Many of us have argued that iPadOS needs a major rethink to harness the full potential of iPad hardware, with the iPadOS Pro concept being proposed as a potential solution.
Designing the optimal operating system for the iPad is a huge challenge for Apple because the devices are used in so many different ways…
This problem
A “classic” iPad user is one who wants a simple device to perform simple tasks. For years, when non-tech friends asked me for advice on which laptop to buy, at least half the time I recommended an iPad with a keyboard.
For many people, their computer usage looks something like this:
Email Browsing the web Text chat Video chat Social media Notes Personal entertainment (Netflix, e-books, etc.)
Throw in a hobby app or three and that’s all they do with their car. The iPad is great at all of this, and with its portability, long battery life, and instant on/off, it does it very well.
But there are also power users of the iPad, and Apple has made various attempts to cater to the needs of more demanding users. Particularly multitasking. Split View and Slide Over finally offered the ability to view two apps at the same time, albeit in a rather clumsy way. Many of us want to see a lot more features, and windowing is at the top of my personal wish list. Others want to use the iPad for coding, full photo and video editing, and more.
Apple’s challenge is how to meet the needs of professional users without losing the simplicity of the iPad user interface. In a way, the company has done this by making it hard to find professional features! For example, the multitasking features are certainly anything but intuitive and undetectable, which is why Apple has simplified the iPad by removing these more powerful features from view.
But Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman offers an alternative approach…
iPadOS Pro concept with three modes
Gurman claims that the iPad has three different modes. This immediately sounds very unlike Apple, but it suggests that these modes can be triggered automatically:
Standard touch mode with regular home screen, which is part of iPadOS today. A new option that is enabled when an Apple Pencil is connected, optimizing icons, controls, and user interface elements for this accessory. And, most importantly, a new “professional” mode that works when iPad is connected to a keyboard and trackpad, such as Apple’s Magic Keyboard, or to an external display.
He calls for four features in Pro mode, sharing his opinion on the most important ones.
Mac-like multitasking, or the ability to have multiple windows running on top of and next to each other at the same time. A more dynamic dock where you can pin files and minimized apps. You should also be able to hold the icons for a few seconds to quickly view information. A proper desktop that lets you put file folders, web links, and more next to apps. It would also be nice to see more dynamic widgets, allowing them to be used as mini-apps rather than just info screens. Tiny apps so you can use things like the calculator, music app, Apple TV remote, and stickers without having to open a whole new app and interrupt your workflow.
I really like the idea of triggering different modes when using accessories that indicate a more demanding user. The only thing that needs more attention in my opinion is the keyboard trigger. As I mentioned at the beginning, I recommend the iPad to many people with basic computer needs, but I always recommend the keyboard as it’s almost essential for email, text chat, and long notes.
see also
Perhaps a Smart Keyboard Folio and any 3rd party non-trackpad keyboard will leave the iPad in Classic Mode, while adding a Magic Keyboard or any 3rd party trackpad keyboard will trigger Pro mode?
Perhaps also the Pro mode is only available on the iPad Pro?
counter argument
There is one counterargument – the fact that the MacBook M1 now offers the same basic benefits as the iPad. They also have about 10 hours of battery life and turn on and off almost instantly while sleeping and awake. There’s also probably not much of a portability difference between the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard and the upcoming refreshed MacBook Air.
So one could argue that Apple should let the tablet be a tablet and the laptop be a laptop. However, I personally prefer choice and flexibility, so even if the two devices end up with a lot of overlap in terms of form factor and functionality, I’ll still support Gurman’s proposal.
What is your point of view?
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