Show notes
So, at the time of recording, beta versions of the next releases of Apple’s various operating systems have been out for about a month.
In today’s show, I wanted to give you my first impressions of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, which I’ve been beta testing for about 3 weeks now.
I’ll cover both the welcome improvements that iOS desperately needed and the features that are a “Meh” at best
With the caveat that we’re only half way through the public beta testing phase, so further improvements will most probably be available in Fall this year, when iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 will actually ship.
Introduction
- iPadOS 13 on iPad Mini 4 for 3 weeks
- Currently at public beta 4
- Not installed on spare iPhone 8+ yet
- Still some bugs and not 100% stable
- Listen to episode 39 to decide whether or not it’s a good idea to beta test iOS and/or iPadOS
- Listen to episode 40 to learn how to do it safely
Part 1: Welcome improvements
- Read & write on USB keys & external disk
- Per app, preferred langage setting
- Safari downloads manager (possibility to save to iCloud Drive)
- Safari per site settings (request desktop site, Use content blockers, Allow camera, microphone & location access)
- Haptic Touch replacing 3D Touch
- Bluetooth & Wi-Fi long press from Control cEnter
- New triggers for Shortcuts (bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections)
- Bluetooth & USB mouse support (no scroll)
Part 2: Meh at best
- Dark mode
- 3-finger gestures to cut/copy/paste
- App updates hidden behind Apple ID icon
- Multiple app instances (not straightforward)
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that iOS 13 will bring welcome improvements to the iPhone and the iPad.
Actually, iPadOS 13 will be a much bigger step forward compared to iOS 12 and it reminds me of what iOS 11 brought two years ago for the iPad.
At the time, it was split screen, drag & drop and the Files app that allowed us to be more productive on the iPad.
Two years later, we finally get an evolution of those technologies.
It’s great and necessary, but, if the features stay as they are right now in the middle of the public beta phase, it won’t be enough, at least for me, to make me completely replace a Mac laptop with an iPad, even with a mouse and keyboard.