All iPads Desktop Mode > Stage Manager

[symphony]

Stage Manager is actually desktop style multitasking, the only difference is that you are bound to limitations.

Despite Apple making the right steps, I’m tired of these automated features.

When it comes to window management, I want infinite customization done on my own behalf. I don’t want windows automatically moving because I moved overlapping windows.

If it’s anything similar to rearranging app icons and widgets on Home Screen, then I really don’t want it to be automatic. If it’s like PiP windows that snaps to each corners, but instead snaps to sections of windows or snaps near the center, then I don’t want it to be automatic. Plus, I want a consistent experience between iPadOS and macOS when it comes to the basics.

I want app windows to freely move anywhere, I don’t want apps to move on their own. No snapping or limited window placements. I had to disable cursor animations for iPadOS, because the snapping led to unintended selections.

Also, it seems like there’s a lot of padding on the sides.

Just give us a Desktop Mode, which is literally just Stage Manager, except that active apps are taking up space on the left side, instead of appearing in the dock, and apps can be automatically readjusted and altered.

 

[Johnny365]

I totally agree with the mouse cursor snapping to stuff I didn't want when hovering over links, etc.

 

[Scarboose]

Stage Manager is a HUGE update for the iPad! Will you ever be satisfied?

 

[PrettyWings]

Stage Manager is actually desktop style multitasking, the only difference is that you are bound to limitations.

Despite Apple making the right steps, I’m tired of these automated features.

When it comes to window management, I want infinite customization done on my own behalf. I don’t want windows automatically moving because I moved overlapping windows.

If it’s anything similar to rearranging app icons and widgets on Home Screen, then I really don’t want it to be automatic. If it’s like PiP windows that snaps to each corners, but instead snaps to sections of windows or snaps near the center, then I don’t want it to be automatic. Plus, I want a consistent experience between iPadOS and macOS when it comes to the basics.

I want app windows to freely move anywhere, I don’t want apps to move on their own. No snapping or limited window placements. I had to disable cursor animations for iPadOS, because the snapping led to unintended selections.

Also, it seems like there’s a lot of padding on the sides.

Just give us a Desktop Mode, which is literally just Stage Manager, except that active apps are taking up space on the left side, instead of appearing in the dock, and apps can be automatically readjusted and altered.

I think you can turn off the left dock.

 

[The Game 161]

Even when it brings big upgrades for windowing people still Moan

It will likely never be truly a mac like people want it to be

 

[xxray]

I agree, but you’re going to just have to go for a Mac. It’s what I’m going to do. I had my experiment with going iPad-only and just came to the conclusion it won’t be everything I want it to be anytime soon. This update is an improvement, but it still won’t offer the flexibility and power macOS offers.

 

[symphony]

Even when it brings big upgrades for windowing people still Moan

It will likely never be truly a mac like people want it to be

Just because they implemented windowing doesn’t mean they did it right

 

[Ludatyk]

Just because they implemented windowing doesn’t mean they did it right

IMO, they did it right. Being a iPad user since iPad 2 and it becoming my primary device for about 2 or 3 years now… I like the implementation of Stage Manager.

Apple is approaching it from the perspective that it’s a feature for iPad power users… I’m not sure exactly what you are looking for. You can remove the side windows and dock if need be, I know you mention free form windowing. But we finally got something where the iPad has expanded beyond SplitView and SlideOver… I’ll take the win.

I actually thought Apple would choose Quick Note API to allow devs to build upon windowing from there, but this implementation is much better than I expected.

I agree, but you’re going to just have to go for a Mac. It’s what I’m going to do. I had my experiment with going iPad-only and just came to the conclusion it won’t be everything I want it to be anytime soon. This update is an improvement, but it still won’t offer the flexibility and power macOS offers.

Yeah, I’m not going back to the Mac. This certainly validated my reason for staying as long as I have stayed…. I actually had thoughts of doing what @The Game 161 and purchasing MBP to use alongside an iPP.

But I like the new Display Mode feature on the iPad Pro and Stage Manager (still trying to determine how I want to manage my windows). And I think the introduction of Desktop Class apps will expand more across iPadOS.

 

[alien3dx]

only for m1 . We try install on ipad mini 6 not even full screen mode external display!. We don't want m1 ipad air to big and we got laptop m1 allready.

 

[bcortens]

Stage Manager is actually desktop style multitasking, the only difference is that you are bound to limitations.

Despite Apple making the right steps, I’m tired of these automated features.

When it comes to window management, I want infinite customization done on my own behalf. I don’t want windows automatically moving because I moved overlapping windows.

If it’s anything similar to rearranging app icons and widgets on Home Screen, then I really don’t want it to be automatic. If it’s like PiP windows that snaps to each corners, but instead snaps to sections of windows or snaps near the center, then I don’t want it to be automatic. Plus, I want a consistent experience between iPadOS and macOS when it comes to the basics.

I want app windows to freely move anywhere, I don’t want apps to move on their own. No snapping or limited window placements. I had to disable cursor animations for iPadOS, because the snapping led to unintended selections.

Also, it seems like there’s a lot of padding on the sides.

Just give us a Desktop Mode, which is literally just Stage Manager, except that active apps are taking up space on the left side, instead of appearing in the dock, and apps can be automatically readjusted and altered.

Buy a Mac.
Seriously, the idea that the iPad should become a Mac is really frustrating, the best thing about the iPad is that it isn't a Mac, prior to the current era of lack of imagination at apple they were trying new things with the iPad to try and give us something better than what already exists for a transformable UI. You want to be a window janitor? Fine, but the rest of us shouldn't suffer for this.

 

[bcortens]

IMO, they did it right. Being a iPad user since iPad 2 and it becoming my primary device for about 2 or 3 years now… I like the implementation of Stage Manager.

Apple is approaching it from the perspective that it’s a feature for iPad power users… I’m not sure exactly what you are looking for. You can remove the side windows and dock if need be, I know you mention free form windowing. But we finally got something where the iPad has expanded beyond SplitView and SlideOver… I’ll take the win.

I actually thought Apple would choose Quick Note API to allow devs to build upon windowing from there, but this implementation is much better than I expected.


Yeah, I’m not going back to the Mac. This certainly validated my reason for staying as long as I have stayed…. I actually had thoughts of doing what @The Game 161 and purchasing MBP to use alongside an iPP.

But I like the new Display Mode feature on the iPad Pro and Stage Manager (still trying to determine how I want to manage my windows). And I think the introduction of Desktop Class apps will expand more across iPadOS.

Stage manager is a way of giving people something they think they want, windowing, that doesn't actually provide much from a user workflow perspective. You can see a grand total of 1 more window on screen vs the current implementation (Split view + slide over) and do it in a less efficient way from a space perspective.
Everyone has been crying about multi-windowing for years without being able to clearly articulate what this is supposed to provide in terms of UI flow...
iPadOS 15's multi windowing system is really good and needed only enhancements for external displays and a bit more flexibility in the width of the slide-over app and it would have been really great.
They gave people a faster horse...

 

[Scarboose]

I feel like Apple gave us a great options! If you like the old/current multi task, you can now change resolution size to better fit what you need. If you want to be able to flip through multiple windows quickly, you can with Stage Manager. If you want to do either of these on a bigger screen, you can!
I feel like Apple has given us the best options possible. If the iPad still isn’t enough for you, then get a Mac.
Personally, this is what I’ve been waiting for! I can’t wait for 16 to officially drop this Fall.

 

[bcortens]

I feel like Apple gave us a great options! If you like the old/current multi task, you can now change resolution size to better fit what you need. If you want to be able to flip through multiple windows quickly, you can with Stage Manager. If you want to do either of these on a bigger screen, you can!
I feel like Apple has given us the best options possible. If the iPad still isn’t enough for you, then get a Mac.
Personally, this is what I’ve been waiting for! I can’t wait for 16 to officially drop this Fall.

You can flip marginally faster if you need 4 apps, but it’s not going to be a very large improvement. We can’t use the old system on an external display as far as I can see (lacking an M1 iPad Pro I cannot test this and am holding off replacing mine till the M2 iPad Pros are out) .

 

[symphony]

Buy a Mac.
Seriously, the idea that the iPad should become a Mac is really frustrating, the best thing about the iPad is that it isn't a Mac, prior to the current era of lack of imagination at apple they were trying new things with the iPad to try and give us something better than what already exists for a transformable UI. You want to be a window janitor? Fine, but the rest of us shouldn't suffer for this.

I already own a Mac.

Being able to freely move windows is not an iPad only feature, it is just the basics, manual control, and common sense. You can freely adjust windows, so an argument against it wouldn’t make sense.

I will always push these ideas, because Apple has been catering to my wishes over time, slowly, but they’re still doing it. People who keep arguing to just get a Mac don’t realize what they want until Apple makes the decision for them. It’s the same arguments every year, yet these people can’t pick up on the trend that is clearly happening.

Also Stage Manager is technically a macOS feature, and there are so many features that I bet you use that came from a Mac.

People who are advanced and capable shouldn’t be the ones to suffer because of people who just use iPad for basic needs and media consumption. No one is forcing you to use any of these features. Unlike the other people who need more advanced and capable features with iPad, they can not choose anything, because of the restrictions.

 

[LogicalApex]

Submit feedback for changes you'd like to so.

There is a lot of time between now and general release in the fall and it isn't unusual for Apple to tweak the way these features work during the beta period. I expect we'll see quite a few tweaks to this feature over the summer as new betas are released and they respond to feedback coming in from developers and others during this period.

 

[teohyc]

I’ve the iPad Pro and don’t have any wishes for features.

When I tried the Files app Apple created the first time, I stopped having expectations.

No expections = no disappointments

 

[rui no onna]

Submit feedback for changes you'd like to so.

There is a lot of time between now and general release in the fall and it isn't unusual for Apple to tweak the way these features work during the beta period. I expect we'll see quite a few tweaks to this feature over the summer as new betas are released and they respond to feedback coming in from developers and others during this period.

Lol, I still remember how quickly they backtracked on the iOS 15 Safari changes. 🤣🤣🤣

 

[bcortens]

I already own a Mac.

Being able to freely move windows is not an iPad only feature, it is just the basics, manual control, and common sense. You can freely adjust windows, so an argument against it wouldn’t make sense.

I will always push these ideas, because Apple has been catering to my wishes over time, slowly, but they’re still doing it. People who keep arguing to just get a Mac don’t realize what they want until Apple makes the decision for them. It’s the same arguments every year, yet these people can’t pick up on the trend that is clearly happening.

Also Stage Manager is technically a macOS feature, and there are so many features that I bet you use that came from a Mac.

People who are advanced and capable shouldn’t be the ones to suffer because of people who just use iPad for basic needs and media consumption. No one is forcing you to use any of these features. Unlike the other people who need more advanced and capable features with iPad, they can not choose anything, because of the restrictions.

The argument against it is that it turns the user into someone who has to manage windows manually when most of the time I am far far happier with the windows just snapping into place and not having to resize to get them to line up nicely beside each other.
I don’t use my iPads for basic stuff - I am getting into OmniGraffle again on iPad and do a little prototyping with SwiftUI - I don’t want this windowing system. Overlapping windows does nothing for me, it doesn’t make my workflow more powerful or better - it just wastes space and gives the illusion of productivity and power. Split view works better for maximizing screen space utilization and slide-over plus Split View already makes rapid moving between 3+ apps really easy to enable advanced workflows.
You can *see* more windows at a time but there are very few new good workflows or interactions enabled by this new system…

The iPad should be about making things easier not more difficult/time consuming. Manual window management is the latter rather than the former.
Overlapping windows ≠ multitasking power - multitasking is about moving quickly and easily between apps and right and windows - the overlapping windows gets you just 1 additional window and that additional window is going to be mostly hidden or small (Split View + Slide Over = 3 windows).

Now the biggest issues I encounter with Split View + Slide Over is apps being reloaded when I go back to them … often the most recent 4-6 apps are in memory for me but if I need anything else it is usually dumped out of memory - hopefully virtual memory will solve this (though I’ll have to wait for my next iPad to get this).

I think that they need to be sensible when they draw features from macOS, I would have rather they brought in a menu bar and brought button labels to navigation bar buttons than the macOS windowing system…

 

[symphony]

The argument against it is that it turns the user into someone who has to manage windows manually when most of the time I am far far happier with the windows just snapping into place and not having to resize to get them to line up nicely beside each other.
I don’t use my iPads for basic stuff - I am getting into OmniGraffle again on iPad and do a little prototyping with SwiftUI - I don’t want this windowing system. Overlapping windows does nothing for me, it doesn’t make my workflow more powerful or better - it just wastes space and gives the illusion of productivity and power. Split view works better for maximizing screen space utilization and slide-over plus Split View already makes rapid moving between 3+ apps really easy to enable advanced workflows.
You can *see* more windows at a time but there are very few new good workflows or interactions enabled by this new system…

The iPad should be about making things easier not more difficult/time consuming. Manual window management is the latter rather than the former.
Overlapping windows ≠ multitasking power - multitasking is about moving quickly and easily between apps and right and windows - the overlapping windows gets you just 1 additional window and that additional window is going to be mostly hidden or small (Split View + Slide Over = 3 windows).

Now the biggest issues I encounter with Split View + Slide Over is apps being reloaded when I go back to them … often the most recent 4-6 apps are in memory for me but if I need anything else it is usually dumped out of memory - hopefully virtual memory will solve this (though I’ll have to wait for my next iPad to get this).

I think that they need to be sensible when they draw features from macOS, I would have rather they brought in a menu bar and brought button labels to navigation bar buttons than the macOS windowing system…

You have no reason to argue since you can use iPad the way you’ve always been. I’m talking about Stage Manager, a feature you don’t need to use, to allow manual control. Whatever I am asking for, it shouldn’t even concern you.

We can’t pick and choose features from macOS that is convenient for us, then tell others to just buy a Mac when they think they are inconvenient.

Slideover apps obstructs buttons on each corner it overlaps. Proper app windows allow freedom to resize and position the overlapping app to not obstruct anything. We have the freedom to cover any space or information we don’t want.

I prefer to overlap an app over another so that data and content are closer together for multitasking. When I use Notes in splitview with Safari for example, there is this big waste of space on the right side of Notes and Safari. On a 12.9” display, it’s hard to efficiently look back and forth. With floating windows, you can use Safari to cover up the wasted space with Notes. Many websites have white space on the right, and so do apps. They’re meant for overlapping. You can cover up everything like the sidebar just so you can see the content that you want. Because you can’t see both when they’re that far apart and big.

 

[bcortens]

You have no reason to argue since you can use iPad the way you’ve always been. I’m talking about Stage Manager, a feature you don’t need to use, to allow manual control. Whatever I am asking for, it shouldn’t even concern you.

We can’t pick and choose features from macOS that is convenient for us, then tell others to just buy a Mac when they think they are inconvenient.

Slideover apps obstructs buttons on each corner it overlaps. Proper app windows allow freedom to resize and position the overlapping app to not obstruct anything. We have the freedom to cover any space or information we don’t want.

I prefer to overlap an app over another so that data and content are closer together for multitasking. When I use Notes in splitview with Safari for example, there is this big waste of space on the right side of Notes and Safari. On a 12.9” display, it’s hard to efficiently look back and forth. With floating windows, you can use Safari to cover up the wasted space with Notes. Many websites have white space on the right, and so do apps. They’re meant for overlapping. You can cover up everything like the sidebar just so you can see the content that you want. Because you can’t see both when they’re that far apart and big.

When I get the new iPad I’ll be forced to use the inefficient stage manager for when I plug it in to an external display.

Slide-over covers half the screen, but when you bring a window to the front with this new system you are covering everything else anyway, this doesn’t get you anything that wouldn’t be solved by allowing a 2x2 Split View grid on the external display wouldn’t have solved better…

I suggest this is a very niche problem since my 11” iPad I find it very cramped doing website + notes and expect that a 13” iPad would be perfect since its 1/2 + 1/2 split views allow regular size class windows.

EDIT: Notes in regular size class width expands to fill the whole width so if it was on the left and safari is on the left i cannot see how you have any wasted space… additionally a regular width safari at 1/2 width on 12.9” iPad is probably about equal to 2/3 width safari on iPad Pro 11” so I just tested this and there is very little whitespace on the right with most news websites i tested… so I’m not sure how you’re using this but your use case is I expect even more niche than I originally thought…..

 

[symphony]

When I get the new iPad I’ll be forced to use the inefficient stage manager for when I plug it in to an external display.

Slide-over covers half the screen, but when you bring a window to the front with this new system you are covering everything else anyway, this doesn’t get you anything that wouldn’t be solved by allowing a 2x2 Split View grid on the external display wouldn’t have solved better…

I suggest this is a very niche problem since my 11” iPad I find it very cramped doing website + notes and expect that a 13” iPad would be perfect since its 1/2 + 1/2 split views allow regular size class windows.

EDIT: Notes in regular size class width expands to fill the whole width so if it was on the left and safari is on the left i cannot see how you have any wasted space… additionally a regular width safari at 1/2 width on 12.9” iPad is probably about equal to 2/3 width safari on iPad Pro 11” so I just tested this and there is very little whitespace on the right with most news websites i tested… so I’m not sure how you’re using this but your use case is I expect even more niche than I originally thought…..

Just put it back to mirrored mode then for the external display…?

And I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing for slideover. Overlapping windows have infinite adjustability along with resizing. Slideover windows are pinned to one side and the size is static. Therefore overlapping windows are superior.

And slideover does not cover half the screen for me. Not sure what you mean by this new system, but if it’s like a traditional window management system then it is easy to just move it out of the way and cover unnecessary space like a sidebar or empty white space.

Notes is just an example. Like there is an infinite ways to use Notes, like short jot notes where sentences don’t reach far horizontally. If you have two Safari apps on splitview, you have wasted space on the right of both Google search results webpages. Apps with sidebars that can’t be hidden also waste spaces. Overlapping windows covers up any space you don’t need to see. That is one of its best feats.

 

[bcortens]

Just put it back to mirrored mode then for the external display…?

And I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing for slideover. Overlapping windows have infinite adjustability along with resizing. Slideover windows are pinned to one side and the size is static. Therefore overlapping windows are superior.

And slideover does not cover half the screen for me. Not sure what you mean by this new system, but if it’s like a traditional window management system then it is easy to just move it out of the way and cover unnecessary space like a sidebar or empty white space.

Notes is just an example. Like there is an infinite ways to use Notes, like short jot notes where sentences don’t reach far horizontally. If you have two Safari apps on splitview, you have wasted space on the right of both Google search results webpages. Apps with sidebars that can’t be hidden also waste spaces. Overlapping windows covers up any space you don’t need to see. That is one of its best feats.

Slideover windows can be positioned on either side - as for size give me a moment.

Stage manager does not make good use of the external display, I don’t want to use mirroring on the external display because then everything is just blown up too much to make it any more useful than just looking at the built in display.

Stage manager is what we got because people kept saying that “if they just gave iPadOS resizable windows that would make me use it, that would make it pro” when in reality the windowing system hasn’t been holding back the iPad for quite some time.
I dream of what we could have had if Apple had been brave enough to stick to their guns on producing something better than macOS, we could have gotten enchantments to slide-over to allow different size classes (1/3, 1/2, 2/3) which would mean that it could really function more powerfully as a quick way to access the full feature set of apps you only need for a moment. We could have gotten three wide or 2x2 grids split views when connecting to an external display.

Instead we got the mess that is stage manger - all because people were telling apple that this will make it pro…

Overlapping windows don’t solve much - your google example doesn’t make sense either because again, Split View makes good use of the space already, double tap to zoom on just the results and not only do you have the same thing but you still get full access to all the app chrome for quick access to buttons…

As I’ve said before:
I want someone to give me an example of a workflow that is only possible with the new stage manager windowing system, not a workflow that is questionably better…
If you want to argue something is better, I can sometimes hide the ads from google search is of such marginal benefit that the trade-off (loss of Split View on external screens) isn’t worth it

Edited for clarity

 

[symphony]

Slideover windows can be positioned on either side - as for size give me a moment.

Stage manager does not make good use of the external display, I don’t want to use mirroring on the external display because then everything is just blown up too much to make it any more useful than just looking at the built in display.

Stage manager is what we got because people kept saying that “if they just gave iPadOS resizable windows that would make me use it, that would make it pro” when in reality the windowing system hasn’t been holding back the iPad for quite some time.
I dream of what we could have had if Apple had been brave enough to stick to their guns on producing something better than macOS, we could have gotten enchantments to slide-over to allow different size classes (1/3, 1/2, 2/3) which would mean that it could really function more powerfully as a quick way to access the full feature set of apps you only need for a moment. We could have gotten three wide or 2x2 grids split views when connecting to an external display.

Instead we got the mess that is stage manger - all because people were telling apple that this will make it pro…

Overlapping windows don’t solve much - your google example doesn’t make sense either because again, Split View makes good use of the space already, double tap to zoom on just the results and not only do you have the same thing but you still get full access to all the app chrome for quick access to buttons…

As I’ve said before:
I want someone to give me an example of a workflow that is only possible with the new stage manager windowing system, not a workflow that is questionably better…
If you want to argue something is better, I can sometimes hide the ads from google search is of such marginal benefit that the trade-off (loss of Split View on external screens) isn’t worth it

Edited for clarity

Yes, slideover apps cover the buttons, overlapping windows do not because you can move windows out of the way and they do not snap into a position like slideover does. Splitview also makes it more cramped when sidebars can not be hidden. Unlike overlapping windows, you can cover them up freely or move a portion of it outside of the screen.

And I don’t even know why you are complaining about being forced to use Stage Manager with an external display, while also complaining about how iPad handles external displays before iPadOS 16. If you want full screen apps on a big display then maybe get a Mac. 😉

And I take it when you view two separate paper documents, you have never in your life overlapped two pieces of paper to view both.

People commonly overlap paper documents, only exposing content beneath the top paper to view information they need to see. Because it is efficient, convenient, and glanceable. In your case, it seems like you’d rather have both papers completely next to each other.

So if you have two pieces of paper with each document having a list of names, then each word begins on the very left side. So the distance between the start of the text from the left paper to the start of the text on the right is huge, even if you exclude margins in documents, there is still a bunch of empty white space. It’s more effective to overlap the paper to make list closer to compare.

Because this is no different than viewing content digitally, having two big documents side to side makes it difficult to multitask with the amount of wasted space in between them, which makes it even more difficult the bigger the windows get. Most content go from top to bottom from left to right. Not everything is filled in the bottom nor the right side. If full screen apps existed for external displays on iPadOS, then imagine comparing two Word documents in splitview on a 32” screen, that is ridiculous. Zooming to fill up the empty space and make the list closer together will just result in hilariously huge font sizes and the amount of data you can see is reduced.

On macOS, if I am on YouTube, I don’t have another app such as Notes directly beside it, I overlap Notes on top of YouTube only covering the wasted space on the right that just shows a list of related videos. That way, the video is closer to the Notes app, and I can quickly see the video while switching back and forth with Notes.

Zooming reduces how much you can see overall and creates distances. This talk of suffering when it comes to window management, but you take the extra effort to zoom in and handle paired splitview apps and apps in slideover mode.

Regardless, none of this should concern you. Just continue doing whatever you do on your iPad. I don’t see the need for you to argue against features you weren’t going to use. They already exist.

 

[bcortens]

Yes, slideover apps cover the buttons, overlapping windows do not because you can move windows out of the way and they do not snap into a position like slideover does. Splitview also makes it more cramped when sidebars can not be hidden. Unlike overlapping windows, you can cover them up freely or move a portion of it outside of the screen.

So you get this in iPadOS 16 and for this marginal benefit the rest of us are stuck playing window janitor. Sure you may gain some productivity from spending your time carefully adjusting each and every window to get it just so but many of us would rather the OS do that for us.

And I don’t even know why you are complaining about being forced to use Stage Manager with an external display, while also complaining about how iPad handles external displays before iPadOS 16. If you want full screen apps on a big display then maybe get a Mac. 😉

And I take it when you view two separate paper documents, you have never in your life overlapped two pieces of paper to view both.

People commonly overlap paper documents, only exposing content beneath the top paper to view information they need to see. Because it is efficient, convenient, and glanceable. In your case, it seems like you’d rather have both papers completely next to each other.

So if you have two pieces of paper with each document having a list of names, then each word begins on the very left side. So the distance between the start of the text from the left paper to the start of the text on the right is huge, even if you exclude margins in documents, there is still a bunch of empty white space. It’s more effective to overlap the paper to make list closer to compare.

Because this is no different than viewing content digitally, having two big documents side to side makes it difficult to multitask with the amount of wasted space in between them, which makes it even more difficult the bigger the windows get. Most content go from top to bottom from left to right. Not everything is filled in the bottom nor the right side. If full screen apps existed for external displays on iPadOS, then imagine comparing two Word documents in splitview on a 32” screen, that is ridiculous. Zooming to fill up the empty space and make the list closer together will just result in hilariously huge font sizes and the amount of data you can see is reduced.

It’s really not ridiculous, I have a 27” screen right now that (with my mac) I use two apps side by side taking up half the screen each. I usually use pages not word but it often has its format pane open and the table of contents open which take up quite a lot of space. When I do use word the space isn’t wasted either because its nice to have some whitespace around the text when editing. I have not yet found a use case where having 3 apps carefully overlapping makes things better, it usually just makes things annoying - its why I have the magnet utility installed to make sure I can quickly tile my windows so they don’t overlap.

Speaking of paper documents, the analogy is wrong, the content within the windows are the pieces of paper not the windows themselves.

On macOS, if I am on YouTube, I don’t have another app such as Notes directly beside it, I overlap Notes on top of YouTube only covering the wasted space on the right that just shows a list of related videos. That way, the video is closer to the Notes app, and I can quickly see the video while switching back and forth with Notes.

Zooming reduces how much you can see overall and creates distances. This talk of suffering when it comes to window management, but you take the extra effort to zoom in and handle paired splitview apps and apps in slideover mode.

Regardless, none of this should concern you. Just continue doing whatever you do on your iPad. I don’t see the need for you to argue against features you weren’t going to use. They already exist.

On my 27” Mac display I have notes beside Teams when I’m taking notes in meetings (notes is usually 1/3 and teams 2/3). I use PiP for YouTube videos because I don’t need a window for that at all. I use magnet to make sure apps can just be dragged into place and ignored.

I zoom google because it defaults to that ads view on the side and the text is all too small to read anyway (iPad Pro 11” in Split View) so to make the text standard size I have to zoom in on the list.

Split View: Tap hold drag window beside another window - search Double-tap
Free floating windows: drag to enable resizing/stage manager (bottom right) - get the first window the right size and position it just right, then open the second window, drag it into the stage manager, then get it positioned so that it will be just right behind the first one after a search (don’t guess the width of the google ad view incorrectly) then do your search, then tap back into the first app… far worse…

It does concern me because Split View isn’t coming to external screens on iPad (at least not in a way that lets me use the screen real estate).
I want to use my iPad with my 27” external display but I don’t want to have to manually manage windows to do so…

 

[GhostOS]

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