[Apple WWDC] Smarter iPad OS... Enhanced Multitasking

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Apple has unveiled a new iPad operating system (OS) with significantly enhanced multitasking features.

On the morning of the 7th (local time), Apple revealed 'iPadOS 15' at the Worldwide Developers Conference 21 (WWDC21), held online. WWDC is an annual event where Apple announces its latest operating systems and new technologies.

This iPadOS 15 focuses on expanding multitasking capabilities. First, it introduced a multitasking interface that allows two apps to be placed side by side on the iPad screen. Using the new multitasking menu displayed at the top of apps, users can activate 'Split View' or 'Slide Over' modes with a single tap to divide the screen. Additionally, the new dock feature makes it easy to multitask with apps that have multiple windows, such as Safari and Pages, and when using an external keyboard, new shortcuts allow quick screen switching.

Another notable change is the ability to place widgets on the home screen. This feature, introduced in iOS 14 last year, has been brought to iPadOS, allowing users to arrange widgets more flexibly than before. This improves upon the previous limitation where widgets could only be placed in the 'Today View' sidebar despite the iPad's large screen. Furthermore, the newly added 'App Library' enables direct access to all apps from the dock.

The 'Quick Note' feature, which allows note-taking anywhere in the system, has also been updated. The 'Quick Note' function introduced in iPadOS 15 activates when the Apple Pencil is brought to the bottom right corner of the screen and dragged inward, enabling users to save phone numbers or simple notes without opening the Notes app separately. Additionally, existing Notes have been enhanced with tags, mentions, and a new activity view to strengthen collaboration features.

A new translation feature has also been introduced. The new version of the Translate app for iPad allows users to translate spoken and discussed content on the screen in real time. The automatic translation function recognizes who is speaking and in which language, so users can continue conversations naturally without pressing the microphone button. Besides general text and handwriting translation, it also integrates with the Live Text feature to translate text within photos.

Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, said, "With more intuitive multitasking, integrated widgets, and Quick Note that allows note-taking throughout the system, users' productivity will be further enhanced."

iPadOS 15 developer beta is available starting today, and a public preview will be offered from next month. The official release is scheduled for after the third quarter, and the upgrade will be free of charge.