All iPads Yikes (WWDC 2021)

[Ipadfever]

What makes me laugh and it never fails is that Apple is not going to re invent the wheel when the wheel isn’t broke. People keep upgrading every time a new device comes out and it sells like hot cakes. If these devices don’t sell than Apple is forced to make major updates but until then you can keep hoping all you want.

 

[iamyash]

As far as I’m concerned, the M1 is just an A14X. Apple could have put the same M1 in the iPad and called it the A14X since the features specific to the Mac are disabled anyway. “M1” is just a name that the folks in marketing came up with. Those folks also decided it would presumably boost sales.

I hope that there aren’t too many people that bought it based on that marketing hype alone. There is very little reason to upgrade a 2018 or 2020 11” iPad Pro to the 2021 model. Same applies to the 12.9“ model unless you are upgrading for the mini LED display.

So you mean to say mac lineup is running on A14X? If so that’s pretty good.

 

[marcel500]

Agree, super light new features. Nothing like wow I can't wait to install it. Also why is there no announcement to support TrueHD on TVOS, it cant be that difficult.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

I think what people just can't understand is that Apple has an active BUSINESS interest to not re-invent the wheel.

I think it's messed up but what can i say, I buy apple iPads anyway. Stop buying it and maybe Apple will reinvent the wheel.

 

[decisions]

This event made me realize that I really dislike the way Apple's UI design has changed in the past few years. I strongly preferred the flat, clean, and simple design that started around iOS 7. This direction is the opposite of "zen" minimalism I associate with Apple in the long-term.

Everything now looks too colorful, soft, and complicated. Some of Apple's native iOS apps honestly remind me of Windows 8 where it seems like they just went crazy and tried to fit as many things on the screen as possible in all sorts of different shapes.

Many apps now are just a vertical stack of scrollable carousels with no real rhyme or reason to all these different categories (music, podcasts, . Everything looks very bold and loud and I just find it very annoying. For instance, if you open the podcasts up you get this seemingly random list of podcasts. Why does it say "Listen Now" at the top of my screen? What is the sub-category "Up Next"? It seems like it's podcasts that I've recently listened to, but at the bottom of the screen there is another "Recently Played" category? What the...?

tl;dr: Has anyone else realized that Apple's UI design has taken a weird, ugly, turn?

 

[rillrill]

It was the pandemic of keynotes.

 

[rillrill]

But seriously, i think just wants ya’ll to buy it all - iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc….what is the financial incentive to compete directly with the Mac?

 

[itsmeaustend]

I was hoping for external monitor support, better multi-tasking (more than what was announced), a more robust files app and perhaps some pro apps like XCode or Final Cut Pro.

The M1 Mac’s can hardly use an external display and you expect Apple to have to competence to bring it to iPad? Ha.

 

[haruhiko]

Apple employees seem to have really enjoyed the WFH life and haven’t been doing that much in the past year. I’m sure there are many improvements under the hood but basically it’s quite underwhelming in terms of tentpole features. I think this fixed yearly update has to change. Good softwares don’t come out exactly in a few months.

I joked at the ‘disappointment’ prior to the event but this one surely is quite disappointing.

 

[GuruZac]

Expectations were extra high not because Apple gave us powerful hardware. The hardware has been there for years now. Expectations were high because Apple is using their own silicon in macOS devices, which is now running in the iPad Pro which also saw a significant RAM bump and finally laptop level. Apple didn’t deliver anywhere basically. It was quite disappointing considering the parity with Mac hardware.

 

[jumpcutking]

I’m sooooooo glad I held onto my 2020 12.9 Pro and didn’t rush out to upgrade. Would‘ve been a BIG waste of money for me. Can’t say I’m surprised. Seems like they’re hesitant to alienate all those who recently purchased a 2020 or even 2018 Pro. Almost seems as if they needed to get rid of some M1 chips. They threw the XDR display on the 12.9 so it wouldn‘t look so obvious ?

Hey, my 2018 ipad and I are not complaining!

 

[jumpcutking]

Here is my pro take on WWDC keynote.

All the features and refinements that you have been begging for… you have now gotten.

Universal Communication, is an epic design and I look forward to it! I used to use synergy until they become a paid product and than just cried with VNC/Screen Sharing. It’s like continuity for pros.

Widgets on the $&@# Home Screen if your iPad. Sometimes I wonder if iOS developers don’t talk to iPadOS developers on purpose. Like they want you to believe that their code base is so separate and delay features from the phone to going to the iPad. I don’t think they should be that separate just build in the extensions for iPad.

Multitasking now makes more sense and finally snaps as opposed to - why isn’t this gesture working? Anyone… hello… iPad, (30 seconds later) oh, ok… it’s working now.

Also, FOCUS and that iCloud+ Mail privacy security features are going to cost Mail marketing campaigns - and mobile notification systems - hundreds, if not thousands, if not millions of dollars. The inability to see if a mail message is open, will make marketeers either feel like their campaigns aren’t working, or worse that they have to funnel blind money into it (kinda like Facebook Ads). Shameless plug: this is slaps why I’m building The Universe. Replace and redefine email. (Make it easier, secure, and help keep user data protected.)

Anywho… Safari change is very welcomed. I feel like they finally made it to Chrome’s usability. The style of the website now becoming king and it is now easier to use and more breathtaking. Makes us web app designers feel at home on the Mac Ecosystem… just need (cough ?) web notifications on iOS, iPadOS, WatchOS, and please TvOS.

I’d actually like to see my notifications in the top corner of my tv. So I don’t have to pick up a phone - just happily ignore the notifications from my TV!

 

[jumpcutking]

The M1 Mac’s can hardly use an external display and you expect Apple to have to competence to bring it to iPad? Ha.

They did bring a version of Xcode to the iPad! That was exciting!!! Swift playground now pushes to App Store. Exciting!

 

[PrettyWings]

They did bring a version of Xcode to the iPad! That was exciting!!! Swift playground now pushes to App Store. Exciting!

That was actually interesting because people buy Macs to develop iOS. So now that they've allowed that, what about developing for other languages?

 

[jumpcutking]

That was actually interesting because people buy Macs to develop iOS. So now that they've allowed that, what about developing for other languages?

For future developers who only have iPad and who prefer touch. I’d like to se VSCode(ium) on iPad.

 

[DSTOFEL]

Basically, unless you have disposable income, this shows that there was no financial sense to upgrade from a 2018/2020 iPad Pro to the M1. Apple let them down.

+1 I bought a new 2018 iPad Pro from MicroCenter last spring (11 inch, 256gb, WiFi) for $535. Even though I can get $485 from Apple on a trade-in for a new M1 11 inch iPad Pro, I still don’t see the value in it upgrading yet. Sure it will be a bit faster, some apps might not refresh as much in the background and the speakers are a bit louder. But, there’s nothing that I could do with the new M1 IPP that I couldn’t do with the 2018 IPP. I think I’m gonna wait for a display update on the 11 inch before I let go of my 2018.

 

[tekchic]

For future developers who only have iPad and who prefer touch. I’d like to se VSCode(ium) on iPad.

I would *LOVE* to see VSCode on iPad! Currently for "tinkering", I can use Pyto for Python, play.js for JavaScript/Node/React on iPad, but for my day job, it's a MacBook Pro with IntelliJ and VS Code (Java and Angular, mostly).

 

[lddhtx]

Wanna hear something funny… still no calculator or weather apps on iPadOS. What a joke of a release

 

[GuruZac]

If you have 2020 iPad Pro or heck even 2018 iPad pro = Don't buy.
If you don't have any iPad Pro or later = It's worth it.

Simple as that.

Completely agree with this.

 

[PutTheFBackIn]

Yeah nothing really WOW’d me. But I didn’t really have high expectations. I have most of the features I need so anything else at this point is a bonus.

Now, a bigger iMac in space gray (ir other dark color) is a whole other story. I want it. But I figure that’s a holiday release at the earliest.

 

[Maukey]

You watch full movies at work and getting paid? You have a lot of down time or something?

People take stuff so literally. Not that I owe an explanation, but since you’ve dubbed yourself the Make Sure Everyone Is Doing Their Job Police on MacRumors, I‘ll oblige. My work in IT allows me to have a TV playing in the background. I have things like the news, old sitcom re-runs, and yes, sometimes movies I’ve seen running in the background while doing MY JOB. I’m fortunate enough where the type of work I do I can get away with this with no hit to my productivity. I really hope this is okay with you. If not, and you believe I should be fired, you can contact my boss. His name is Maukey 😜

 

[Yoms]

Key takeaways:

• iPadOS is and will remain a sandboxed and constrained OS; It's meant to be this way,
• Bringing macOS to the iPad or unlocking iPadOS; Apple won't do,
• Making iPadOS and macOS work together better (Sidecar and now Universal Control); Apple will do,

I hope this WWDC will clarify this once and for all... or at least for one year.

 

[TiggrToo]

Wanna hear something funny… still no calculator or weather apps on iPadOS. What a joke of a release

Carrot Weather and PCalc. Sorted.

Since when did a lack of a couple of apps make a release “a joke”?

 

[sparksd]

Carrot Weather and PCalc. Sorted.

Since when did a lack of a couple of apps make a release “a joke”?

With so many good 3rd party options available, this has been a major don't-care for me.

 

[TiggrToo]

People take stuff so literally. Not that I owe an explanation, but since you’ve dubbed yourself the Make Sure Everyone Is Doing Their Job Police on MacRumors, I‘ll oblige. My work in IT allows me to have a TV playing in the background. I have things like the news, old sitcom re-runs, and yes, sometimes movies I’ve seen running in the background while doing MY JOB. I’m fortunate enough where the type of work I do I can get away with this with no hit to my productivity. I really hope this is okay with you. If not, and you believe I should be fired, you can contact my boss. His name is Maukey ?

I fired someone for doing that - she liked to watch Netflix “while working”. It’s one thing to listen to music etc., but you cannot multi task like that. If you work for me I expect work, not faffing around.

Still, what do I know? I mean I only have deliverables I have to give to the executives and a team of people who fulfill those and don’t goof off watching “TV in the background”.

YOU were the one who brought up the TV - you opened yourself up to be questioned and criticized as a result.