iPadOS

More like a proper computer in its own right

There’s been speculation for years about Apple unifying its desktop and mobile operating systems. After all, iOS is based on macOS, and today’s iPhones and iPads are powerful enough to run similar software to Macs. Then again, using an iPhone is inevitably a very different experience from using a Mac.

The iPad, though, lies somewhere in between, and at WWDC 2019, Craig Federighi announced that it would finally have its own operating system, logically if cumbersomely known as iPadOS. It’s iOS 13 with some extra bits, but the extra bits should make using an iPad for proper work feel less compromised. iPadOS focuses on making use of the bigger screen, working in more than one app or on more than one document at once, and entering and editing text. It also benefits from iOS 13’s new flexibility in accessing files (see p6). Reflecting the growing size and resolution of iPads, the Home screen grid has six icons across rather than five, which still leaves