At the WWDC 2022 keynote on Monday, Apple announced iPadOS 16 as the latest software upgrade for the iPad. The latest iPad OS version has a revised multitasking experience to boost productivity.
It allows you to overlay program windows in the same way you can on a Mac or Windows system. iPadOS 16 features enhancements such as Live Text and improved Messages for iPad users, similar to iOS 16.
Support for games created using the Metal 3 engine is also included in the latest edition.
Availability of iPadOS 16
Apple has delivered iPadOS 16 to developers who are members of the Apple Developer Program first. Next month, customers will be able to participate in a public test of the upcoming iPadOS update. iPadOS 16 will also be available as a free software upgrade this autumn for the iPad (5th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), and all iPad Pro devices.
Features of iPadOS 16
Apple has released Stage Manager, a new multitasking interface for iPadOS 16 that is now accessible on Mac computers with macOS 13 Ventura, to continue to bridge the gap between the MacBook and iPad.
It lets users run several iPad applications simultaneously by overlaying them one on top of the other. When you connect your iPad to an external monitor, the experience becomes even more immersive.
This improvement over the current UI allows users to access programs in full-screen mode, similar to that on an iPhone or in Split View, which allows users to access two apps. Move Over is a feature that allows you to slide an app over from the side.
Users will be able to resize app windows on the iPadOS 16 upgrades, as they do on a Mac or a Windows laptop. This capability, however, is only available on iPad devices with the M1 processor.
This implies that if you don’t have the newest iPad Air or iPad Pro, you won’t be able to enjoy the new experience.
Collaboration is available to iPad users with the M1 chip, allowing them to work on various activities. The capability is available via the iPad’s Notes, Safari, Keynote, and other preinstalled applications. Apple has announced that the Collaboration feature will be arriving on iOS and macOS later this year.
Apple has also released an app called FreeForm to help in teamwork. Users may exchange files, scribble notes, and draw diagrams with others. Developers will also get access to a new API that will allow them to integrate Collaboration into their applications.
iPadOS 16 has Live Text and Visual Look Up, much as iOS 16. The new version also contains a brand-new look for the Home app and Matter support. In addition, the iPadOS update includes the new Messages app, which allows users to modify or remember text messages through the latest iOS version.
iPadOS 16 gives players a better gaming experience by supporting Metal 3. In addition, the firm has introduced a background download API that enables customers to multitask while the game downloads.
Activity has been added to the dashboard of Gamer Center, allowing users to see how their peers are doing. Users’ activities will also be visible on their Game Center profiles. Additionally, multiplayer games played via Game Center may use SharePlay to start a session with your pals.
According to Apple, all of the Game Center enhancements will be available to iPadOS 16 customers later this year. In the future, iOS and macOS users will also be able to utilize the functionalities.
Live Text updates are also included in the iPadOS 16 upgrades, likewise available on the iPhone through iOS 16. Similarly, the improved Family Sharing function allows users to add additional age-restricted features to their accounts. The revised Home app with an enhanced UI and lock screen widgets is also included in the latest iPadOS version.
Quick Note, which was previously only accessible on the Mac, was added to allow you to create notes rapidly. The new iPadOS includes the new Safari browser, which is also available on macOS Ventura and includes features like Shared Tab Groups and Passkeys.
Additionally, with the iPadOS 16, Apple has included the Weather app on the iPad. It has full-screen animations and tappable modules that provide access to more extensive information. WeatherKit is also available to developers to incorporate weather updates into their applications.
Additionally, Apple said that iPadOS 16 would bring ‘Desktop-level’ applications to the iPad. These will be able to leverage system features such as system-wide undo/redo, calendar availability view, and Contacts locate and merge cards. The Files app on the latest iPadOS version has also been upgraded to provide the option to modify file extensions, see folder sizes, and expand folders in the list view. The revamped find-and-replace experience, document menu in Files, Pages, Keynote, and configurable toolbar to allow users to add tools of their choosing are among the system-wide innovations targeted at delivering improvements across programs. Apple has also introduced a reference Mode function to the iPad Pro’s Retina XDR Display to improve colour viewing.
iPadOS 16 adds the option to enhance the display’s pixel density and see more applications for Pro users on iPads with the M1 processor. It’s very beneficial when using Split View with two applications. Apple has also introduced Virtual Memory Swap, which allows users to increase the available memory for their programs by up to 16GB by leveraging the iPad’s internal storage.
Apple’s new iPadOS 16 features and the extension of Apple’s pro applications to the iPad are expected to help the firm boost its tablet profits over time. Professionals will choose the iPad over Android tablets due to the improvements.
