Stage Manager Still Has Several Issues as iPadOS 16 Nears Release

[tobybrut]

Nah. iPadOS needs major changes. The OS is absolutely outdated for what they want the iPad to do. The iPad has the guts of a Mac, but does less than a Mac and is more expensive than a Mac. They keep advertising it as a laptop replacement yet it can't install software freely like the Mac can, barely has any pro apps compared to the Mac, and connecting it to a monitor or using keyboard and mouse is just worse than on the Mac, even with the Stage Manager changes.

We need a DeX mode for iPadOS when the Magic Keyboard is connected or if it's connected to a monitor. Stage Manager ain't it. For god's sake, cheap ass Android phones have a desktop mode, but not the $700-1000+ iPads!

They’ve never advertised it as a laptop replacement. Ever. Why do people still keep saying that? They’ve advertised it as a computer. When those “What is a computer?” ads came out, iPads were thought of as toys good for nothing but small apps and games. Apple wanted to stress that it’s a full-fledged computer. But not once have they ever said it is a laptop replacement. The point of those ads is that not everyone needs a laptop or desktop. Think differently and imagine what you need to do. If the iPad is good for you, buy that one. If not, buy one of the other products, but don’t dismiss iPad out of hand because you think it’s a toy. Apple never said it’s a desktop replacement either, but strangely no one ever claims Apple said that.

That is what Apple promised. And it is a computer. It’s not a laptop, just as a desktop is not a laptop.

For the vast majority of users, the iPad is just fine and iPadOS does everything they need it to do, which is why Stage Manager is off by default. Most will never need it. I don’t use it myself because I don’t need it. The regular multitasking is more than enough. In fact, I prefer the old method.

For those who want it to be a laptop, buy a laptop. If you claim it doesn’t do what a Mac can do, well, because it isn’t a Mac. It also does things a Mac cannot do. But just as laptops overlap with desktops where neither can completely replace the other, the iPad overlaps them as well, doing some jobs better than the Macs and other jobs not as well. To expect a tablet with a completely different touch interface to be a laptop makes no sense.

It also has a ton of pro apps. I’d point you to Christopher Lawley’s fine YouTube video on 35 different professions that can easily run a business on an iPad complete with multiple apps that make those businesses work. People are blinded by Apple’s Pro apps, but they aren’t the only pro apps in existence.

 

[tobybrut]

This. ”Dex Mode” is absolutely what is needed. Plug an external monitor into the iPad, and we should see MacOS pop up on the external screen. Quite frankly, I would consider buying an iPad Pro with M-series chips if they had this feature.

Have you ever used DeX? It’s terrible. I have two Samsung tablets and find it to be garbage. It was designed to make the lack of tablet apps not so obvious. It’s there to make phone apps look less ugly. Please, no DeX.

 

[smulji]

Resizing and overlapping windows have never been done on the iPad.

But they've been done on macOS and done well so why waste time and resources trying to reinvent the wheel. Nonsense

 

[Shirasaki]

But they've been done on macOS and done well so why waste time and resources trying to reinvent the wheel. Nonsense

Ok, I know this may not sound much for you, but stage manager actually allows multiple apps running and active at the same time, which cannot be said for Windows/Linux or Maybe even macOS.

Just like that, two games running, both doing their own thing, while checking forums. Also keep an eye on Teams.
Stage Manager finally allows normal people to take full advantage of M1/M2 without using professional apps: launching and playing multiple games simultaneously. Yes, the UI isn’t the greatest, and some expresses their distaste. However, the foundation demoed here is imo pretty cool. Heck, I can even launch two More games if I quit safari and team and quickly switch between them. They would not even throw “reconnecting” even if I switch it away.

With stage manager like this, one can launch the professional app, then safari, then mail, then slack, and use them whenever wish, and all apps will remain active. 8GB RAM could quickly become obsolete and we might see 32GB RAM on highest end iPad Pro soon.

 

[James Godfrey]

I think this feature will end up like universal control, announced at WWDC 2021 with iPadOS15 but didn’t launch until 3 months before iPadOS16 was announced.

Just like universal control which should really have been an iPadOS16 feature, I think stage manager will end up coming so late that it should have been brought to iPadOS17.

I think Apple are rushing out features and announcing stuff a year too soon with iPad because the development of the software is sooo far behind the hardware, and it’s making iPad sales suffer in the process.

 

[Delgibbons]

Apple is set to release iPadOS 16 to the public this month, yet users continue to face several issues with the new Stage Manager feature.

In the latest iPadOS 16 beta seeded earlier this week, developer Steve Troughton-Smith and MacStories editor-in-chief Federico Viticci highlighted various user interface issues they continue to face from time to time while using Stage Manager, including the dock disappearing when rotating the iPad, content failing to scale properly when a window is resized, keyboard input failing to register in certain apps, and more.

In August, Viticci criticized Apple for its "fundamentally misguided" approach to Stage Manager. The feature has improved in the weeks since, but it's clear from the latest beta that several issues persist even as iPadOS 16 nears release.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1577391211144482831

https://twitter.com/x/status/1577356440271994883

Apple recently expanded Stage Manager to older iPad Pro models with A12X and A12Z chips released in 2018 and 2020, albeit without external display support, which limits the feature to four apps on the built-in display on these models. Apple also delayed external display support for iPad models with the M1 chip until later this year.

Stage Manager allows users to have up to four apps open in overlapping windows on an iPad's display for an improved multitasking experience. A modified version of Stage Manager is also available on macOS Ventura for keeping windows front and center.

Apple says iPadOS 16 will be released in October, but it not did confirm a specific day. The software update will be labeled iPadOS 16.1, and it will likely be released alongside iOS 16.1 for the iPhone, as the updates share the same build number.

Article Link: Stage Manager Still Has Several Issues as iPadOS 16 Nears Release

As an owner of a 2tb m1 iPad Pro….. can we not just dual boot iOS and Mac OS already, Apple 😄

 

[MammothMan]

I think Stage Manager will be huge—it’s the beginning of a big change. Like Multifinder was in System 6.
But I’m happy for it to roll out slowly, like Universal Control was. That‘s become hugely useful.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

This. ”Dex Mode” is absolutely what is needed. Plug an external monitor into the iPad, and we should see MacOS pop up on the external screen. Quite frankly, I would consider buying an iPad Pro with M-series chips if they had this feature.

As would I. But as it stands, I'm leaning towards a Samsung Galaxy Tab as my next tablet with how iPadOS is going.

It makes me sad, because the iPad used to be my favorite Apple thing ever. But ever since the change to iPadOS things have gotten worse not better, added with the Apple Silicon Macs being cheaper and more functional, and now the Mac is my new fave after a lifetime of hating the things since the Mac vs PC days. Steve's rolling in his grave with what's happened to the iPad.

 

[xyz01]

Main issue is the feeling of uselessness.
It doesn't look like it was conceived to be a compelling feature, at all.

Agreed. I'm not sure what it makes faster or easier... For me, it's quite the opposite. Same on Ventura.

 

[xyz01]

What I've always found strange about Stage Manager, and this might totally be a "me" thing-- is that it encourages windows overlapping with each other.

I use Magnet on macOS for example, and I love it for the reason that I can make sure the windows I'm using are lined up perfectly, never overlapping. If overlap causes some information to be obscured, it defeats the entire purpose, since I'd have to tab to the corresponding window or click on it to view what I need.

Raises the question of SM on iPad, when the current multi-app offering, while not ideal or the best, allows full view of the two apps in use.

So strange that this feature has been having as many problems as has been reported. Doesn't feel like that big a deal, software-wise...

Introducing Magnet functionality world be nice - and very useful. One of my favorite apps.

As for stage manager, I just don't get what should make it good or useful. It has some snazzy effects, but on my Mac Studio it's just... Pointless.

 

[tobybrut]

Introducing Magnet functionality world be nice - and very useful. One of my favorite apps.

As for stage manager, I just don't get what should make it good or useful. It has some snazzy effects, but on my Mac Studio it's just... Pointless.

For those who keep a relatively clean desktop, Stage Manager is useless on a Mac. Apple as much as said that. They said that Stage Manager on the Mac is intended to deal with clutter. If you don't have clutter, you don't need it. Those who run dozens of apps or have zillions of open files have a tough time moving between them. Sure, there's Mission Control as well as multiple desktops, but Stage Manager is easier to use than those. If you have a ton of files/apps, Mission Control is hard to see. Swiping through multiple desktops is annoying because you often end up on the wrong one.

SM is intended to help group those apps/documents together, allowing people to clean up their monitors by keeping open only what they need. Everything else is on the shelf.

I'm a person who has absolutely nothing on my desktop except for "Macintosh HD" and any external drives that happen to be connected. I have zero files on my desktop and have very few apps open, usually four or fewer. For me and anyone like me, Stage Manager is pointless. If you are what Craig F described, Stage Manager is for you. If you're more like me, then Apple is solving someone else's problem. I can just as easily say Mission Control is pointless because I don't run enough apps to need it. But lots of other people do need it.

 

[tonyisit]

Of course! They had to work their asses off to support A12X. Don't forget Apple is a small company with limited resources. It's unrealistic to expect them to deliver such a big feature within a limited time.

Every since they started supporting the older ipads the feature stinks now, pissed I lost that great full screen on my monitor

 

[GuruZac]

Nah. iPadOS needs major changes. The OS is absolutely outdated for what they want the iPad to do. The iPad has the guts of a Mac, but does less than a Mac and is more expensive than a Mac. They keep advertising it as a laptop replacement yet it can't install software freely like the Mac can, barely has any pro apps compared to the Mac, and connecting it to a monitor or using keyboard and mouse is just worse than on the Mac, even with the Stage Manager changes.

We need a DeX mode for iPadOS when the Magic Keyboard is connected or if it's connected to a monitor. Stage Manager ain't it. For god's sake, cheap ass Android phones have a desktop mode, but not the $700-1000+ iPads!

Samsung has done a much better job with DeX. At this point, the iPad Pro, with hardware that in some ways exceeds even the Macs offers not much more functionality than the $329 iPad. That's a problem for those who have purchased the iPad Pros.

 

[smulji]

Samsung has done a much better job with DeX. At this point, the iPad Pro, with hardware that in some ways exceeds even the Macs offers not much more functionality than the $329 iPad. That's a problem for those who have purchased the iPad Pros.

At this point, MS' strategy with the Surface Pro is looking better everyday.

 

[GuruZac]

At this point, MS' strategy with the Surface Pro is looking better everyday.

Yeah without a serious software overhaul, my M1 12.9 iPad Pro will be my last iPad Pro. Many of the tasks I do on my iPad Pro just feel more cumbersome than should be. I'll replace my M1 MacBook Air with a 14" MacBook Pro for my main computer and get an iPad Air with Magic Keyboard for iPad needs, which is decreasing every year.

 

[ian87w]

At this point, MS' strategy with the Surface Pro is looking better everyday.

No it’s not. Hardly anyone uses the Surface Pro as a tablet. Most have keyboard on it and use it as a laptop. Most OEMs has ignored or abandoned the form factor and preferring the tried and true standard laptop form factor. Windows is Windows, a desktop OS. It’s never good or even decent as a tablet OS.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Here we are with a disaster of a “feature“ barely anyone will use….

90 percent of iPad owners wont be able to use their half baked stage manager garbage

Barely anyone will use a feature that, previously, barely anyone would have used. Sounds about right!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Have you ever used DeX? It’s terrible. I have two Samsung tablets and find it to be garbage. It was designed to make the lack of tablet apps not so obvious. It’s there to make phone apps look less ugly. Please, no DeX.

I’m convinced most that type “DeX” has ever used “DeX” including me. But, what I’ve read agrees with you that it’s garbage and would not yield anything remotely close to the “two separate OS’s on one device” that a few people want. But, it’s a dream so let ‘em keep dreaming it!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Samsung has done a much better job with DeX. At this point, the iPad Pro, with hardware that in some ways exceeds even the Macs offers not much more functionality than the $329 iPad. That's a problem for those who have purchased the iPad Pros.

They really have. People love DeX so much, that the Samsung tablets are outselling the iPad 2 to 1. I think now that Apple realizes that what people really want is DeX, they’ll start working on something more like the wildly successful DeX that Samsung created. /s

 

[smulji]

Most OEMs has ignored or abandoned the form factor and preferring the tried and true standard laptop form factor

Incorrect. All major OEM's (HP, Dell, Lenovo) have renewed interest in this form factor

 

[smulji]

get an iPad Air with Magic Keyboard for iPad needs

For me, the iPad mini 6 fills that role.

 

[GuruZac]

They really have. People love DeX so much, that the Samsung tablets are outselling the iPad 2 to 1. I think now that Apple realizes that what people really want is DeX, they’ll start working on something more like the wildly successful DeX that Samsung created. /s

Has nothing to do with DeX, but you already know that. People prefer iPad because it's the known quantity, and the apps and ecosystem are why people buy iPads over Samsung tablets. Until recently, iPad hardware was beyond Samsung. Other than the SoC, the Samsung Tablet S8s are on par with iPad Pro hardware, and for using a tablet as a traditional laptop, which Apple offers with the Magic Keyboard, their solution was much better than Apple's. If Apple offered nearly identical solution as DeX Apple fans would be touting how incredible it is. You can defend the iPad Pro all you want, but won't change the fact that all those who paid upwards of $1500-$2400USD for an iPad Pro with 2TB and 16GB of RAM have a device that offers virtually no more productive flow than the $329 iPad. That's Apple's fault for not offering better solutions catered to the much more powerful iPad Pros.

 

[smulji]

Has nothing to do with DeX, but you already know that. People prefer iPad because it's the known quantity, and the apps and ecosystem are why people buy iPads over Samsung tablets. Until recently, iPad hardware was beyond Samsung. Other than the SoC, the Samsung Tablet S8s are on par with iPad Pro hardware, and for using a tablet as a traditional laptop, which Apple offers with the Magic Keyboard, their solution was much better than Apple's. If Apple offered nearly identical solution as DeX Apple fans would be touting how incredible it is. You can defend the iPad Pro all you want, but won't change the fact that all those who paid upwards of $1500-$2400USD for an iPad Pro with 2TB and 16GB of RAM have a device that offers virtually no more productive flow than the $329 iPad. That's Apple's fault for not offering better solutions catered to the much more powerful iPad Pros.

When I'm spending that much money on a Pro tablet, I expect a Pro OS.

 

[bradman83]

This reminds me a bit of some of the whiz-bang window management features that were introduced in Windows Vista, like the Aero Flip 3D feature. It looked really cool in as a demo but the actual functional utility of the feature was lacking.

 

[andreyush]

inb4 it will be a useless feature that will be forgotten after 1 month.