apple: How Apple is slowly transforming iPadOS into a full-grown ‘desktop’ operating system – Times of India

Apple has finally unwrapped details about the upcoming iPad operating system — iPadOS 16 at its WWDC 2022 event yesterday (June 6). The next-generation iPadOS brings several new features and changes over its predecessors. However, like every new iPadOS version, the feature list is shared with its iOS and macOS counterparts.

Apple has finally unwrapped details about the upcoming iPad operating system — iPadOS 16 at its WWDC 2022 event yesterday (June 6). The next-generation iPadOS brings several new features and changes over its predecessors. However, like every new iPadOS version, the feature list is shared with its iOS and macOS counterparts.
That hasn’t changed with the iPadOS 16. Certainly, it has got the newly redesigned notification panel, updated Home app, iCloud library sharing feature and a Weather app is finally coming to iPad. The Calculator is still missing though.
But, the company has also added some new features from macOS into the operating system. Despite the fact that some features are restricted only to M1-powered iPads, they are certainly making iPads a worthy alternative to a Mac or other laptops.
Stage Manager brings desktop-class multitasking to iPads
iPadOS has always been good at multitasking. The operating system has always offered several features like a dual app screen, seamless navigation between apps and more. The Stage Manager feature that was introduced with macOS is also coming to iPadOS.
Stage Manager is an all-new multitasking feature that, according to the company, automatically organize apps and Windows to make it easier to switch between apps and tasks. As it was shown at the WWDC event, the feature will automatically create a small thumbnail for the apps or tasks on the left side of the screen and users can simply tap on them to open or switch from one app to another.
Overlapping Windows
While it is a part of the Stage Manager feature, it is important to highlight that one of the main features of desktop-class operating systems is the ability to open multiple overlapping windows at once, resize them and drag and drop them in different locations. Well, iPadOS can now do that and that’s another important step at making it more like a desktop-class operating system.
Full-external display support
iPadOS now also supports full external display support. This will allow users to expand the screen estate using a bigger monitor. Which can come in handy while using the iPad for editing or heavy work.
Desktop-class apps
Apple also announced desktop-class app support for iPads. Desktop-class apps bring new capabilities and functionality that are available on Mac including a consistent undo and redo experience across the system. This also includes a redesigned find-and-replace, customisable toolbars and the ability to change file extensions.
Well, these are just those features that Apple has added to iPadOS 16 from macOS. Apart from that, there are certain other features that are natively designed for the operating system which makes iPads a much more versatile device.