The Good And The Bad With Apple's iPadOS

Aadhya Khatri - Sep 25, 2019


The Good And The Bad With Apple's iPadOS

iPadOS comes equipped with lots of features that can change users' experience for the better; however, there are still some hiccups

iPadOS was rolled out yesterday, and those who have always felt like their iPads seem to be limited in web browsing, or managing windows should install it right away. So here are some features we think are good with this update and some that are not:

Good: Safari Works Like A Desktop Browser

ipados-safari
Apple’s solution here is from now on, Safari will show users a full desktop version of websites on the device

One of the features that frustrate most people with the iPads before this update is that the devices look like a larger version of the iPhones. The hard truth here is that some advanced features of the web call for a desktop and a mouse.

Apple’s solution here is from now on, Safari will show users a full desktop version of websites on the device.

Since iPads do not have anything that comes close to be a mouse pointer, Apple has added a translation layer between that and the taps of users.

It works well for most sites, but it is not a perfect solution though. Sometimes you will find yourself with no other way than to put down the iPad and go for a desktop to access some sites.

Good: New Ways To Manage Windows

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The Expose view can be used to see all individual windows, some specific apps, or split-screen spaces

While the word "windows" does not seem to be the right choice here, it is the closest to express what we want to say. A longer expression is using Slide Over or putting apps into split-screen.

The most noticeable change is Slide Over, the app-like windows at the right-hand side of the screen. Now you have more of them to access the frequently visited apps like Notes, Music, or Messages. Imagine it is like having a mini iPhone on your iPad.

Other changes include apps spawning several windows, dragging and dropping things to new windows. The Expose view can be used to see all individual windows, some specific apps, or split-screen spaces.

Bad: The Learning Curve On Managing Windows

iPadOS-learning-curve
For those who start with iPadOS from the basics, the learning curve is pretty steep

The bad news is if you want to know if this particular thing on iPad can be turned into a window, the only way to find out is to press and hold to see whether the “Open in new window” option pops up.

The iPads now offer lots of ways for users to rearrange and switch between app windows. That is great for those who have known every nook and cranny of how things work, but people who start from the basic will have to deal with a steep learning curve.

The best advice for the latter group is that do not think the new ways of doing things on iPads will be anything like what desktops behave.

Good: The New Home Screen

The home screen can be set to have a denser icon grid and the Today view can be pinned there permanently if you want. You will feel like long-pressing is more responsive now.

Good: The Floating Keyboard

IpadOs-keyboard
The keyboard on the iPads can now be reduced in size so that you can drag it to the place you want, all you have to do is to give it a pinch

The keyboard on the iPads can now be reduced in size so that you can drag it to the place you want, all you have to do is to give it a pinch. This function helps you type much faster and easier when you have to hold the device.

The best part is, you can comfortably type without the keyboard takes up one-third of the display.

Bad: Advanced Text Selection

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The best thing we can do now is to use the three-finger tap more often to conjure a pop-up menu

The iPadOS has not fixed one of the most frustrating experiences on iPads, which is how to let the device knows when you drag to move the cursor, and when you do so to select texts. The best thing we can do now is to use the three-finger tap more often to conjure a pop-up menu.

Good: The New, More Powerful Files App

With iPadOS, the USB-C has been given more functions. The handiest is in the Files app. The device can now read USB cards and drives directly.

Users also have a column view, which works better with external servers. It also allows you to better organize local folders.

Good: Dark Mode

The dark mode is more than just switching from white to black, as there are a handful of apps that support it.

The feature we like the most is that you can set a schedule for it. Since this mode makes the screen much nicer to see at night, it may get some improvements in the future.

Good: Photos App

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The Photos app is much easier and more intuitive than before

The Photos app is much easier and more intuitive than before. The way Apple tries to show you the best features in a timeline might be confusing at first, but if you stick to it, you will find that the function is pretty handy.

Bad: Bugs

When you use iPadOS, expect to encounter some bugs, making many users think that this operating system comes out half-baked and that Apple should have more work done with it. iPadOS should have been released along with the iOS 13.1, which is also pushed because there are so many bugs with the iOS 13.

Fortunately, the most serious issues, like losing your data in iCloud, have been fixed. However, less severe problems will happen, like apps freeze or crash sometimes. Waiting a little longer to install or avoid getting the OS on day one does have its benefits.

Everything Else: Pretty Good!

Other features like how Apple makes it harder for websites and apps to identify you so that they can track you. The iPhone maker also figures out that when users long-press the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons, they want to have more options with them.

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