All articles tagged with #ipados
Apple has released developer beta 1 for iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6, watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6, visionOS 26.6, and HomePod 26.6 ahead of WWDC, with Apple yet to reveal new features; the company is expected to unveil iOS 27 and other updates at the June 8 WWDC keynote.
As rumors swirl of a folding iPhone and a touchscreen MacBook, the iPad’s once-clear niche looks increasingly uncertain: the new affordable MacBook Neo narrows the price gap, potentially reshaping who the iPad is for, and if Macs or iPhones gain large touchscreen or folding displays, the iPad’s unique strengths—especially for drawing—could lose their edge.
Apple released 26.4 updates across its major platforms (iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and HomePod), prioritizing security fixes and adding features such as MacBook charging limits, Safari's compact tab view, Stolen Device Protection, new emojis, AI-generated Apple Music playlists, Freeform Creator Studio updates, and Family Sharing payment-method options; end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging is not included in this release, and older OS updates remain available for unsupported devices with a WWDC reveal anticipated on June 8.
Apple released iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, adding Playlist Playground—an AI-powered playlist generator from text prompts—along with new emoji, a revised Purchase Sharing setup in Family Sharing, and several accessibility, UI, and feature upgrades (offline music recognition, ambient music widgets, and more). Some features may vary by region or device.
Apple’s new MacBook Neo, a $599 budget laptop, is driving strong trade-ins and showing that a traditional keyboard and desktop-style multitasking still matter more to many users than tablets, despite iPadOS 26 improvements; the move underscores Apple’s focus on laptops and its guard against cannibalizing its own lineup.
A tech columnist argues Apple has boosted its high-end iPads (iPad Pro with M5 and iPad Air with M4) while the entry-level iPad sticks with an aging A16 chip, delaying access to Apple Intelligence and suggesting a price-forward strategy that leaves the most affordable model behind as AI features roll out and the product lineup shifts.
Apple has released the third beta of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 to developers. The update introduces features teased earlier, including Playlist Playground and Concerts Near You in Apple Music, a redesigned look for albums/ Playlists, native video podcasting in Apple Podcasts, and ongoing testing of end-to-end encryption for RCS between iPhone and Android users. The beta also hints at potential new emojis, plus enhancements like Stolen Device Protection by default, an ambient music widget, and new average bedtime metrics in the Sleep app; full details are summarized in the iOS 26.4 beta features guide.
Apple's iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and macOS 26.4 betas add notable behind-the-scenes updates: Playlist Playground for Apple Music prompts, native video podcasts in Podcasts, a Freeform Creator Studio with stock images and AI-generated content, a new manual battery-charge limit for Macs, experimental encrypted RCS messaging, the return of Safari's Compact tab view, Stolen Device Protection enabled by default, and early Rosetta end-notification prompts ahead of the planned macOS 28 sunset.
Apple’s third betas of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 reportedly break several Continuity features on newer devices (iPhone 17 series and iPad Pro M5), including iPhone mirroring, AirPlay to Apple TV 4K, Continuity Camera to Mac or Apple TV 4K, and Sidecar from Mac to iPad Pro. Apple has published developer release notes but hasn’t explained the cause; a fix is expected in upcoming betas. A public release of iOS 26.3/iPadOS 26.3 may slip to early February, so testers are advised to hold off updating to the third beta.
Apple released the third public betas of iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3 to public testers after the developer beta, adding support for the second-generation AirTag (including Precision Finding on Apple Watch), a device-to-Android transfer tool during iPhone setup, and EU wearables changes; public release is expected later in January, with beta enrollment available via Apple’s beta site.
Apple has released the third developer betas of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, introducing a new iPhone-to-Android transfer tool that can be started during device setup and moves data without a separate app. The update also adds an EU Notification Forwarding setting for third-party wearables and makes minor Weather wallpaper changes, with a public release expected by the end of January.
iPadOS 26.1 Beta 2 has reintroduced the Slide Over multitasking feature, enhancing multitasking capabilities on iPads.
iPadOS 26.1 beta 2 restores the Slide Over multitasking feature to the iPad, allowing users to easily pull apps in and out of view alongside the new windowing system, although only one Slide Over app can be used at a time in this beta.
macOS Tahoe introduces several iPad-inspired features to the Mac, including a revamped Control Center, automation in Shortcuts, redesigned app icons, and a new app browser replacing Launchpad, all aimed at enhancing cross-platform cohesion and user experience.
Apple's Craig Federighi explains that iPad and Mac will remain separate, with iPadOS focusing on simplicity and touch-first experiences, avoiding merging into macOS like a 'spork'—a combination of spoon and fork—because each device serves different purposes and user needs.