The 10 iPadOS features that will transform your iPad experience

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It still looks like iOS 13, but this year the iPad has its own operating system, which demonstrates Apple's determination that the iPad is getting a slice most important of our computer lives. And, whether they are big or small, many new features will change the way you use your iPad and ensure the device features in our guide to the best tablets for years to come. Here is what you need to know.

1. A much better experience on the home screen

Nowhere else, the limitation of iOS on an iPad has been as apparent as on the home screen. It may have taken almost a decade, but the iPad's home screen ultimately looks like a bespoke experience instead of looking like an outsized iPhone. The application grid is narrower, so you can integrate more, but even better, you can now pin widgets. It seems odd to be excited about such adjustments in 2019, but no matter how late they are, changes are always welcome.

iPad OS version, public beta and compatibility

When does the iPad OS come out?: The full release will take place in the fall, probably in September, when Apple will announce its latest iPhones. The beta version of iPadOS is now available to developers, while the public beta will open late June / early July.

IPad OS compatibility: Apple has confirmed that the iPadOS will be available on the iPad Air 2 and later, on all models of iPad Pro, on the 5th generation iPad and on the iPad mini 4 and later models. This specifically excludes the first-generation iPad, one of the best-selling models.

2. Word documents side by side

Obviously, this feature is not limited to Word documents, but it's a perfect example of its usefulness. In iPadOS, Apple has added Split View support within apps. This means that you can view two documents side by side from the same application, such as two different notes, two different e-mails, two PDF documents, or two Word documents. Again, a seemingly simple feature (which leads us to wonder why it took so long to appear), but certainly a useful feature that simplifies a little work on iPad.

3. App Exposed

Parallel to side-by-side support, Apple launched App Exposé. This gives you a quick view of all open windows for a single application. So, if you have a lot of documents open, you can quickly switch between them.

4. Secret mouse support

Yes, you read that: iPadOS now supports mice. This is a strange case, Apple did not talk about it during its presentation and, technically, this is not a standard feature, but an accessibility feature for users with limited motor functions. However, many people might find this helpful, especially due to the slow progress of the "desktop" functionality provided to iPadOS.

5. A completely revised file application

The iPad Files application has always been a clumsy beast thanks to the iOS operating mode, but some important updates are made to iPadOS. There is a new column view that recalls the approach used in macOS, but, more importantly, it supports USB drives and USB hard drives and provides the ability to connect to network drives, which will facilitate iPad use in an easier environment. working environment.

6. The Web Browser & # 39; Desktop Class & # 39;

Another perpetual trouble has been removed with what Apple calls an "office" version of Safari for iPadOS. What does this mean in practice? It finally plays well with web applications, such as Google Docs. And also, Apple has finally introduced a download manager. There are also 30 new keyboard shortcuts reserved for Safari, as well as improved tab management.

7. Use your iPad as a second screen

Third-party applications let you use your iPad as a second screen for some time, but Apple now officially supports it with iPadOS and the next macOS 10.15 Catalina. This feature, called Sidecar, allows you to use your iPad as a basic screen, but also as a graphics tablet when combined with Apple Pencil, which will appeal to users who use their iPad creatively. Apple Pencil is not as advanced as a Wacom graphics tablet, but it offers just enough features for many people.

8. The QuickPath Mini Keyboard

This is another feature to be classified under "made by other users before", but Apple has finally introduced the sliding link, which it calls QuickPath, on iOS 13 and iPadOS. We think this will be particularly useful on iPads because the combination of a new mini-keyboard and QuickPath should make typing faster and easier without the full-size touch keyboard.

9. Costly policies

This is great news for anyone who wants to do serious creative work on an iPad. In iPadOS, you will be able to buy and download fonts from the App Store for use in documents and images on your tablet. This is great, although there is no way to tell if you can load the fonts you already have on your device. Since it's Apple, we bet it's a no, but we still keep hope.

10. Did we mention the dark mode?

And finally, the feature that everyone loves: the dark mode. It's beautiful, that's all you need to know. And relax …