Wired
This week we got the news that iPadOS has been delayed until March, and it will be released alongside macOS. Delays, bad news, can make all the sense in the world and start this year.
iPadOS is a headache for beta users and Apple. Its new feature, Stage Manager, along with its macOS equivalent, was announced as a major novelty for this new release, but it still leaves a lot to be desired at this point, and at this point, a delayed release seems most sensible logical thing. It’s better to receive this feature after it’s perfected than to use too many bugs that might end up with a good idea in the trash.
As Mark Gurman confirmed in his latest newsletter (link) iPadOS won’t come with iOS 16 this year. The iPad version won’t be until July, at the same time as the macOS (Ventura) update. What is the reason for this update? There seems to be at least one basic principle: the stage manager is still green, and Apple doesn’t think it can fix the 16th release of this year. iOS 9 and watchOS 16 will debut in September, with iPadOS 9 and macOS Ventura coming in September.
This is not without its drawbacks, as iPhone and iPad users will see their iPhones have a slightly different software version from the iPad version within a few weeks, and there will be new iPhone features that aren’t available on the iPad, such as messaging and new Home apps New features in programs, etc. Developers will also have some headaches, because when developing a universal app for iPhone and iPad, they will have to decide whether to add new features to their app knowing that these new features won’t work on the iPad , or wait until September and launch them with an updated tablet.
But if we analyze it from another angle, as Gurman pointed out in his announcement, it makes sense in the world. If iOS 16 and watchOS 9 are released together, two closely related versions, iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura are also normal for two “inseparable” devices. The iPad and Mac have become more unified, and Apple’s tablet has become more related to its computer than it has to the iPhone. In fact, Stage Manager will be available on iPads (with M1 processors) and Macs. Accidents like this year could mean Apple changing its software release schedule from now on.
In fact, this is the first time Apple has made such a decision on the iPad. Let’s remember the disastrous release of iOS 7, which had a lot of problems on the iPhone, and especially the iPad, but its release was not delayed. Apple is different, now it was announced long ago that he would prioritize stability over news, but it’s still curious that he made that decision this year. Maybe we should start getting used to this situation.