The new iPadOS 14 revealed at the virtual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference today has a range of new features that take advantage of the iPad’s larger screen and help users boost productivity.
“With iPadOS 14, we’re excited to build on the distinct experience of iPad and deliver new capabilities that help customers boost productivity, be more creative, and have more fun,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.
“With new compact designs for system interactions and new app designs specifically tailored to iPad, even better note-taking capabilities with Apple Pencil, and more powerful AR experiences, iPadOS 14 delivers an amazing experience that keeps it in a class of its own.”
Here are the new features for iPadOS 14:
COMPACT DESIGN
User can stay focused on what they are doing on the iPad thanks to a new compact design for incoming FaceTime and phone calls, Siri interactions and searches which will now appear at the top of the screen inside a small banner.
SIDEBARS
There are now redesigned sidebars within apps including Photos, Files, Notes, Calendar and Apple Music to make them easier to manage and navigate.
WIDGETS
Widgets have also been redesigned to provide information at a glance.
Users can now choose a Smart Stack of widgets with the right widget presented through the on-device intelligence based on the time, your location and what you are doing.
SEARCH
Search has been redesigned so you don’t leave the app you’re working in.
It is now a universal search that makes it easier to find apps, photos and people and web searches all in one place.
APPLE PENCIL
Scribble is a new feature that will convert hand writing to text and allow users to select hand written words and move text around just like typed text.
Anything written in any text field will be converted and recognised as text whether its creating a document or doing a search.
iPad OS will also recognise phone numbers and addresses and make them active when searching maps and making calls.
iPadOS 14 will also share a number of features introduced in iOS 14 including updated Messages, enhanced Maps with new cycling routes and EV support, Home app to make it easier to control your smart products and Safari with enhanced privacy.
iPadOS 14 will be supported by iPad Air 2 and later, all iPad Pro models, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 4 and later.
It will available as a public beta in July with the final version expected to go live in September.
