All iPads Yikes (WWDC 2021)

[bob24]

Siri initially launched as a stand-alone app on the app store before Apple bought it and integrated it into the OS and made it online-only so they could make it smarter.

Siri was never a stand-alone App. It was the flagship feature for the launch of the iPhone 4S and was fully built-into iOS. I remember this very clearly.

It was partly based on technology from an App which Apple had acquired. But that App was different from Siri (not just the name, the functionality as well).

 

[rui no onna]

Yes, and also it is a better display and speakers. Sure the Air's display is fine, but having used a ProMotion display, going back to a lower refresh rate iPad would be a rather annoying downgrade for me.

Personally, don't really care about quad-speakers or ProMotion (and I've had those since 2016 & 2017 respectively).

 

[Apple_Robert]

Well that was…disappointing.

I didn't find it disappointing because I went into today not basing my tech happiness on rumors and false expectations. If you look at Apple's history, today was right on track Apple.

 

[kc9hzn]

2) It is really strange at this point. Like, beyond curious, at this point it is a seriously confusing thing that cannot be accidental. Is there a company out there that owns a patent on built-in tablet calculator and weather apps or something? It's just inexplicable.

4, 5, and 6) Apple really shows it's weakness with this stuff. Apple really shines when it's in charge of the whole vertical process, in launching features in a fully integrated way from day 1. Take FaceTime for example - all these cool new features will be available on nearly all iPhones, iPads, and Macs almost at the same time. But when Apple needs third-party buy-in (healthcare, government, third-party integrators) they seem to fall flat. Apple is not alone in this, Google and Amazon also struggle with this. I think Apple has been promising super amazing Wallet and services integrations for years now, and they never seem to materialize (remember mini apps - what ever happened to that?)

COVID! But seriously, that sort of idea was always going to be a multiyear initiative, and a big part of it was finding these App Clips out in the wild (via physical infrastructure) when we needed them. We spent a year under varying levels of lockdowns (with places like California hit especially hard), and physical infrastructure takes a long time to change, even without COVID. Restaurants closed for indoor dining (and many closed outright, unable to pay the bills on delivery alone). Many people stayed at home and so wouldn’t find the App Clip on the bike rental place.

 

[MacBird]

Yes, I’m hanging onto my 2017.

Same here, for regular use the 2017 iPad Pro is fast enough, at least for another year.

 

[DMG35]

Laughing at all the people in here that insisted that the M1 iPad was getting not only its own special "Pro Apps" but even a completely different OS than the rest of the iPads.

The iPad OS and apps will always remain the same because that's the way Apple wants it. You have to give them credit though for bilking people out of their money for the 16GB of RAM that they absolutely don't need.

 

[kc9hzn]

No it was never a stand-alone App. It was the flagship feature for the launch of the iPhone 4S and was fully built-into iOS. I remember this very clearly.

No, it was a third party app before Apple purchased it. I definitely used Siri on my original iPad (I remember that it didn’t support my 2nd Gen iPod touch, so, when I bought the iPad, I tried Siri out on it), but, of course, it was an iPhone app, it wasn’t iPad native. But after Apple purchased it, yes, it was built into iOS and was the flagship feature of the iPhone 4S.

 

[LFC2020]

Laughing at all the people in here that insisted that the M1 iPad was getting not only its own special "Pro Apps" but even a completely different OS than the rest of the iPads.

The iPad OS and apps will always remain the same because that's the way Apple wants it. You have to give them credit though for bilking people out of their money for the 16GB of RAM that they absolutely don't need.

I’m laughing at myself for actually thinking apple will innovate again

 

[Darth Tulhu]

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.

I agree, aside from the multitasking.

We'll never get floating windows on an iPad... Folks need to let this go.

However, with the latter two I expected them, but instead got a reinforcement that the iPad is an in-between device between the iPhone and Mac once we got to the Monterrey section of the keynote.

Perhaps we'll get a Fall event where Final Cut for iPad is announced, but it looks like for now Apple wrote on the wall:

The iPad is for light, in-between work and the Mac is for serious work.

Or, they just have too many balls in the air for this.

 

[Carlanga]

Are you sure this is correct? I remember Siri not working on my iPhone 4S when mobile data connectivity was poor.

You are right, I’m referring to voice controls which where part of the os in the 3GS. When Siri ´beta’ came out they moved voice controls functions into the siri beta which was internet only. In short, all these regular functions like call/next.song/etc where part of their os and didn’t require an internet connection.

 

[bscheffel]

Out of curiosity: what iOS/iPadOS app did you program and deploy in the new Swift Playgrounds app? What was specifically annoying?

That's the case for almost every real "pro" tool, only a minority of people use them. Doesn't mean they shouldn't be built as there's a trickle down effect for regular consumers.

I didn't find it disappointing because I went into today not basing my tech happiness on rumors and false expectations. If you look at Apple's history, today was right on track Apple.

I agree with you for the most part *except* Apple did alot of things out of the norm with the new iPad Pro hardware that seemed to indicate change was afoot; disclosing RAM and offering a version with 2X the RAM as the other model, using the same processor as Mac. If iPadOS 15 was going to be business as usual they would have given it an A14X processor and quietly given it 2GB more RAM. That would be "right on track" for Apple iPad hardware.

 

[DMG35]

I’m laughing at myself for actually thinking apple will innovate again

Eh don't sweat it man. You had good intentions with your positive thoughts. They just aren't going to do that type of thing with the iPads as they want them all unified just like iOS is unified and MacOS is unified.

 

[snipr125]

Personally, if I didn't need TouchID right now, I'd still choose the 2021 Pro. 4GB RAM is starting to feel tight with my usage.




AP2 and MKB are compatible with the Air 4.

rui no onna, it’s quite ironic that the screen shot you are trying to show (I presume apple website showing the MK and pencil 2 being compatible with Air 4), has ended up showing the same safari error page that you have been getting frequently due to lack of iPad RAM!

 

[bob24]

No, it was a third party app before Apple purchased it. I definitely used Siri on my original iPad (I remember that it didn’t support my 2nd Gen iPod touch, so, when I bought the iPad, I tried Siri out on it), but, of course, it was an iPhone app, it wasn’t iPad native. But after Apple purchased it, yes, it was built into iOS and was the flagship feature of the iPhone 4S.

Yes the was an App they acquired, but it was not Siri.

Part of the technology supporting that App was leveraged by Apple for Siri, but the App had a different name, a different feature-set, and wasn't an Apple product (shortly after Apple purchased the App they removed it from the App Store).

Siri itself was never released as a stand alone App. It launched as an iOS feature exclusive to the iPhone 4s.

 

[leebroath]

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 ?

Yep I’m saving myself a nice heap of change, returning the 1TB 12.9 Pro and the Logitech Keyboard

Going back to my trusty 11” iPad 1TB Pro which will do me.

The wife will be happy now, she’ll get more things for the back garden which is about to overhauled

 

[oneMadRssn]

I agree with you for the most part *except* Apple did alot of things out of the norm with the new iPad Pro hardware that seemed to indicate change was afoot; disclosing RAM and offering a version with 2X the RAM as the other model, using the same processor as Mac. If iPadOS 15 was going to be business as usual they would have given it an A14X processor and quietly given it 2GB more RAM. That would be "right on track" for Apple iPad hardware.

Agreed. This is the best response to all these people claiming our unfounded expectations were too high. Apple released an iPad with a desktop-class SoC and desktop-capacity RAM. It was completely expected that they would release an OS to match. Sucks that they failed to live up their own hardware.

 

[MrEcted]

I‘m returning one of my M1 iPads (the 12.9, still keeping the 11?)

 

[Darth Tulhu]

So realistically, knowing what we know now:

M1 iPad Pro overkill?

Nope. That thing is officially a Mac replacement for me (strict home use with no external monitor support needed).

This is the iPad I KEEP.

Future software and updates will not bog this one down for a LONG time.

All for the same price I would have paid last year.

iPad Air is looking really solid for me right now. I don't see much advantage between Air and 11" Pro. Limited by software, the A14 looks more than capable for years to come.

Thoughts?

I also just pulled the trigger on a refurbished 2018 12.9" Pro for the following reasons:

1. Bigger screen than the Air
2. Pro Motion display (not on Air)
3. Same amount of RAM as the Air (4GB)
4. Same amount of storage (256GB)
5. Same camera
6. $111 less than the Air (with Veteran discount)
7. A12X is STILL a monster, and it's use will be light (for the wife's non-techie tasks)
8. Better screen for drawing on than the Air

 

[transpo1]

I didn't find it disappointing because I went into today not basing my tech happiness on rumors and false expectations. If you look at Apple's history, today was right on track Apple.

Right on track for 45% of the WWDCs in their history that have had no hardware. The other 65% did.

My guess is these MBPs got pulled because of supply and/or design constraints due to mini-LED and Taiwanese chip shortage. Otherwise, they would have announced.

 

[angus99]

Yep I’m man enough to admit I was wrong, I’ve learned to except that apple holds off adding new features so they can milk their customers for longer.

Unfortunately android is garbage, so I’m stuck with apple ?‍♂️?

Have you actually tried android? Not sure how you can say it’s garbage, unless you are fully bought in to the apple ecosystem.

A few years ago I was fully tie-in to apple, with iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro and an iMac, but gradually moved away for various reasons. Just bought the new iPad Pro, but pretty disappointed with IPadOS, which really hasn’t changed much since my iPad Air 2 died three years ago.

Don’t get me wrong the hardware is fantastic, but I can still do more with my 3 year old galaxy tab S4. I wasn’t expecting MacOS on iPad, but not having full screen monitor support and decent file management, is ridiculous, especially after all the hype of the m1 iPad Pro launch.

I expect I’ll return mine and get a galaxy tab s7 or hold on to the s4 for a couple more months and get the s8 when it’s released.

 

[kc9hzn]

I agree, aside from the multitasking.

We'll never get floating windows on an iPad... Folks need to let this go.

However, with the latter two I expected them, but instead got a reinforcement that the iPad is an in-between device between the iPhone and Mac once we got to the Monterrey section of the keynote.

Perhaps we'll get a Fall event where Final Cut for iPad is announced, but it looks like for now Apple wrote on the wall:

The iPad is for light, in-between work and the Mac is for serious work.

Or, they just have too many balls in the air for this.

Actually, that’s a good point, something like Final Cut wouldn’t be announced at WWDC unless it were available immediately. They could easily delay it to the fall launch or the next iPad event or launch it later via a virtual PR event. It likely took Apple the better part of two years to get the first version of GarageBand on the iPad, the fact that they haven’t said anything doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t working on it.

I agree that resizable, desktop style windows aren’t ever going to be a thing on the iPad, and I’m not sure why people want them. Better multiple monitor support does make sense for some contexts, and I’m sure Apple plans on improving Files (but keep in mind, there might not actually be a full time developer working on just the Files app, unlike more prominent apps like Safari and Messages), so I wouldn’t lose hope for them. It looks like there was probably some show stopper issue with Home Screen widgets on iPadOS14, which could easily have delayed other larger iPad updates by a year.

 

[snipr125]

I’m laughing at myself for actually thinking apple will innovate again

LFC2020, I know your disappointed right now but these M1 iPads are the most luxurious and powerful tablets on the market right now bar nothing. Software developers like Adobe etc going forward are definitely going to update their Apps to take advantage of the M1 chip on the new iPad Pros and all the extra RAM available, it’s just not going to happen overnight. Enjoy the device for what it is right now.

 

[kc9hzn]

Yes the was an App they acquired, but it was not Siri.

Part of the technology supporting that App was leveraged by Apple for Siri, but the App had a different name, a different feature-set, and wasn't an Apple product (shortly after Apple purchased the App they removed it from the App Store).

Siri itself was never released as a stand alone App. It launched as an iOS feature exclusive to the iPhone 4s.

It was called Siri, though. It seems a little nitpicky to say that it wasn’t Siri. It’s a little like saying that Workflow (the app that Apple bought that became Shortcuts) isn’t the same app (when you can definitely see the family resemblance). For what it’s worth, I still have Shortcuts in the Shortcuts app that were originally Workflow scripts I created.

 

[dranakin]

I’m laughing at myself for actually thinking apple will innovate again

Back in my day, Apple used to drive their innovation with the mentality that “users don’t know what they want yet, so we should define it for them” instead of waiting for market share to catch up…

 

[Robstevo]

Yes the was an App they acquired, but it was not Siri.

Part of the technology supporting that App was leveraged by Apple for Siri, but the App had a different name, a different feature-set, and wasn't an Apple product (shortly after Apple purchased the App they removed it from the App Store).

Siri itself was never released as a stand alone App. It launched as an iOS feature exclusive to the iPhone 4s.

You are plain wrong, Siri was an app, and it was even called siri. What are you talking about?

The Original Siri App Gets Pulled From The App Store, Servers To Be Killed | TechCrunch

Long before today's announcement that the Siri Voice Assistant would be an integral part of iOS, Siri was a third-party app. It wasn't as pretty, and not nearly as well integrated, but it had one big advantage: it ran on just about any iOS device. Then Apple bought Siri. It immediately became...

www.google.com.au

Apple bought it then integrated it into the OS.

I remember the app clearly, it was called Siri, and actually had more functionality than the first version apple implemented (such as an offline feature).

I don’t even get what your argument is.

Siri was a stand-alone app, apple bought that stand alone app. Fact.