All iPads Stage Manager on iPad - it’s actually useful?!

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

For a long while, I just didn’t get Stage Manager on iPad.
Using gestures with only the iPad in my hand, it just didn’t seem to offer any kind of improvement.

Then, the other day, I used my iPad with a keyboard and mouse and somehow it suddenly clicked and Stage Manager felt actually useful for the first time. That’s even on a 12.9” and 11” iPad.

There are still some inconsistencies or things that I feel are inelegant - like going back to the homescreen (I almost typed desktop there) and there being no indication of what windows are open.

I also now wish there was an option to automatically enable/disable Stage Manager based on whether or not keyboard/mouse are connected or the iPad is connected to a Magic Keyboard.

Has anyone else had this sudden “revelation” re: Stage Manager?

 

[darngooddesign]

For a long while, I just didn’t get Stage Manager on iPad.
Using gestures with only the iPad in my hand, it just didn’t seem to offer any kind of improvement.

Then, the other day, I used my iPad with a keyboard and mouse and somehow it suddenly clicked and Stage Manager felt actually useful for the first time. That’s even on a 12.9” and 11” iPad.

There are still some inconsistencies or things that I feel are inelegant - like going back to the homescreen (I almost typed desktop there) and there being no indication of what windows are open.

I also now wish there was an option to automatically enable/disable Stage Manager based on whether or not keyboard/mouse are connected or the iPad is connected to a Magic Keyboard.

Has anyone else had this sudden “revelation” re: Stage Manager?

Stage Manager is also significantly better than split screen in portrait mode because you can stack the windows instead of having two really tall columns.

Beyond that I really like SM and haven't turned it off since getting my new iPad Pro.

 

[Reverend Benny]

For a long while, I just didn’t get Stage Manager on iPad.
Using gestures with only the iPad in my hand, it just didn’t seem to offer any kind of improvement.

Then, the other day, I used my iPad with a keyboard and mouse and somehow it suddenly clicked and Stage Manager felt actually useful for the first time. That’s even on a 12.9” and 11” iPad.

There are still some inconsistencies or things that I feel are inelegant - like going back to the homescreen (I almost typed desktop there) and there being no indication of what windows are open.

I also now wish there was an option to automatically enable/disable Stage Manager based on whether or not keyboard/mouse are connected or the iPad is connected to a Magic Keyboard.

Has anyone else had this sudden “revelation” re: Stage Manager?

Absolutely, especially since they fixed a few annoying things in iPadOS 17. Now I can choose what speakers I want to use, that wasn't possible in iOS 16.
I agree on the automatically disable and enable when docking the iPad, it would be nice.

And it still feels like they are trying to find a good solution but I feel its to "controlled" in terms of resizing apps and so on. But some Apps seem to have converted to support stage manager and just works brilliantly out of the box.

I can absolutely see this finding its way to the iPhone now when it has USB-C, would be nice to just be able to just have one device and being able to dock it when needed.
Android has had this for ages it feels like but noone really uses it, maybe Apple can package it all nicely, add support on all apps for a "desktop mode" and just release it on all devices with USB-C/thunderbolt.

 

[KPOM]

I’ve found Stage Manager useful since iPadOS 16. I don’t understand why all the “professional” reviewers panned it so much. Yes, it has quirks, but it isn’t meant to act like windowing on macOS, and is far more useful than any previous attempt at multitasking support for iPad.

 

[GMShadow]

I’ve found Stage Manager useful since iPadOS 16. I don’t understand why all the “professional” reviewers panned it so much. Yes, it has quirks, but it isn’t meant to act like windowing on macOS, and is far more useful than any previous attempt at multitasking support for iPad.

Too many people want a touchscreen Mac, and get mad when the iPad isn't that because it's not meant to be.

And yes, it's much more useful with a keyboard/mouse/trackpad than trying to use it while holding it.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I’ve found Stage Manager useful since iPadOS 16. I don’t understand why all the “professional” reviewers panned it so much. Yes, it has quirks, but it isn’t meant to act like windowing on macOS, and is far more useful than any previous attempt at multitasking support for iPad.

I think that may have been why I didn't find it useful at first. Maybe I expected it to behave more macOS-like. But I already have a device that acts more macOS-like - my Mac(s)!

That said, I still don't like Stage Manager on macOS

 

[darngooddesign]

I think that may have been why I didn't find it useful at first. Maybe I expected it to behave more macOS-like. But I already have a device that acts more macOS-like - my Mac(s)!

That said, I still don't like Stage Manager on macOS

Same here. I think Mac-SM exists to offer people a consistent experience between the two devices, but I still use Expose/Spaces/Mission Control on my Mac.

 

[Surfsalot]

Too many people want a touchscreen Mac, and get mad when the iPad isn't that because it's not meant to be.

And yes, it's much more useful with a keyboard/mouse/trackpad than trying to use it while holding it.

nah Better as just a big iPhone

 

[sparksd]

nah Better as just a big iPhone

If limited as such by the user.

 

[Surfsalot]

If limited as such by the user.

Please tell me what you can do on a iPad with keyboard and mouse/trackpad you can’t do with your finger?

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I have just gotten used to the old way. Stage Manager trips my OCD--I can't make anything full screen. Too much wasted space. And there is a limit on the applications that one can switch between.

Just give me a real desktop environment at this point.

 

[bondr006]

nah Better as just a big iPhone

Let's see, is there anything the iPad Pro can do that the iPhone cannot? Why of course there is, because it's not just a big phone, or toy. Yes, the iPad Pro can do everything the iPhone can do, and more, but not visa versa. Been taking care of my real estate and property management businesses with my M1 iPad Pro 11 for 2 years now, something that I could never do with just an iPhone. Yes, my iPad Pro easily replaced my 2019 16" i9 MBP for all my real estate work, and I've never looked back.

1. Take notes with Apple Pencil
2. Convert handwriting to text
3. Replace a real notebook
4. Edit photos with Apple Pencil
5. Edit and annotate pdf's with Apple Pencil
6. Render full web pages on Safari
7. Run 100's of apps just for iPad
8. Multitasking
9. Full external monitor support
10. Be a secondary display
11. Connect external devices (SSD/HD, Mouse, Keyboard, Webcam, Docking Station, etc.) with USB C or Thunderbolt
12. Much more screen real estate to do real work on

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Let's see, is there anything the iPad Pro can do that the iPhone cannot? Why of course there is, because it's not just a big phone, or toy. Yes, the iPad Pro can do everything the iPhone can do, and more, but not visa versa. Been taking care of my real estate and property management businesses with my M1 iPad Pro 11 for 2 years now. Yes, my iPad Pro easily replaced my 2019 16" i9 MBP for all my real estate work, and I've never looked back

1. Take notes with Apple Pencil
2. Convert handwriting to text
3. Replace a real notebook
4. Edit photos with Apple Pencil
5. Edit and annotate pdf's with Apple Pencil
6. Render full web pages on Safari
7. Run 100's of apps just for iPad
8. Multitasking
9. Full external monitor support
10. Be a secondary display
11. Connect external devices (SSD/HD, Mouse, Keyboard, Webcam, Docking Station, etc.) with USB C or Thunderbolt
12. Much more screen real estate to do real work on

This is all true and I agree. I just wish it would do it with desktop-like windows instead of whatever stage manager is.

 

[TPadden]

Please tell me what you can do on a iPad with keyboard and mouse/trackpad you can’t do with your finger?

For one you have the use of the whole screen, no screen keyboard required…

Tom

 

[bondr006]

Please tell me what you can do on a iPad with keyboard and mouse/trackpad you can’t do with your finger?

I don't know, work a heck of a lot faster?

 

[sparksd]

Please tell me what you can do on a iPad with keyboard and mouse/trackpad you can’t do with your finger?

Just a few -

Type fast and accurately.
Manipulate sliders in Lightroom more easily with mouse.
Manipulate controls in LumaFusion more readily with a mouse.
I also have benign tremors so some finger movements can be tricky at times.

 

[Surfsalot]

Just a few -

Type fast and accurately.
Manipulate sliders in Lightroom more easily with mouse.
Manipulate controls in LumaFusion more readily with a mouse.
I also have benign tremors so some finger movements can be tricky at times.

can still all do with finger no extras needed

 

[Surfsalot]

Let's see, is there anything the iPad Pro can do that the iPhone cannot? Why of course there is, because it's not just a big phone, or toy. Yes, the iPad Pro can do everything the iPhone can do, and more, but not visa versa. Been taking care of my real estate and property management businesses with my M1 iPad Pro 11 for 2 years now, something that I could never do with just an iPhone. Yes, my iPad Pro easily replaced my 2019 16" i9 MBP for all my real estate work, and I've never looked back.

1. Take notes with Apple Pencil
2. Convert handwriting to text
3. Replace a real notebook
4. Edit photos with Apple Pencil
5. Edit and annotate pdf's with Apple Pencil
6. Render full web pages on Safari
7. Run 100's of apps just for iPad
8. Multitasking
9. Full external monitor support
10. Be a secondary display
11. Connect external devices (SSD/HD, Mouse, Keyboard, Webcam, Docking Station, etc.) with USB C or Thunderbolt
12. Much more screen real estate to do real work on

Calm down was talking about not needing the extras, can do all same as with a iPhone via your finger lol
Iv'e had every iPad from the beginning never needed keyboards/mouse/trackpads to do stuff.

 

[JustAnExpat]

Please tell me what you can do on a iPad with keyboard and mouse/trackpad you can’t do with your finger?

It's faster to use a keyboard and mouse trackpad than fingers usually. Commands like "cut" are faster to perform on a keyboard (Command+x) then with a finger (press finger to highlight word. Hold down finger. Choose cut...).

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

Calm down was talking about not needing the extras, can do all same as with a iPhone via your finger lol
Iv'e had every iPad from the beginning never needed keyboards/mouse/trackpads to do stuff.

See, that’s called “personal preference”. If you feel you don’t need it, good for you. Enjoy your iPad

For me it’s about the typing experience and speed of certain interactions. But it’s also a situational thing for me. At my desk, or for longer writing sessions (among other things), I prefer using a keyboard and trackpad/mouse. I could do it on the screen only, but I don’t like typing on glass - and that includes my iPhone with its cramped keyboard - because of the lack of feedback and a general tendency to hit the wrong keys because I can’t feel where one ends and the other starts. Having my hand obscure some of the content on screen is also not ideal.

When I’m lying in bed or on the couch, I rarely use the Magic Keyboard, on the other hand.

 

[Surfsalot]

iPads are not big enough for stage manager

 

[retrocool]

Two things an iPhone can do and an iPad can't:
1. Carplay
2. Continuity camera

No 2 can be solved with 3rd party software (I use Elgato with my mac studio + iPP) but lack of Carplay makes things unnecessarily awkward for me, if I want audio from the iPad and use maps while driving.

These are both examples of Apple deliberately knee-capping iPads to sell more iPhones.

 

[sparksd]

can still all do with finger no extras needed

Right, I just find them easier and faster with a mouse & keyboard. Stage Manager is an option - don't use it if you don't like it. I do. And I find my 12.9 to be large enough for it.

 

[darngooddesign]

...

 

[darngooddesign]

iPads are not big enough for stage manager

Wow had no idea... I guess I'll go turn SM off.