iPad Why does iPadOS not feel like true OS?

[Rafterman]

I would buy a "MacPad." But I understand why some people don't want it. Managing a full blown OS on a tablet is a PITA. Check my post in the 'Hesitation between iPad Pro m4 and new surface pro' to see my trials and tribulations using a Windows 11 tablet.

 

[subjonas]

I don’t think that iPadOS was ever meant to be a full desktop OS, it was meant to be a mobile OS. I suppose it also depends on your definition of desktop OS. I’ve used Linux for over 20 years and my definition of desktop OS may be very different from the next person’s definition of desktop OS. For instance, I don’t consider chromeOS to be a desktop OS, but many people do.

We have 13 inch iPads. If Apple put macOS on those iPads, then people could connect an Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and that would negatively impact MacBook sales.

We have to be careful about violating intended design. We can hammer a nail into a board with a crescent ranch, but that violates intended design. Many people operate in life outside of intended design and they get frustrated.. they think that since they can hammer a nail with a crescent wrench that all is well. This reminds me of the saying “use the proper tool for the job”.

I have used MacBooks since the release of Mavericks and, from what I’ve seen, macOS seems to be slowly transforming into iPadOS, bringing over the same look and features that we once only saw in iOS. I think eventually we will have the exact same operating system on all Apple devices and the changes we’ve seen in macOS lately are just another step in that direction.

macOS has taken cues from iPadOS, but I don’t think that necessarily means they are going to end up merged into one OS. I would bet against that actually, because I don’t think Apple believes that having a unified OS is as important as having an OS optimized for each purpose/form factor. iPads prioritize the casual UX—ie. thin and light, with a simple touch UI. Macs prioritize the productive UX—ie. power, ergonomics, and flexible software that can accommodate all types of workflows. How could one OS be good at such different priorities?

 

[Z6128]

I've noticed some websites still don't play nice with the iPad and are just easier on a Mac. Some older bill/payment sites are that way.

Even a few weeks ago, I was trying to edit my account details for Paramount+ on my iPad. You can't do that in the app on the iPad, so I went to Safari to the website. When I clicked on my account button, it bounced me to the iPad app and it was an endless loop not getting anywhere.

Ended up having to Google a backdoor way with a direct URL link to get in. On a Mac, there wouldn't have been this issue.

 

[nxt3]

I've noticed some websites still don't play nice with the iPad and are just easier on a Mac. Some older bill/payment sites are that way.

Even a few weeks ago, I was trying to edit my account details for Paramount+ on my iPad. You can't do that in the app on the iPad, so I went to Safari to the website. When I clicked on my account button, it bounced me to the iPad app and it was an endless loop not getting anywhere.

Ended up having to Google a backdoor way with a direct URL link to get in. On a Mac, there wouldn't have been this issue.

Which size iPad do you have? That's something I was hoping to avoid

 

[throAU]

There seems to be lot people complaining about iPadOS that the OS is very limiting and lacking features. Some even say it needs new file system.

But in your view what is holding back iPadOS what features does iPadOS have to have to make more similar to true OS than limit mobile OS that is very limiting.

What does iPadOS have to have to make more like desktop OS than mobile OS.

The big things for me are:

• apps being terminated in the background. if i switch to another app there's no guarantee that the app i switched from will still be connected to a server, etc. when i switch back. I think this may be getting better with stage manager?
• lack of virtual machine support

That's about it?

Even on the mac i store most of my stuff in icloud now so opening it from the files app or within an app direct from icloud works for most things. The main exceptions being office stuff which is mostly from onedrive, again similar on both platforms.

Yeah, i was dragged kicking and screaming to the cloud but i got there. The upshot? If i kill/break/lose my ipad or mac, i can continue on for the most part with the same stuff on the other device.

The filesystem isn't the problem but i can see how people are irritated about it. But if you have many devices, really... try to let go, store things in icloud/sync desktop/etc. to icloud and it makes things far less painful if you need or want to use a different device to carry on with what you were doing.

Treat your devices more like cattle/livestock and less like pets.

If one dies, switch to another and move on. I could mostly work from my iphone if i really had to. Cloud sync enables that.

 

[Z6128]

Which size iPad do you have? That's something I was hoping to avoid

13. To be fair it’s the same issue on the iPhone. So it’s more of an iOS issue with websites trying to auto direct to an app. Still frustrating for something that should have been simple.

 

[nxt3]

13. To be fair it’s the same issue on the iPhone. So it’s more of an iOS issue with websites trying to auto direct to an app. Still frustrating for something that should have been simple.

Ah okay. You’re right that it’s probably an OS thing. Another solution for you would probably have been to uninstall the app for a moment but that’s not a good solution either.

 

[Jackbequickly]

For what I enjoy doing on my new iPad, the OS is just fine.

 

[bscheffel]

The big 4 that iPad needs.

1. Ability to designate apps for real background processing
2. Ability to support multiple audio inputs (can't even watch a YouTube video and listen to Spotify at same time currently)
3. Real desktop browser (some site just don't work with webkit, missing features like "save linked file as...")
4. Feature parity between Apple's Mac and iPad apps (Music is the biggest offender). If Apple doesn't take feature parity seriously, why would 3rd party devs?

 

[Z6128]

The big 4 that iPad needs.

1. Ability to designate apps for real background processing
2. Ability to support multiple audio inputs (can't even watch a YouTube video and listen to Spotify at same time currently)
3. Real desktop browser (some site just don't work with webkit, missing features like "save linked file as...")
4. Feature parity between Apple's Mac and iPad apps (Music is the biggest offender). If Apple doesn't take feature parity seriously, why would 3rd party devs?

It's MUCH easier editing large Apple Music libraries on a Mac. I was updating my library over the weekend and when I realized I couldn't select multiple songs to delete on the iPad, I had to switch over to my Mac.

 

[macphoto861]

audio to continue playing when switching between apps or playing audio on another app.

This is my number one complaint about iPadOS. I just want to be able to read stuff on websites while also listening to music with the Music app. But this simple thing is rendered enormously infuriating when some websites have media players that, even if they are not actively playing something, still "take over" the audio system and cause the Music app to stop. Same if I want to check my cameras in the Ring app. There's NO REASON why devices as powerful as today's iPads can't manage multiple audio streams.

 

[bscheffel]

It's MUCH easier editing large Apple Music libraries on a Mac. I was updating my library over the weekend and when I realized I couldn't select multiple songs to delete on the iPad, I had to switch over to my Mac.

The Apple Music app for iPadOS (and iOS for that matter) is just very very basic and 100% geared towards those who just stream with Apple Music subscription.
Apple used to brag that "Music is in our DNA" but nothing could be further from the truth now. iTunes Music Store, iCloud Music Library, iTunes Match are basically abandoned products that have gotten no updates since Apple Music subscription launched. the iOS and iPadOS apps have zero features for maintaining music libraries that the desktop app has (can't edit metadata, can't add music outside of iTunes Store, no smart playlist, no music picker, limited browsing options)

Apple only cares about supporting music for those willing to pay monthly.

 

[Bubble99]

The Apple Music app for iPadOS (and iOS for that matter) is just very very basic and 100% geared towards those who just stream with Apple Music subscription.
Apple used to brag that "Music is in our DNA" but nothing could be further from the truth now. iTunes Music Store, iCloud Music Library, iTunes Match are basically abandoned products that have gotten no updates since Apple Music subscription launched. the iOS and iPadOS apps have zero features for maintaining music libraries that the desktop app has (can't edit metadata, can't add music outside of iTunes Store, no smart playlist, no music picker, limited browsing options)

Apple only cares about supporting music for those willing to pay monthly.

Can’t you just copy your music files over with a file manger to music app folder?

 

[sparksd]

Can’t you just copy your music files over with a file manger to music app folder?

There is no folder in Files for the Music app. The Music app's storage in not accessible to other apps.

 

[subjonas]

The big 4 that iPad needs.

1. Ability to designate apps for real background processing
2. Ability to support multiple audio inputs (can't even watch a YouTube video and listen to Spotify at same time currently)
3. Real desktop browser (some site just don't work with webkit, missing features like "save linked file as...")
4. Feature parity between Apple's Mac and iPad apps (Music is the biggest offender). If Apple doesn't take feature parity seriously, why would 3rd party devs?

I‘d like all of those to at least some extent, and I’d add:
- more consistency and reliability of apps using the share sheet, but I think that’s on app developers
- versioned backups a la Time Machine (whole backups to a Mac that backs up to Time Machine is a clunky but mostly passable workaround for now)

All of these should allow me to accomplish all the work/productivity I’d expect to do on an iPad.

My main problem by far for daily usage though I think falls under #1, which is insecurity about apps refreshing. Maybe it’s better on newer iPads, but I feel like there is always a chance an app will refresh when I exit and come back. Wish there was a quick/easy way to keep an app (maybe a couple) active and mostly out of view, like in a dock or in a slid over window(s). I don’t have experience with Stage Manager, maybe that’s what it does, but I don’t know if I want everything else that comes with the Stage Manager UX on a regular basis—plus that doesn’t work on my iPad Mini.

Regarding app feature parity, I think there are probably some inherent limitations in the iPad that stand in the way of complete parity for the heavier more feature-rich apps—those limitations being thermals, battery life, and touch UI. But for many apps, that shouldn’t be the case.

 

[VaruLV]

Better file manager.
Better usability with 3rd party mice, scrolling is still horrid crap regardless of settings, just nowhere near as precise and smooth as on computer with desktop OS.
And last, but not least, the most important - ability to run macOS apps on an iPad with M1 chip and up.

 

[Bubble99]

I‘d like all of those to at least some extent, and I’d add:
- more consistency and reliability of apps using the share sheet, but I think that’s on app developers
- versioned backups a la Time Machine (whole backups to a Mac that backs up to Time Machine is a clunky but mostly passable workaround for now)

All of these should allow me to accomplish all the work/productivity I’d expect to do on an iPad.

My main problem by far for daily usage though I think falls under #1, which is insecurity about apps refreshing. Maybe it’s better on newer iPads, but I feel like there is always a chance an app will refresh when I exit and come back. Wish there was a quick/easy way to keep an app (maybe a couple) active and mostly out of view, like in a dock or in a slid over window(s). I don’t have experience with Stage Manager, maybe that’s what it does, but I don’t know if I want everything else that comes with the Stage Manager UX on a regular basis—plus that doesn’t work on my iPad Mini.

Regarding app feature parity, I think there are probably some inherent limitations in the iPad that stand in the way of complete parity for the heavier more feature-rich apps—those limitations being thermals, battery life, and touch UI. But for many apps, that shouldn’t be the case.

Do you think Apple will bring Time Machine to iPadOS?

 

[Kal Madda]

Do you think Apple will bring Time Machine to iPadOS?

I think it’s possible. I don’t know if it would be its own dedicated app, but I could at least see the functionality of Time Machine being incorporated. 👍🏻

 

[subjonas]

Do you think Apple will bring Time Machine to iPadOS?

I’m not at all an expert, but from what I gather I’m not too hopeful.
TM runs every hour in the background which takes up battery. On Macs it usually only runs when plugged into AC power, which is fine for Macs because they’re often used while plugged in, but Apple doesn’t seem to want iPads to be plugged in during use. But they may have it as an option when plugged in, who knows.
But the other possible issue is that iPadOS is app-based instead of file-based like macOS. Not sure if that makes it less compatible with Time Machine.
So while I wish for iPad to have TM (or something like it) so that I personally can depend on it for work, I’m resolved that it probably won’t and will likely just stay a work-companion/non-work device, which is ok. I know for others, TM isn’t necessary for their work, either because of their type of work, or maybe because their work app does versioned backups in the cloud.

 

[subjonas]

Better file manager.
Better usability with 3rd party mice, scrolling is still horrid crap regardless of settings, just nowhere near as precise and smooth as on computer with desktop OS.
And last, but not least, the most important - ability to run macOS apps on an iPad with M1 chip and up.

What do you mean by better file manager?

It might be possible to run sandboxed macOS apps in iPadOS, but seems unlikely that non-sandboxed apps could run. Anyone with knowledge feel free to correct me.

 

[Bubble99]

Real desktop browser (some site just don't work with webkit, missing features like "save linked file as...")

That seems to be developers making the web browser less feature rich than desktop app. So browsers like Firefox, Brave, Opera and Edge will have less feature than the desktop browsers.

Not sure what you mean by webkit but browsers like Firefox, Brave, Opera and Edge are plain like you see on the iPhone not some thing you see on iPad yes it the same app on both devices.

Android Firefox app is way more feature rich than what you get on iOS or iPadOS it just developers are making the web browser less feature rich not sure what Apple can do here. If developers are just lazy and giving very basic browser than what you get on desktop or laptop running Windows.

Yes on my desktop running Firefox I can make all websites into dark mode, change website text, block scrips running, download videos from most website, take screenshots, remove items from website, block ads, download YouTube videos, block malware, have themes browser so on. Done of that is possible with iOS or iPadOS but some this is possible with Android.

 

[Star-fire]

I would like to see compatibility with full apps, even if they have to be vetted by Apple. I can install some iPad apps on my MacBook, I would like the opposite as well. That would make iPadOS feel more complete.

 

[Kal Madda]

That seems to be developers making the web browser less feature rich than desktop app. So browsers like Firefox, Brave, Opera and Edge will have less feature than the desktop browsers.

Not sure what you mean by webkit but browsers like Firefox, Brave, Opera and Edge are plain like you see on the iPhone not some thing you see on iPad yes it the same app on both devices.

Android Firefox app is way more feature rich than what you get on iOS or iPadOS it just developers are making the web browser less feature rich not sure what Apple can do here. If developers are just lazy and giving very basic browser than what you get on desktop or laptop running Windows.

Yes on my desktop running Firefox I can make all websites into dark mode, change website text, block scrips running, download videos from most website, take screenshots, remove items from website, block ads, download YouTube videos, block malware, have themes browser so on. Done of that is possible with iOS or iPadOS but some this is possible with Android.

So there’s nuance there. I wouldn’t say it’s all due to developer laziness, because they’re not allowed to use their own browser engines, they have to use WebKit. The browser engine is what a browser is built on, and it dictates some of the functionality. Both Chrome and Edge are built on Chromium, which is a browser engine made by Google for Chrome that is also open-source for other browsers to use, similar to WebKit. If some features aren’t supported by WebKit (which Apple requires developers to use) then they can’t deliver them in their browsers. So some of this is due to Apple’s limitations on browser engines. Apple may open up for developers to use alternative browser engines now that they’re doing so in the EU. And some of the browser limits are self imposed by developers. It’s not all Apple’s fault. But it is partially due to the WebKit restriction.

 

[Bubble99]

So there’s nuance there. I wouldn’t say it’s all due to developer laziness, because they’re not allowed to use their own browser engines, they have to use WebKit. The browser engine is what a browser is built on, and it dictates some of the functionality. Both Chrome and Edge are built on Chromium, which is a browser engine made by Google for Chrome that is also open-source for other browsers to use, similar to WebKit. If some features aren’t supported by WebKit (which Apple requires developers to use) then they can’t deliver them in their browsers. So some of this is due to Apple’s limitations on browser engines. Apple may open up for developers to use alternative browser engines now that they’re doing so in the EU. And some of the browser limits are self imposed by developers. It’s not all Apple’s fault. But it is partially due to the WebKit restriction.

So you saying safari uses WebKit engine and Brave, Opera and Edge uses Chromium engine? Than what does Firefox use? Why is Chromium engine less inferior to WebKit safari?

 

[Kal Madda]

So you saying safari uses WebKit engine and Brave, Opera and Edge uses Chromium engine? Than what does Firefox use? Why is Chromium engine less inferior to WebKit safari?

I think Firefox uses Gecko, which is one that they made Mozilla made. Personally, I don’t think WebKit is that inferior at all (though I also use Safari almost exclusively, and I am not a web developer). But a friend of mine who is a web developer has mentioned that WebKit doesn’t support some of the things that Chromium does. But I think the main thing that restricts the features they deliver is because they have to make a separate version of their browser using WebKit rather than their own engine, so they can’t just port their browser over as easily as they otherwise could. So they have to develop all of the browser features separately from their main browsers on other platforms, and they have to work with a different engine then they’re used to working with. So it kind of fractures up the development process, and means that basically every feature they do deliver in the iOS and iPadOS versions of their browser have to be specifically developed just for these two platforms. 👍🏻