Apple IPadOS 17: iPadOS 17 preview: A personalised and functional update

“What’s a computer?,” asked a kid in about a about half a decade-old ad for the iPad Pro. The ad so old that the iPad was running iOS. Since then, iOS, oops, sorry, iPadOS, has evolved significantly, not to brag, but leaps ahead of how Android is on tablets. Later this year, iPads are set to get another new update – iPadOS 17, which tries to solve one of the pain points users have had – multitasking – bringing it closest ever to a computer or a Mac, with a pinch of subtle yet meaningful changes that bridges the gap between an iPad and iPhone.
Now that the public beta version of iOS 17 is available, here’s all you need to know about all that coming to your iPad.
Is the iPad a computer now?
Remember Stage Manager? While it was a monumental change for iPads, unlocking the multitasking capabilities for iPads, the users did not catch up, expecting fluidity similar to macOS. But things seem to be moving in the right direction, as iPadOS 17 has some tweaks to make multitasking easier on iPad.
Previously, apps snapped to fixed sizes, and the placement was too predetermined. Now, app windows have more granularity in sizing and placement. For example, you can make any app a tiny window and even adjust its height and width to your liking. There is far more flexibility than there was in iPadOS 16.
iPadOS 17 also allows for a more flexible app arrangement, unlike last year. Previously, when adding a second app to a space, iPadOS automatically decided where windows should go. However, with the new update, you can easily drag and drop windows wherever desired.
Apple has also made several improvements to its PDF support system-wide. For instance, opening a PDF document from the Files app now opens it in its own window, which makes it easier to put a PDF side-by-side with another app while still having full access to the Files app.
Then, auto-filling fields in PDFs has been improved, and you can now embed PDFs right into a Notes doc and mark it up with an Apple Pencil or collaborate on it in a note shared with other people.
Now, you can also use an external webcam to the iPad, and we are happy to report that the process is hassle-free. Though webcam feeds are currently only available in FaceTime, we expect more apps to add support soon. Not just that, but with iPadOS 17, iPads will also support external microphones and video capture cards.
Or is it an iPhone?
While there have been a few updates improving the workflow on iPads, more than a few changes give iPads a subtle makeover, making them look more in line with iPhones.
If you have dreaded customisation on your iPad, then your wait will end later this year when the iPadOS 17 drops, as it introduces a revamped lock screen. It should all be familiar to you if you have had an iPhone in the past year.
There is a new wallpaper picker with styles for iPad, including views of every planet in the solar system and the original Pyramid Lake wallpaper from the first iPad. Each style has its own wallpaper, widgets, fonts, colour filters, and Focus settings. You can easily switch between different styles by pressing and holding the Lock Screen and selecting your preferred style. And the full-screen album art lock screen is also here.
Besides giving your iPad a makeover, iPadOS 17 also brings widgets on the lock screen, which enhances the iPad’s functionality, even when locked, displaying more than just the time and notifications.
All we need now is the Standby Mode on iPad. Maybe next year.
Asides from widgets on the lock screen, the widgets on the home screen are now interactive, making them more useful than ever. For example, the Apple Music widget allows you to start playing an album or playlist automatically. Or you can even check off a specific item on a Reminders widget without opening the app.
The Health app from iPhone is now on iPad, allowing users to view health data from their iPhone and Apple Watch. While it could have been the iPhone’s Health app blown up for the larger screen, it is designed from ground up to suit the larger screen, offering an easier way to navigate through data. The newly introduced health and wellness features, including mood tracker in the Health app and a dedicated journaling app, will also come to iPadOS 17 later this year.
Safari, search, and messaging gets refined
Safari now allows for multiple profiles with separate logins and bookmarks, synced via iCloud to other devices. The private browsing is now more private, with users needing Face ID to unlock the private tabs.
The search experience has been improved with filters. You can search for a specific contact and then search their conversation for keywords. The results include specific messages, links, images, and more.
Conversations would be more fun with the introduction of stickers on Messages, and reactions are now expanded to FaceTime. Then, all the new Messages features – swipe to reply, catch-up, message transcription and Safety Check – will also be available on iPadOS 17.
The biggest of all updates is the keyboard, which makes more accurate predictions about the word you are thinking of writing next. And you can tap the spacebar to finish the word or the entire sentence.
There is a lot more to iPadOS 17; we only scratched the surface. It is a minor update, but it improves the multitasking experience and is more personalised than ever.