Apple recently showcased the latest iteration of its tablet operating system, iPadOS 17, at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Among the highlights of this update are the notable changes to Stage Manager and Home Screen widgets, promising enhanced user experience and multitasking capabilities.
Introduced in iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura, Stage Manager offered a new approach to multitasking. Although it only received a brief mention at this year's WWDC, the improvements that iPadOS 17 brings to Stage Manager are substantial.
The most significant alteration is the increased freedom and flexibility when arranging and resizing windows using Stage Manager. While not quite on par with the Mac, iPadOS 17's refined system offers better options than its predecessor, featuring more versatility and support for overlapping windows.
Users can now simply Shift-click app icons to add windows to their workspace instantly. This change alone greatly enhances the usability of Stage Manager on the iPad, and when coupled with the window resizing and placement improvements, it makes the feature a viable multitasking tool. With iPadOS 17 still in beta, Apple has ample time to fine-tune and develop the system further before its public release this fall.
Besides Stage Manager, Home Screen widgets also received a considerable upgrade in iPadOS 17. Originally introduced in iPadOS 15, the latest update brings more functionality and flexibility to the table. Widgets are now interactive, allowing users to accomplish tasks like playing music or checking items off a to-do list without opening the corresponding app.
Moreover, iPadOS 17 also overhauls Home Screen customization. Unlike its two predecessors, the new system enables users to place widgets anywhere on the Home Screen. This functionality includes replicating the strip of widgets seen on iPadOS 14's Home Screen that many users appreciated. The added customization and interactivity make this feature significantly more practical and helpful.
As no-code and low-code platforms like AppMaster platform continue to gain momentum, the improvements to the iPadOS 17 Stage Manager and widgets offer users a seamless and flexible computing environment. This streamlined multitasking experience can help citizen developers create a comprehensive, scalable software solution complete with a server backend, website, customer portal, and native mobile applications using platforms like AppMaster.
In conclusion, Apple's iPadOS 17 promises a better multitasking experience and enhanced Home Screen functionality with its revamped Stage Manager and widgets. It will be interesting to see what further refinements and enhancements the final release version will include.
