buying a Mac and wanting to do all the stuff an iPad is great for.

Buy an iPad if you want that and buy a Mac if you want do what Macs are great for.

The right tool for the right job.

 

[Ludatyk]

The clue is in the thread title.

So what you are insinuating is… anyone that has positive experiences is not welcomed?

retroactively adding features back and you guys pretending you knew all along, clapping after every update while maintaining that these features have been a burden in the first place is wild.. i hope i wont have been bored by all this repetitiveness, to witness your reactions when/if they do add the slideover multifunctionality back.

I called in this thread awhile back… that Apple should bring a “Stay on Top” or “Pin” feature under this new multitasking which is essentially what Slide Over is. And they have recently added the ability to get into SplitView the way it was previously, which I didn’t have a huge issue with how it is now (because I like the flick gesture).

And it’s not about it being a burden… my point of this situation which is explained by @achappy that the iPadOS 18 multitasking was limited. It was introduced back in iOS 9 or 10… we were stuck with only two windows, SlideOver was limited to only the left side (couldn’t move to the right nor multitask from it). It was only so much they can do with it… the last feature they added was the Shelf feature.

Apple decided to scrap it… replace the old with a new multitasking that will improve which has been my message throughout this thread… it’s a new multitasking system that will continue to evolve similar to how the old system did when it first launched.

 

[steve62388]

So what you are insinuating is… anyone that has positive experiences is not welcomed?

I’m saying don’t be surprised if that’s the predominant theme of posts. That’s generally how forums work.

 

[Ludatyk]

No, just don’t be surprised if that’s the predominant theme of posts. That’s generally how forums work.

And I’m okay with that. But in this context which you responded to… I was explaining that the positive experience was not attempting to change critics minds.

 

[says_stuff]

And I’m okay with that. But in this context which you responded to… I was explaining that the positive experience was not attempting to change minds.

So what you are insinuating is… anyone that has positive experiences is not welcomed?
“

Not really, though. While everybody seems happy, or at least unbothered, that you guys like the new OS,

you on the other hand don’t seem to understand and avoid to acknowledge the difficulties this change has caused. Instead, you respond with chosen points and technicalities, which ends up overwhelming the conversation and feels like an attempt to silence criticism.

A previous user even accused me just now like, three times of lying… about what, exactly? Why would i lie about iPadOS?… that’s absurd. Then asked me to sush. So i guess the real unwanted guests in here are the people that have been unhappy with the changes of ipados in a thread meant to call out the inadequacies of it.

So please don’t act as if we’re not welcoming, when at the same time you dismiss every opposing opinion and ignore the facts. That has not been a good-faith discussion in any sense by your side.

I’m not sure it’s polite to consistently move the goal posts when it’s demonstrated that their statement framed in absolutes is shown (very politely at first) to be absolutely false.

As it currently is, split screen is more difficult to evoke, slideover cant utilize more than one app. Annoyance.

 

[Mrbiggestman]

It's all rooted in way too much listening to the extremely vocal public figures who insist on trying to make the iPad a Mac.

It makes no more sense than buying a Mac and wanting to do all the stuff an iPad is great for.

Buy an iPad if you want that and buy a Mac if you want do what Macs are great for.

The right tool for the right job.

The majority (including me) didn’t want full MacOS but wanted MacOS functionality without it being really complicated with Xcode and terminal but also not super easy but limiting like splitview. Even before iPadOS 26 (on seperate platform) I talked about having ‘mac like functionality’ and having an ‘wide array of functionality’ as well.