Tech Tip — iPadOS Gives You A Whole New Experience
iPadOS is a big lead forward this year. It looks different, feels different, and acts different as an operating system for arguably the most popular and productive tablet device you can buy. It is exactly what the iPad needed, and yet, I am not sure most people will really care.
Wait… What? Aren’t you a big iPad fan and have said it needs more to make it better?
I am a huge iPad fan and user. It is the most flexible device I own and use. I love my iPad and what I can get done with it. I have found it powerful enough to be nearly the only computer-like device I need, and I find it perfect for very specific use cases. It is a versatile and useful tool I utilize every day.
So, what aren’t you excited about the iPadOS 26 upgrade?
iPadOS 26 Updates
It’s not that I am not happy they made the changes they did. I just don’t think that most people care as much about these changes as some claim. The updates are what the iPad needed. With extremely powerful hardware on the inside, the complaint from extreme users was the software was not keeping up with the hardware. I agree. However, unless you are trying to run your social media channels, video production, both creating and consuming graphic intensive media, the iPad worked really well before. Heavy pro users complained that you couldn’t do enough multitasking with the iPad. It wasn’t computer-like enough.
I never quite understand why so many of those users wanted to make the iPad a full computer replacement. Yes, it's nice to have a single device to do your work on, regardless of what that work is. However, for the vast majority of people, they don’t use just one device. In fact, most people end up with a work computer and a personal computer. It is a bit of a luxury to be able to seamlessly blend those two things together. And, even when it is possible, I know plenty of people who don’t want to do that anyway. You see it with phones all the time. They carry one phone for their work and one for personal. They need that separation. They value being able to keep their personal data away from their work information. I respect that. (But I hated the idea of carrying two phones, so I have always blended those things.) I also tried whenever possible to have a single computer, and my personal iPad was used for both home and work activities. It was almost always manageable, if somewhat inconvenient at times.
Bring on windows
Thinking in terms of this new iPadOS 26 release, the most significant change is the windowing system and ability to have multiple applications open and active at the same time. The look and feel is very much like macOS or even Windows. I like it. However, I don’t use it that much. I am not someone, and I think I am in the majority here, that needs multiple windows open at the same time. Especially on a small screen. On my 32-inch Mac I do have two or three windows open at a time on the screen, but almost always as a reference, not because I am working across all three applications at the same time. Then, when I think about the screen size of the iPad (and I use the 13” iPad Pro), I don’t often need to have multiple windows open because it becomes too small to work with anyway. Maybe that’s just my older eyes struggling to keep up.
Other changes of note
Beyond the new windowing features of iPadOS 26, there were other changes. I did cover some of the base iOS 26 changes in a previous article, and you can read that here. The look and feel with the Liquid Glass and color schemes is more noticeable on the iPad simply because of the larger screen. It looks good and is functional.
Preview Apple added a new application in ‘Preview’ for viewing and managing PDF documents. This function much like its namesake from the Mac. For a majority of users, this will be the only PDF document manager you will need. Minor edits and annotations can be completed within the app. Think signing documents, adding text to entry areas, or highlighting. It works very well. It is long overdue to have a proper tool like this built in to the iPad operating system.
Journal Apple introduced their Journal application last year for the iPhone. This year, it came to the iPad and Mac as well. This was welcomed for users that had adopted this tool for their daily journaling practice. It is an excellent tool that serves as a great entry point for journaling. It has reminders you can set up to ensure you don’t miss a day. The access to photos and other information on your device works seamlessly, which is a nice thing about using a native app. I did cover the Journal app for iPhone in a Tech Tip from last year. I may revisit this again now that it supports users across all platforms.
Files The Files application now serves as a much better companion for managing the files on your device and across the Apple ecosystem. I say Apple ecosystem, but it does allow you to connect your external file saving platforms as well. You can manage Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and more from within the Files app. It functions more like the Finder app on a Mac now, and that is welcomed. As with most everything I have covered in this article, it now serves the vast majority of users in a suitable way. Only power users will still be for wanting on a few missing features you can find on advanced file management tools. I find the Files app now to be very workable for finding, opening, and managing files across my devices.
Where does it go from here
I mentioned in an earlier article, Tech Tip — Gazing Into Apple’s Future: One OS to Rule Them All?, that I believe Apple is working towards a more unified operating platform for all devices. In the coming years, the operating systems will feel seamless and the same. The device will be the determining factor of how users interact with and can work within the operating system. There is already a tremendous amount of cross-functionality and sameness when you’re in the Apple ecosystem. Continuing to close the gap between what you can do on an iPad, iPhone, or Mac will narrow. This allows users to determine which device they what to use for the task at hand. I think this is exactly how technology should work. You have a problem, technology can help, and you select the one that best serves that immediate purpose. Emerging AI solutions only necessitate that more. I think the iPadOS 26 update is an important one, I just don’t think it is life changing, or even use-case changing for the majority of users. It is laying more groundwork to help people have the options they’ll need for the future. From that perspective, I am excited for Apple has accomplished here. Well done.
What are your thoughts on iPadOS 26? Are you using your iPad differently now?
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