iPad iPadOS - Just a name, or something more?

[macOS Lynx]

Despite changing the name of the software the iPad runs to iPadOS, iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 are inherently the same software. The only features that are exclusive to iPadOS 13 are the multitasking features, Apple Pencil related features, and the widgets on the home screen. Everything else they showed with iPadOS 13 is available on iOS 13 devices. Even the accessibility pointer is available on an iPhone.

It makes me wonder, and invite discussion: Is the iPadOS name truly just a marketing change, or is iPadOS the beginning of a new, third “Core” OS for Apple? (I don’t count watchOS, tvOS, or audioOS because products that run those are essentially accessories).

 

[cmaier]

Despite changing the name of the software the iPad runs to iPadOS, iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 are inherently the same software. The only features that are exclusive to iPadOS 13 are the multitasking features, Apple Pencil related features, and the widgets on the home screen. Everything else they showed with iPadOS 13 is available on iOS 13 devices. Even the accessibility pointer is available on an iPhone.

It makes me wonder, and invite discussion: Is the iPadOS name truly just a marketing change, or is iPadOS the beginning of a new, third “Core” OS for Apple? (I don’t count watchOS, tvOS, or audioOS because products that run those are essentially accessories).

“The only things that are different are these huge differences”

Oh, and full-blown desktop safari. Download manager. Sidecar. Floating keyboard. Uncountable number of differences in stock apps.

But yeah, they’re the same.

 

[Apple_Robert]

iOS and iPadOS are not the same software. Apple did a lot more than just come up with the name iPadOS.

 

[hovscorpion12]

iPadOS is just the beginning. Now that Apple has acknowledged the iPad as not a large iPhone, we’re going to see great things coming. The public’s reaction will play a major factor.

 

[profets]

For many years now iPad has had additional & different features from the iPhone with iOS.

I think mostly its a marketing change - but still significant in that they’ve put themselves in a position where they’ll likely address specific changes for iPadOS each year now too.

 

[Feenician]

For many years now iPad has had additional & different features from the iPhone with iOS.

I think mostly its a marketing change - but still significant in that they’ve put themselves in a position where they’ll likely address specific changes for iPadOS each year now too.

Exactly. They've been divergent for some time. The manifest in iPadOS actually just says "iOS" even now. What I think (Or perhaps hope) this move is is a signal of intent to the public and a note of permission to Apple itself to let these diverge somewhat from here on out. They're always going to share common bases and capabilities but it should be ok to say that iPadOS is a different thing with different paradigms and solutions to challenges.

 

[macduke]

This is the beginning of a long series of major changes to the iPad to further differentiate it from the iPhone and make it more of a content creation powerhouse. Writing it here for posterity.

Apple needs continued growth and the iPad has a lot of potential to do that for them. It’s such a great form factor, they just need to reduce the friction of completing more advanced tasks on it.

 

[Feenician]

This is the beginning of a long series of major changes to the iPad to further differentiate it from the iPhone and make it more of a content creation powerhouse. Writing it here for posterity.

Apple needs continued growth and the iPad has a lot of potential to do that for them. It’s such a great form factor, they just need to reduce the friction of completing more advanced tasks on it.

Yep. I just wrote this in another thread so I'll quote it

On the Talk Show Live Craig talked about Apple giving themselves permission to make iPadOS more complex, but having the mission to not alienate those who use it as a single app or lightly multitasked experience. That has to be a very difficult balance to strike. For me, beefing up Files and improving multitasking put the iPad quite a lot further down to the road to being a "real computer".

Obviously iPhone got the Files improvements too, and why not. I think Apple giving themselves permission to make iPad more powerful will inevitably make iPhone more powerful too where it makes sense on the smaller screen. I genuinely think the next two or three years are going to see the iPad become a general purpose, independent computer.

 

[macOS Lynx]

“The only things that are different are these huge differences”

Oh, and full-blown desktop safari. Download manager. Sidecar. Floating keyboard. Uncountable number of differences in stock apps.

But yeah, they’re the same.

Man, who put salt in your coffee? First off, two of your examples are already on iOS. Second, Apple’s had no issue calling multitasking and Apple Pencil support as iOS features for 4 years now. I did totally forget about Sidecar, but even that’s functionality I can already replicate on my phone.

It just felt interesting they choose to name it iPadOS now. I’m just curious how others think. Let’s turn the ‘tude down.

For many years now iPad has had additional & different features from the iPhone with iOS.

I think mostly its a marketing change - but still significant in that they’ve put themselves in a position where they’ll likely address specific changes for iPadOS each year now too.

I agree with this best. It’s mostly a marketing change now, but Apple wouldn’t have made that distinction unless they foresee future versions continuing to diverge into something different.

 

[CTHarrryH]

Maybe need a separate section in macrumors forums fro iPadOS

 

[cmaier]

Man, who put salt in your coffee? First off, two of your examples are already on iOS. Second, Apple’s had no issue calling multitasking and Apple Pencil support as iOS features for 4 years now. I did totally forget about Sidecar, but even that’s functionality I can already replicate on my phone.

It just felt interesting they choose to name it iPadOS now. I’m just curious how others think. Let’s turn the ‘tude down.



I agree with this best. It’s mostly a marketing change now, but Apple wouldn’t have made that distinction unless they foresee future versions continuing to diverge into something different.

No, none of those things are already on iOS.

 

[macOS Lynx]

No, none of those things are already on iOS.

Well, you’re flat out wrong, considering the download manager is on iPhones on iOS.

 

[cmaier]

View attachment 841878

Well, you’re flat out wrong, considering the download manager is on iPhones on iOS.

No. You said “already.” It’s not “already” on iOS. It also isn’t “two things.”

 

[gsmornot]

No point arguing. Let’s talk instead about salt in coffee. If you have not tried it, put a bit on the grinds before brew and it will smooth the flavor if you have a harsh coffee. That is from Alton Brown and its a trick I use mostly when traveling.

That said, there are difference but day to day for me its an on paper thing. My use will need to change a bit from the past before I start to get to the point I can really feel the difference. I still use my iPad in many ways like a big iPhone. This message here is on a keyboard vs a virtual keyboard but for the most part I need to learn to use the new benefits.

 

[zooole]

I partially agree with the post. IpadOS didn’t change much this year. It is merely a name. The features that are iPad specific has been here on iOS. The new features are shared.

But yes, this is still a huge change. By separating them, I think we will see more exclusive features in future releases.

 

[macduke]

Yep. I just wrote this in another thread so I'll quote it



Obviously iPhone got the Files improvements too, and why not. I think Apple giving themselves permission to make iPad more powerful will inevitably make iPhone more powerful too where it makes sense on the smaller screen. I genuinely think the next two or three years are going to see the iPad become a general purpose, independent computer.

I kinda wish they had just kept the iPad and iPad Air on iOS branch and gone even more complex by having iPadOS on the iPad Pro only. I mean, like you said, some things like Files is okay to have on both and get some of the updates. But if they did it this way then you don't end up with people getting "confused" by their OS. Let the people who want to do work on it do work on it and get as advanced as they need to. Leave the regular iPad for the regular users. People like my grandma who get confused on a Mac, but can handle an iPad without issue are a prime example of the type of person they are worried about. I remember a few years ago reading that the iPad is basically the top computing device for old people. I feel like important to Apple demographic has kept them from pushing it forward. And yet they released an iPad Pro and didn't push it like they should have. I see no reason why they can't fragment advanced features between the two devices.

 

[VolceOntra]

Technically, it’s the same. Apple doesn’t refer to iPadOS In it’s developer communications.

 

[Feenician]

I kinda wish they had just kept the iPad and iPad Air on iOS branch and gone even more complex by having iPadOS on the iPad Pro only. I mean, like you said, some things like Files is okay to have on both and get some of the updates. But if they did it this way then you don't end up with people getting "confused" by their OS. Let the people who want to do work on it do work on it and get as advanced as they need to. Leave the regular iPad for the regular users. People like my grandma who get confused on a Mac, but can handle an iPad without issue are a prime example of the type of person they are worried about. I remember a few years ago reading that the iPad is basically the top computing device for old people. I feel like important to Apple demographic has kept them from pushing it forward. And yet they released an iPad Pro and didn't push it like they should have. I see no reason why they can't fragment advanced features between the two devices.

I see what you mean and Craig F actually talked about this challenge on the Talk Show Live, specifically around the older, younger and less technical. Basically they go to lengths not to destroy the existing workflow but to layer more advanced ones on top. Someone who used the first iPad with only full screen apps, no multitasking, no file access at all etc. could pick up an iPad today and use it that exact same way. Like you though I feel that approach does have compromises, it means making the newer, more advanced functionality more obscure and undiscoverable and it perhaps prevents them taking some of that functionality as far and fast as they might otherwise.

It will be interesting to see how it all pans out over the next few years.

 

[macduke]

I see what you mean and Craig F actually talked about this challenge on the Talk Show Live, specifically around the older, younger and less technical. Basically they go to lengths not to destroy the existing workflow but to layer more advanced ones on top. Someone who used the first iPad with only full screen apps, no multitasking, no file access at all etc. could pick up an iPad today and use it that exact same way. Like you though I feel that approach does have compromises, it means making the newer, more advanced functionality more obscure and undiscoverable and it perhaps prevents them taking some of that functionality as far and fast as they might otherwise.

It will be interesting to see how it all pans out over the next few years.

Yeah, it just shows that Apple is more concerned with mass market than professionals. But they've always been that way, even back in the earlier days, where "PC" was something that you worked on and they didn't care about companies buying them for employees to use to get work done. A certain amount of creatives held on though, and we still see that today. I feel like if you didn't have to build all apps on the Mac they would have already killed it off.

I had started listening to that episode the other day but didn't get too far in. Will be listening for it, thanks. Even if they could just bake in some kind of "professional mode" that you could activate it would be great. Perhaps it would be on by default on the "Pro" models, and to "activate" it on the lower end models you'd have to flip a switch and maybe it would even download some additional resources to keep the size low for cheaper iPads that don't need the power user stuff. I just hate the fact that essentially Apple is holding back productivity on my $1299 2018 iPad Pro 12.9" because of my grandma on her iPad Air 2 who just browses the web, uses maps while traveling, sends email and messages, and looks at photos of the grandkids on the photo stream.

 

[gwhizkids]

Yeah, it just shows that Apple is more concerned with mass market than professionals. But they've always been that way, even back in the earlier days, where "PC" was something that you worked on and they didn't care about companies buying them for employees to use to get work done. A certain amount of creatives held on though, and we still see that today. I feel like if you didn't have to build all apps on the Mac they would have already killed it off.

I had started listening to that episode the other day but didn't get too far in. Will be listening for it, thanks. Even if they could just bake in some kind of "professional mode" that you could activate it would be great. Perhaps it would be on by default on the "Pro" models, and to "activate" it on the lower end models you'd have to flip a switch and maybe it would even download some additional resources to keep the size low for cheaper iPads that don't need the power user stuff. I just hate the fact that essentially Apple is holding back productivity on my $1299 2018 iPad Pro 12.9" because of my grandma on her iPad Air 2 who just browses the web, uses maps while traveling, sends email and messages, and looks at photos of the grandkids on the photo stream.

There have to be some limits to "pro" use, though. You are clearly not going to put workstation class features in a tablet, especially one with touch rather than mouse control as the primary selection device. And there are resource limits on how far you can internally branch a product so that it works for different user groups (Grandma vs Pros). When it comes to true pro level stuff, unless you're Federico Viticci and are willing to ditch it all and come up with a million workarounds to make this work, you really belong on a dedicated personal computer-style device, and not a tablet. Push the issue too far and you've basically just made yourself ...a PC style device!

 

[Osamede]

Despite changing the name of the software the iPad runs to iPadOS, iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 are inherently the same software. The only features that are exclusive to iPadOS 13 are the multitasking features, Apple Pencil related features, and the widgets on the home screen. Everything else they showed with iPadOS 13 is available on iOS 13 devices. Even the accessibility pointer is available on an iPhone.

It makes me wonder, and invite discussion: Is the iPadOS name truly just a marketing change, or is iPadOS the beginning of a new, third “Core” OS for Apple? (I don’t count watchOS, tvOS, or audioOS because products that run those are essentially accessories).

MacOS will eventually sunset once touch-based OS is fully filled out. The initiation of mouse-based navigation option was the first clue.

A very bad idea to dismiss watchOS - in fact that device is the new “iPhone” in the long run.

 

[TheSkywalker77]

Download manager

iPhones have that too.

 

[DNichter]

Just the beginning in my eyes. Now they can create the modern large screen OS that they’ve been working towards for years. There is a ton of potential for iPadOS.

 

[macduke]

There have to be some limits to "pro" use, though. You are clearly not going to put workstation class features in a tablet, especially one with touch rather than mouse control as the primary selection device. And there are resource limits on how far you can internally branch a product so that it works for different user groups (Grandma vs Pros). When it comes to true pro level stuff, unless you're Federico Viticci and are willing to ditch it all and come up with a million workarounds to make this work, you really belong on a dedicated personal computer-style device, and not a tablet. Push the issue too far and you've basically just made yourself ...a PC style device!

Yeah but there is still room to move forward with the professional features. I see it more like a MacBook Air alternative. I much prefer a tablet form factor to a tiny laptop. It's more about being able to work with professional things when needed in a pinch, but generally not doing those things most of the time on it because you own another device. But it also depends on what you're doing. If you primarily do illustration, it's not bad but most probably finish on a Mac. For photographers it's pretty okay at this point. I do a lot of editing on my iPad but finish on my Mac. Or if I need to sit down and do a ton of photos I do it on my Mac. The iPad is good for getting photos looking close to final, but really great for flagging and rating. I enjoy editing photos more on my iPad because it's more comfortable to kick back and relax with. I prefer taking it when traveling, so the new file/drive features will be really handy for dumping cards and making backups.