Updates About The Latest iPad OS

iPadOS release date and new features

The new operating system is a big change for Apple, that saw it finally separate out the iPad from the iPhone when it comes to software, giving life to the new iPadOS.The public beta for iPadOS has been open for a while, but for the finished product, you haven't got long to wait. iPadOS will be released on September 30, and just as with iOS 13, iPadOS will be made available for download globally on the day. 

Which iPads are compatible with iPadOS?

While many thought iPadOS would be limited to Apple’s ‘Pro’ tablets, it’ll be available for quite a few devices when it launches this year. If you have an older iPad it might be a good reason to upgrade :

• NEW: 10.2in iPad

• 12.9-inch iPad Pro

• 11-inch iPad Pro

• 10.5-inch iPad Pro

• 9.7-inch iPad Pro

• iPad (6th generation)

• iPad (5th generation)

• iPad mini (5th generation)

• iPad mini 4

• iPad Air (3rd generation)

• iPad Air 2

iPad OS features overview

• The icons on the Home screen are smaller so you can fit more in, and widgets, such as a calendar or to-do list, can be added here.

• You can have multiple windows open in an app and view them side by side in split view, you can only two pages at a time but having multiple pages open is a real benefit.

• There will be an Expose like feature (from MacOS) that will show an overview of all your open apps.

• New Slide Over feature will make it easy to switch between apps.

• Improved markup tools.

• You can plug in external storage and access content on there.

• There'll be an improved Files app for accessing all your saved data stored in iCloud. Including the ability to access file servers.

• New keyboard shortcuts and gestures, including support for keyboard shortcuts when a keyboard is plugged in.

• You will be able to connect a mouse (although it looks like this is an accessibility feature)

• The Apple Pencil will react faster thanks to improved latency.

• There are also additional Pencil gestures.

• You can capture a grab of an entire webpage, rather than only what can be seen on the screen.

• There is a download manager, so you can download it from the web in Safari.

• QuickPath typing (like the Swipe keyboard) will make typing faster.

• New iPadOS gestures

Gestures have Improved

One of the bigger features across the whole of iPadOS is the new gestures. The ones we've seen are pretty simple: three-finger pinch to cut, three-finger splay to paste, three-finger swipe to undo. Easy.
In some apps, you'll also be able to two-finger-pinch the keyboard to shrink it to iOS mobile size and move it around. Plunk it next to the side of the screen and boom: you can type on it with one thumb.

Add to that the new gestures for the home screen and multitasking, and there may be a learning curve required to get used to all the new interactions which come with iPadOS.

Sidecar is a big new change

If you're wondering what the biggest feature of iPadOS might be, Sidecar is a real contender. It natively bakes in wired (or wireless) support for using your iPad as a Mac second screen, bringing with it a whole host of functionality.

This mode effectively turns any iPad into a portable monitor, one with a powerful internal battery, allowing apps and multiple windows to be dragged onto its screen and interacted with using a mouse, keyboard or Apple Pencil.

You can't mess around with the resolution just yet, so you can't work in super fine detail and may want to wait a little while until the final software launch appears in late September - but even at this early stage, Apple fans will find they've suddenly got a new screen for their Mac right in another pocket of their backpack.