A couple of weeks ago when Apple announced updates for iOS which even included a dedicated new version for the iPad called the iPadOS, it made a lot of people happy by adding tons of features that people had asked for years. Yesterday, Apple released public beta versions of both operating systems for the iPhones and iPads, alongside macOS Catalina and watchOS 4. I’ve spent some time using these new operating systems on a variety of Apple gadgets, and now I’m truly convinced that Apple’s 2019 software updates are game-changing for the iPad and superemly effective for the iPhone.
- Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice about iOS 13 and iPadOS is that face ID has become rapid. The speed is on par with phones like the OnePlus 7 which don’t have sophisticated infrared depth sensing facial recognition sensors.
- Dark mode is just a feature that Apple is check boxing. It is a system wide user interface overhaul. When in dark mode, iOS 13 / iPadOS look like a brand new operating system with better visibility. It is built in all system apps and thanks to the API, it will be there in even third party apps soon.
- The new home-screen which hosts widgets can be quite handy on the iPad. Even the fact that the icons are smaller, allows you cram more apps on the home-screen.
- The new text editing system has a learning curve to it, but it works quite neatly within apps. I tried using it within Google Docs on the browser, but I couldn’t make it work. Perhaps that’s a quirk in the in the public beta and we hope Apple fixes this in the final build of the operating system.
- Talking about Google Docs in Safari, yes the desktop version, is the new Safari browser which is now desktop class. It may seem like a very simple feature but it is quite a big deal. This means all kinds of web apps like word press, Facebook, Google Docs, YouTube, and Microsoft Office 365 all work quite seamlessly. This is one standout feature which is transformational for the iPad as mainstream computer.
- Apple has also added a download manager inside Safari which means that one can now easily download files which find their way into the new file manager. You can also seamlessly upload files using a web browser to websites like Facebook and YouTube.
- The files app is another aspect of iOS 13 and iPadOS which is transformative from a productivity aspect. The files app now accepts USB thumb drives and is also home to all downloaded files from the Safari browser. You all get a user interface which will remind you of the finder on the Mac which will appeal to power users. Apple has done this in a very secure way, which means you can’t view executable files so that malware doesn’t get onto the system.
- Multitasking on the iPad has been greatly improved. You can use two instances of the same app at the same time. Third party apps haven’t been updated for this but they will be and additionally, in the slide-over view you can now stack multiple apps together. It is not like a desktop, but it’s effective once you learn how to go about it.
- One of the things I’ve noticed on the older iPads is that the performance has been greatly improved. App loads times according to Apple has been doubled, but I’ve not felt that, though, the app load speed has perceptibly improved.
- A lot of Apple’s core applications have been improved expectedly. This includes the Quick Type keyboard which now supports SWYPE typing and also a floating mode for the iPad. The reminders and notes apps have been redone with productivity in mind which makes them more useful than third party alternatives. Siri users will be happy to know that it has a more realistic voice with one even in an Indian accent.
