14 DAY TRIAL // Apple unveiled today during the live WWDC 2019 keynote a brand-new operating system for iPad users, called iPadOS, which promises unique and more powerful iOS experiences for iPad devices.
Derived from iOS 13, the iPadOS 13 promises powerful new capabilities tailored specifically for iPad users, including richer multitasking with multi-window support for apps, the ability to switch between multiple apps in Slide Over, and a much-improved Split View that now lets you work with multiple files from the same app at the same time. Also new in iPadOS is a redesigned Home screen that offers more information at a glance.
iPadOS comes with a greatly improved Files app that now supports importing files from USB thumb drives, external disks, and SD cards, folder sharing, SMB (Samba) file shares, Quick Actions to more easily mark up, rotate and create PDFs, support for zipping and unzipping archives, local storage, and new keyboard shortcuts. Support for Apple Pencil was enhanced as well in iPadOS so you can mark up and send entire web pages, emails, and documents.
"iPad transforms how people work and express their creativity, and with iPadOS, we’re taking it even further by delivering exciting capabilities that take advantage of its large canvas and versatility," said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. "iPadOS delivers exciting features, including a new Home screen with widgets, more powerful multitasking and new tools that make using Apple Pencil even more natural."
Supported devices and availability
iPadOS continues Apple's dream to turn the iPad into a portable computer, so it introduces a much anticipated feature in the Safari web browser allowing you to browser the Web like on a Mac computer. The desktop versions of all websites will be presented on your iPad with iPadOS 13, optimized for touch input and the iPad display. Another exciting feature in iPadOS is the improved text editing, making it easier to select, copy, and paste text from all apps and the Web.
Of course, iOS 13's new Dark Mode will be available as well in iPadOS 13, along with lots of other great new features like a new floating keyboard with swipe support, the ability to install custom fonts, up to 60 percent smaller updates, up to 50 percent reduced download size for apps, more responsive and faster Face ID unlock, an improved Photos app, a totally revamped Reminders app, and Sign In with Apple.
iPadOS 13 will be supported on iPad mini 4, iPad mini 5th generation, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3rd generation, iPad 5th generation, iPad 6th generation, iPad Pro 9.7‑inch, iPad Pro 12.9‑inch, iPad Pro 10.5 inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11 inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation). The first beta release is out now and the final release will be coming this fall as a free update.