With iPadOS 14, the iPad gains access to additional enhancements that help further drive it as a device for everything. Along with all the changes that are shared with iOS 14, this update is primarily focused on transforming Apple Pencil into a tool that can be used in more ways across the operating system.
The update also adds the necessary refinements to take advantage of all the additional screen space available on iPad. Watch our hands-on video tutorial as we discuss the notable changes and features found in iPadOS 14 beta.
Application design enhancements
iPadOS 14 is packed with several application-oriented changes that result in a friendlier computing experience. New sidebars found in apps like Photos and Files speed up workflows by displaying frequently used areas and information with a more consistent design language.
In addition to the improved sidebars, apps also get access to toolbars that expose more app features and new desktop drop-down menus that consolidate multiple features into one area. Be sure to check out our hands-on video tutorial below for a demo of what I’m describing here.
Other improvements found in iPadOS 14 are subtle, but appreciated. For example, the pop-up menu that appears when composing a new email is now automatically minimized when you tap outside the pop-up window.
Video: iPadOS 14 changes and features
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Following the example of context maintenance enhancements for Siri and incoming phone calls, Spotlight search now appears as a simple overlay instead of taking users to a dedicated Spotlight interface. This updated design closely resembles what happens when Spotlight is invoked on the Mac and allows users to start Spotlight searches without hiding the current application being used.
Compact UI
The aforementioned updates to the Incoming Calls interface and Siri are also available on iPadOS 14. Instead of diverting attention from the current app, incoming calls from iPhone, FaceTime and VoIP applications now appear as a handy banner on top. from the screen.
Siri also gets a new interface for context-keeping, moving away from the dark full-screen interface present in iPadOS 13. And while such an update is a step in the right direction, interacting with any other area of the iPad will immediately rule out Siri. In future updates, it would be nice if Siri could stay active even while users were working on other apps.
Main improvements of Apple Pencil
One of the biggest changes for iPadOS 14 is the promotion of Apple Pencil from a primarily creative asset to a tool that now feels like a more natural way to interact with all areas of iPadOS.
The new Scribble functionality allows users to use handwriting on any text box with Apple Pencil, giving users a viable alternative to typing on the keyboard. Scribble also comes equipped with built-in shortcuts that allow you to easily delete, select, and insert text. There’s even a scribble palette that dynamically changes options depending on the current app being used.
Along with Scribble, iPadOS 14 gets improved note-taking functionality from Apple Pencil. Users can now select handwritten words just as they would with typed text. Selected handwritten text can be copied and pasted as written note-taking text, and data detectors will automatically recognize things like email addresses and phone numbers.
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Many of the changes and features found in iPadOS 14 are similar to those in iOS 14, so to get an in-depth look at everything new coming to iPad, be sure to take a look at our detailed iOS 14 video tutorial.
You might have noticed that I didn’t talk about Widgets, and that’s because not only are they essentially the same as in iOS 14, but they can’t be placed in the general area of the home screen like they can be on the iPhone. Instead, widgets are relegated to the dedicated widget area on the first page of the home screen, just like in iPadOS 13. We hope that a future version of iPadOS will provide widgets with a sort of jail-out card.
In any case, the iPad continues to forge its own path, and we will continue to see improvements, large and small, that give it a unique identity. Although not always noticeable right away, improvements to the app’s design help get the iPad moving forward, while major updates like Apple Pencil’s enhanced support stand out as core features.
What is your new favorite change or feature found in iPadOS 14? Sound down with your thoughts.
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