Apple Refocuses on iPad Yet Again
A couple recent reports by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg suggest the iPad is a major area of focus for Apple in 2021 (as if we didn’t already glean that from the fact that the iPad Pro was updated with the same M1 beast found in the first Apple Silicon Macs). First, it seems like tomorrow at WWDC the iPad is finally going to get some software love:
For the iPad, Apple plans to revamp the home screen and support the placement of widgets — snippets of dynamic information like calendar, weather and stocks — anywhere on the screen. This is a commonly requested feature that will bring the iPad in line with Android rivals. The company also plans an improved multitasking system to make it easier to operate multiple apps at the same time.
iOS widgets are pretty good. They certainly look nice. But actually, I recently removed them from my iPhone homescreen (and there I only had the Calendar widget anyway). Because I’d just rather have quick access to four more apps rather than one widget. I would argue that widgets were always going to be much more useful on an iPad where screen real estate is less at a premium. Which is why it was bonkers when iPad OS 14 launched last year without the ability to place widgets on that device’s homescreen, even though iOS 14 had that ability.
It’s insanely annoying that seemingly every other year Apple gives lip-service to the idea that it’s finally time to get iOS and iPad OS to parity. Then the next year it changes. Anyway, that seemingly gets rectified once again tomorrow.¹
The more interesting element is the “improved multitasking system” which is intriguingly vague. I mean, if it’s more like the macOS multitasking system, I’m all-in — and I know I’m not alone there. Yes, yes, it would further blur the line between macOS and iOS, but who cares? It’s about getting shit done. True multi-window/app multitasking would help us all get shit done. Again, the iPad has the screen real estate for it. Make it happen, Apple. Or… let us run macOS on the iPad. You decide :)
Meanwhile, on the hardware front, according to Gurman, Apple also doesn’t seem content to rest on the M1 iPad Pro laurels:
The Cupertino, California-based company is planning to release the new iPad Pro in 2022 and the iPad mini later this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The main design change in testing for the iPad Pro is a switch to a glass back from the current aluminum enclosure. The updated iPad mini is planned to have narrower screen borders while the removal of its home button has also been tested.
No one will be surprised that i’m more excited about the iPad mini news here. I was so happy when they resurrected that product. It’s still I believe my favorite reading machine. It’s just such a great size. And if they can keep the footprint the same while giving it a slightly larger screen (thanks to the removal of the home button and smaller bezels), sure! Also, as an aside:
The Cupertino company is still exploring a future wireless charger that works similarly to its failed AirPower, a charging mat designed to simultaneously power up an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, the people said. It is also internally investigating alternative wireless charging methods that can work over greater distances than an inductive connection. Turning such technology into a product is likely several years away, however.
It’s pretty clear that Apple needs to launch this product eventually. I currently use a third-party one and it’s fine. But it’s just money sitting on the table — literally? — for Apple. The travel one they launched is actually pretty good, but yes, ridiculously expensive. I think a more permanent bedside/desk one is in order.
¹ It was fascinating and seemingly telling that the one negative angle nearly every M1 iPad Pro review keyed in on was the iPad OS software…
