Last month, Apple’s tablets received a major update with the arrival of the M4 chip, two size options for the iPad Air, updates to the Magic Keyboard and a new iPad Pro with a beautiful Tandem OLED display. And now, at WWDC 2024, Apple is looking to further develop the iPad software with the introduction of Apple Intelligence and a number of new features on the way to iPadOS 18, due out sometime later this year.
For starters, iPadOS gets deeper customization options for your home screen, including the ability to place app icons virtually anywhere you want. Apple’s Control Center has also been expanded with support for creating multiple lists and views, resizing and rearranging icons, and more. There’s also a new floating tab bar to help you navigate between apps with ease, which can be further fine-tuned to remember your favorites. Next, SharePlay gains the ability to draw diagrams on someone else’s iPad or control someone else’s device remotely (with permission) for times when you need to help troubleshoot problems, for example.
After years of requests, the iPad is now getting its own version of the Calculator app, which includes a new Math Notes feature that supports the Apple Pencil and the ability to enter handwritten formulas. Math Notes even updates formulas in real time, or you can save them in case you want to revisit things later. Alternatively, the Smart Script tool in the Notes app uses machine learning to make your notes less cluttered and easier to edit.
Overall privacy is also upgraded with a new feature that lets you lock an app. This allows a friend or family member to borrow your device without having full access to everything on your tablet. Alternatively, there’s also a new hidden apps folder, so you can stash away sensitive software in a more secretive way.
In Messages, Tapbacks are now compatible with all your emoji. Additionally, you can schedule messages or send text messages via satellite if you are not currently connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network. In fact, Apple says messages sent via satellite will include end-to-end encryption.
The Mail and Photos apps are also getting similarly major updates. Mail will include new categories intended to make it easier to find specific types of offers or information (such as airplane flights). Meanwhile, the Photos app will have an updated user interface that lets you view specific types of images while hiding things like screenshots. And to better highlight older photos and memories, new categories like Recent Days and People & Pets are coming to bring similar types of photos all into one collection.
Audio controls on iPads also get a boost with a new ability for Siri to understand “Yes” and “No” gestures by shaking or nodding your head while wearing AirPods. This should make it easier to provide Apple’s digital assistant with simple answers in areas like a busy bus or a quiet waiting room where you might not feel comfortable talking out loud.
The biggest addition this year, however, is that in addition to all the iPad-specific features, Apple’s tablet operating system also gets Apple Intelligence. This includes many of the company’s new AI-powered features, like the ability to create website summaries, proofread or rewrite emails, or even generate new art based on your prompts.
Apple says that to make its AI more useful, features will be more personalized and contextual. That said, the company claims it won’t build profiles or sell data to outside parties to help protect your privacy and security. In general, Apple says it will use on-device processing for most of its tools, although some features will require help from the cloud.
As an iconic digital assistant, Siri is also getting a major overhaul via Apple Intelligence. This includes better natural language recognition and the ability to understand and remember the context from one question to another. Siri can also help you use your device, so you can ask your tablet how to perform certain tasks, search for files, or control apps and features with your voice.
Some examples of what Apple Intelligence can do is highlight priority emails and move them to the top of your inbox so you don’t miss any important messages or events. Or if you’re more creative, you can use AI to create unique emoji (called Genmoji). And in Photos, Apple Intelligence can help you edit images with things like the Cleanup tool. And for those who want the freedom to use other AI models, Apple is adding the option to integrate other services, the first of which will be Chat GPT.
Finally, other minor updates include a new Passwords app for saving login credentials in apps and websites, a new dedicated Game mode with personalized spatial audio, expanded walking results in Apple Maps, and a new eye-tracking feature for improved accessibility.
Check out all the news from here Apple’s WWDC 2024.
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