Today is a big update day for Apple, as the firm releases new versions of its iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems. While most iPhone users have already seen iOS 16, most people will be getting their hands on iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura for the first time.
According to sources, Apple postponed the release of iPadOS 16 because it wanted more time to polish the Stage Manager multitasking function (which we felt was unrefined in an early iPadOS 16 beta). In fact, Apple said that it will bypass a public release of iPadOS 16 in favor of version 16.1 — just in time for the company’s newest iPad Pro and entry-level iPad to launch this week.
Many of the same enhancements will be included in the newest version of the iPad operating system as in iOS 16, including substantial changes to Mail, Safari, Messages, and other critical applications. There are additional collaborative capabilities, and the Weather and Clock applications are now available for iPad. External display support for the Stage Manager will be available in the coming months.
Apple will also introduce a collaborative productivity iPad software called Freeform later this year. It seems to be a beefed-up whiteboard where users may scribble ideas using the Apple Pencil. According to the startup, you’ll be able to connect almost any kind of material to the canvas, including photos, videos, music, PDFs, documents, and URLs, and preview the content inline.
The major attraction of macOS Ventura is also Stage Manager. We believed that the functionality enhanced the multitasking experience on Mac during our hands-on with the beta. The Continuity Camera feature, which allows you to use your iPhone as a Mac camera, as well as the addition of shared tab groups and passkeys to Safari, all seem fascinating.
More accessibility choices are also always appreciated. Apple is introducing Live Captions for all audio material, a Type to Speak mode for calls, a Text Checker proofreading tool for users who use the VoiceOver screen reader, and other features to macOS Ventura. Meanwhile, the System Preferences menu has been renamed System Settings and has been redesigned to better coincide with iPhone and iPad settings.
In terms of iOS 16.1, it has iCloud-shared picture libraries and a clean energy charging mechanism that optimizes iPhone charging times based on when the power system is utilizing greener energy sources (though that feature is US-only for now). Apple Fitness+ is now accessible without the requirement for an Apple Watch on the iPhone. A new battery life symbol, third-party app compatibility in Live Activities, and per-app copy-and-paste permissions should help to alleviate iOS 16’s vexing paste prompts.
