All iPads Ding ding, iPadOS 16 is (finally) coming, share impressions

[slplss]

I didn’t opt in for beta this time, so I am properly excited to get all the features I’ve become used to on 13 Pro. Had a few instances of me pulling my iPhone to edit or unsend a message I wrote on iPad. Then I saw the message disappearing from iPhone, but not iPad, it felt really weird, very un-Apple.
I guess we are all the most expectful of the Stage Manager. Wish it’s bug free, but hearing the latest news I don’t expect it to be. Just hope it will feel more natural than something like Slide Over, for which I had to google how to close that little window.

 

[Ludatyk]

Well, the narrative out right now… is that iPadOS 16 is a complete failure primarily because of Stage Manager.

But as for me, I’ve been a day 1 user since iPadOS 16 was released after WWDC and I admit it’s been a rollercoaster ride… but for the most part I enjoy iPadOS 16. I think the biggest criticism of Stage Manager is that the windowing environment isn’t as freeform as users would like.

Because of the rigidity of resizing windows and the over-design element to Stage Manager… it becomes a snowball effect of added disapproval thrown at Apple direction for the way Stage Manager was implemented. Part of me think that Apple should of not included Stage Manager all together.

I think Apple should have added more sets of windowing options (no resizing windows) to their existing multitasking (SplitView/SlideOver)… similar to how Windows 11 is designed or Magnet for Mac. Since Apple is so rigid in their approach of resizing windows… then give users predetermined set of windows. I personally believe that would eliminated all the criticism.

 

[sparksd]

As with the latest Beta builds, Stage Manager is hobbled - full-screen external monitor support is gone. An update is expected "later".

 

[msackey]

I hate that the lock screen for iPad OS 16.1 cannot be modified in a similar way like the iOS 16.1. On the iPhone, I can choose what font to use. On iPad OS 16.1, still cannot choose font for lock screen.

 

[Digitalguy]

I just installed it on my M1, on my 10.5 and on my 11 from 2018.
Stage manager window resizing and moving is so limited that it's rare I would have a use for this, it's not even close to Samsung OneUI, let alone Dex. The is no way to put 2 windows top and bottom without them overlapping.
I guess an option is still better than no option, but if Apple does not improve it, I don't see me using it much, at least until I have monitor support.

 

[Isengardtom]

I just installed it on my M1, on my 10.5 and on my 11 from 2018.
Stage manager window resizing and moving is so limited that it's rare I would have a use for this, it's not even close to Samsung OneUI, let alone Dex. The is no way to put 2 windows top and bottom without them overlapping.
I guess an option is still better than no option, but if Apple does not improve it, I don't see me using it much, at least until I have monitor support.

There is in portrait mode provided the apps can do the old way of multitasking (support Split View and such)

The only use I’ve found is this portrait split

 

[1BadManVan]

So far I have installed on my 11" M1 Pro, my kids Air 3's and my wife's 6th gen. All are running great with it, even the 6th gen seems to run a bit smoother compared to iPadOS 15.7

 

[v1ctorS]

For me the new OS is a huge step forward because of Memory Swap. Back in iPadOS 15 apps and tabs in Safari would constantly reload, but now I can switch back and forth between apps just like in Windows and macOS and not worry about losing work. Also, external monitor support is going to be great when it finally releases later this year.

 

[Digitalguy]

For me the new OS is a huge step forward because of Memory Swap. Back in iPadOS 15 apps and tabs in Safari would constantly reload, but now I can switch back and forth between apps just like in Windows and macOS and not worry about losing work. Also, external monitor support is going to be great when it finally releases later this year.

Constantly reload on M1? Not my experience....

 

[MisterSavage]

I hate that the lock screen for iPad OS 16.1 cannot be modified in a similar way like the iOS 16.1. On the iPhone, I can choose what font to use. On iPad OS 16.1, still cannot choose font for lock screen.

I find it endlessly frustrating that we often have to wait a year after iOS gets features before they finally make it to iPad. This year we finally get the weather app was updated in iOS last year.

 

[Digitalguy]

There is in portrait mode provided the apps can do the old way of multitasking (support Split View and such)

The only use I’ve found is this portrait split

Yeah that could be useful, it's at the moment the only way to do top and bottom split screen on iPad... (was not possible before)

 

[outlawarth]

For me the new OS is a huge step forward because of Memory Swap. Back in iPadOS 15 apps and tabs in Safari would constantly reload, but now I can switch back and forth between apps just like in Windows and macOS and not worry about losing work. Also, external monitor support is going to be great when it finally releases later this year.

I was wondering have you tested this extensively in ipados 16? How many tabs did you leave open in Safari with how many apps running in the background? Also, do you have 8 GB or 16 ram?

I’m not doubting you of course I am just very curious about this ipad memory swap thing.

 

[rui no onna]

One good thing about iPadOS 16, Tab Groups are working properly again.

Iirc, I haven’t been able to use it starting with 15.4 since Open in New Tab would show about:blank 90% of the time and would never load the proper webpage.

 

[Digitalguy]

One good thing about iPadOS 16, Tab Groups are working properly again.

Iirc, I haven’t been able to use it starting with 15.4 since Open in New Tab would show about:blank 90% of the time and would never load the proper webpage.

Personally I don't really use tab groups since it reloads my tabs which is precisely what I try to avoid...

 

[Dented]

I updated my 10.5 IPP yesterday and for me.. it’s meh. It works ok but I’m struggling to see any real improvement.

Quite surprised and disappointed that the lock screen customisation isn’t included. It’s only a little thing but would have been nice to have; I find it really strange that iOS features like that aren’t developed in lockstep across iPhone and ipad at the same time.

Obviously my 10.5, like most iPads, doesn’t get stage manager; I haven’t come across much that it does get really.

Most bafflingly for me is the fact that it carries over the same widget mess that should have been sorted out in 15; placing widgets on the Home Screen leads to weirdly spaced icons, and swiping left from the Home Screen takes you to a whole pointless other widget page which isn’t a page at all but a column next to a huge amount of empty space, because literally zero effort has been made to optimise this iPhone feature for the ipad. Put simply, stage manager aside since it doesn’t apply anyway, my ipad would probably be better off running iphone OS.

 

[rui no onna]

Personally I don't really use tab groups since it reloads my tabs which is precisely what I try to avoid...

I think tab groups re-renders the tabs for the most part instead of doing a full reload (at least it does for me with the mostly text heavy sites I browse). Also, the reloads mostly seem to occur when one switches tab groups.

I don’t switch tab groups often so I don’t really mind the reloads when that happens (kinda like tabs reloading after 24 hours).

 

[Digitalguy]

I think tab groups re-renders the tabs for the most part instead of doing a full reload (at least it does for me with the mostly text heavy sites I browse). Also, the reloads mostly seem to occur when one switches tab groups.

I don’t switch tab groups often so I don’t really mind the reloads when that happens (kinda like tabs reloading after 24 hours).

Yeah group switching is what causes my videos to restart, that's why I stopped using it. I use the bookmark bar with folders instead

 

[rui no onna]

Yeah group switching is what causes my videos to restart, that's why I stopped using it. I use the bookmark bar with folders instead

Ever since 15.5 or something, I've had constant issue with bookmarks sorting/new bookmarks going out of whack requiring a re-sort via MacOS Safari to fix.

Dunno if that's been fixed on 16 but I'm too lazy to dig up the MacBook so I'd rather not risk messing up my bookmarks again.

I don't watch videos on Safari anyway. My main issue was losing data while filling forms and that, I've been able to avoid thus far with 16GB RAM.

 

[slplss]

My impression is the Stage Manager (what a name…) is not feeling quite complete.

What I like:
- To hide Dock and Recent Apps from Stage manager, because they take a significant part of the screen.
- Four windows, yay?
- The three windows I feel I can actually work with.

What I don’t like:
- The shadow casted when highlighted window overlays others is too strong. I don’t only want to quickly switch between multiple windows, I want to focus on them all (when they don’t overlay). What’s worse, when you have two maximised windows next to each other, like in Split View that the Stage Manager has replaced, one window always appears to be dimmed/in shadow no matter if you tap on the screen, swipe or start typing. The only way to put the window "in focus" is to resize it just to put it back in the original position.
- I didn’t find how to switch between two fullscreen windows in one "stage"
- Sometimes when I try to pull out Dock, I resize the windows
- The resizing animation. Should be smoother. They made blobs out of windows. Who likes blobs?

What’s missing:
- In portrait or landscape, you should be able to resize two fully stretched out windows next to each other by pushing the middle divider (just as it was possible in Split View). The space now has no function and it’s just a waste of pixels.
- Option for smaller Dock. It’s unnecessary yuge when in use with Stage Manager.

 

[IJBrekke]

Updated my Mini 5 and it is running very smoothly, better than it did at the beginning of iPadOS15. There are some curious oversights (not including the customizable wallpapers from iOS, for example) but for the most part it feels like an extension of what it has been recently, with very few changes.

 

[Digitalguy]

Updated my Mini 5 and it is running very smoothly, better than it did at the beginning of iPadOS15. There are some curious oversights (not including the customizable wallpapers from iOS, for example) but for the most part it feels like an extension of what it has been recently, with very few changes.

In terms of pure performance anything from A10X and up runs great (my 10.5 runs just like before). I have heard some people complaining about A9X running slow, but I haven't upgrade my 1st gen pro so I cannot confirm. At this point it's a bit early to tell if it reloads more than 15, but the increase in reloads has been a trend with every generation of iPadOS (13 reloads more than 12, 14 more than 13 and 15 more than 14...)

 

[kristalsoldier]

While I am not the target audience for some of the more popular changes that iPadOS 16.1 has brought, but I noticed that at least one thing that I use very frequently, namely, the Books app, has been completely messed up by Apple.

This company is really infuriating. The Books app was quite well done. Its controls were intuitive, and its page turning animation was a pleasure to use. Apple just could not leave things alone - they insisted on breaking what did not need any “fixing”. I am just tired to this.

My problem is that the aspect ratio of iPads keeps me beholden to them since it helps with my work/use of them. If Android tablets had that aspect ratio, I would willingly change. Android apps that are the equivalent of Books are excellent. I use one on my phone. But, like I said, I have not found a well-made Android tablet that has the iPad’s AR.

I just hope someone at Apple regains their senses and fixes the app though realistically speaking that is likely not going to happen. I suppose these are just small steps that, over time, will lead me to quit using ipads. That would be a shame.

 

[Digitalguy]

While I am not the target audience for some of the more popular changes that iPadOS 16.1 has brought, but I noticed that at least one thing that I use very frequently, namely, the Books app, has been completely messed up by Apple.

This company is really infuriating. The Books app was quite well done. Its controls were intuitive, and its page turning animation was a pleasure to use. Apple just could not leave things alone - they insisted on breaking what did not need any “fixing”. I am just tired to this.

My problem is that the aspect ratio of iPads keeps me beholden to them since it helps with my work/use of them. If Android tablets had that aspect ratio, I would willingly change. Android apps that are the equivalent of Books are excellent. I use one on my phone. But, like I said, I have not found a well-made Android tablet that has the iPad’s AR.

I just hope someone at Apple regains their senses and fixes the app though realistically speaking that is likely not going to happen. I suppose these are just small steps that, over time, will lead me to quit using ipads. That would be a shame.

What happened to Books with iPadOS 16.1?

 

[kristalsoldier]

What happened to Books with iPadOS 16.1?

It’s been redesigned…for the worse!

 

[FeliApple]

In terms of pure performance anything from A10X and up runs great (my 10.5 runs just like before). I have heard some people complaining about A9X running slow, but I haven't upgrade my 1st gen pro so I cannot confirm. At this point it's a bit early to tell if it reloads more than 15, but the increase in reloads has been a trend with every generation of iPadOS (13 reloads more than 12, 14 more than 13 and 15 more than 14...)

Well, it seems like that part of the status quo remains: performance is good with iOS updates, battery life isn’t. It’s an improvement, considering that everything would break on 32-bit devices. iOS updates will be actually worth it in my view as soon as they fix the constant battery life degradation, but I do commend Apple for at least fixing the performance part. Devices were rendered completely unusable before.

Back in 2015, when iOS 9 was launched, the oldest device supported by it was the iPhone 4s. If you were to tell me “7 years from now, there will be a device that will be on its seventh major version and performance will actually be fine”, I wouldn’t have believed you. It is... something, I guess.

I can’t try anything, as I’m on iOS 12 on my 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and my Air 5 will remain on iPadOS 15, though I am curious to see whether the M1 is a possible cutoff for battery life issues, or if they’ll remain present for longer (at least). Haven’t heard many opinions regarding that.