Improving iPadOS != making it macOS: iPad Pro Top Features

iPadOS doesnt need to be macOS, and the iPad doesnt need to be a Mac. iPadOS is an amazing operating system, but Apple must address a few fundamental flaws as it continues to improve the iPad experience.

I’ve been using the iPad Pro for the last few days exclusively, and it’s been a good experience on a lot of fronts. As I consider the new iPad Pro top features, I intertwine my thoughts on how Apple can fix iPadOS.

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## Chapters
00:00 Introduction

## Tags
#9to5mac #apple #tech

[DomainObject]

I’m a developer. I want to code and compile on my iPad, just like artists want to draw, edit video, and create music. Why is my use case 2nd class? Doesn’t make sense.

Give us a macOS dual boot option and all the general use cases that the iPad currently doesn’t address would then be addressed. Not hard and doesn’t impact using the iPad as a tablet with iPadOS when desired.

Come on Apple. Make the iPad the magical pane of glass that you purport it to be…. For *all* pros.

[Gubby-Man]

This is probably the best HDR video I’ve seen on YouTube. It’s doesn’t over brighten everything and it just keeps the HDR for highlights. The skin tones still look normal compared to other videos where it sometimes looks too reddish. The iPad screen pops when you want to show it off and the backgrounds are beautiful, especially with that bokeh. Other YouTubers should learn from this video.

[Aaron_Bleu]

Finally a video from someone who truly knows what it’s like to use an iPad daily. You put into words what I have been thinking for years. One of the best I’ve seen on the topic.

[edd]

Apart from the awful file management, The core problem is the closed platform that is IPadOs, people seems to complain about the limited apps but forget that developers have to follow app store´s guide lines, and those are too restrictive...

[scottphardin]

First iPad video I’ve seen in a while that wasn’t entirely predictable

[mikespies]

I'm looking for a multiuse device with portability, long battery life, amazing screen resolution and the ability to do amateur-level video editing for personal use only. As much as I can appreciate the frustration that professional video and content editors (and other professional users) may have with iPadOS, many of us are simply looking for a fun-to-own-fun-to-use device. After watching this and several others, I went with the 2TB model with the Magic Keyboard and Pencil. It was gawd awful expensive, but the confidence that the M4 and 2TB will allow me to own this device for several years gives me confidence that it was money well spent. Not everyone is trying to make a living using Apple products, some of us are just trying to live life and Apple, IMO, does an amazing job of making that journey far more accessible and enjoyable.

[DeusEx.Machina]

iPadOS needs:
• Full Terminal.
• File App needs to be more like Finder (Ability to choose default apps for files, Extension support, automations support, etc).
• Simultaneous recording with both cameras.
• iWork needs to be the full version.
• Ability to add files to desktop.
• Xcode (or the ability compile and run code).
• Native support for Mouse and keyboards.

[sharonb.]

Your preferred device to use professionally is the MacBook. There are plenty of “professionals” that use pro apps on the iPad. I wish 9to5 Mac started reaching out to IPad professional USERS to find out what THEY want. Which profession needed a better scanner? It wasn’t tech YouTube. Listen to the construction site worker, the healthcare professionals, the event planner, the digital artist or explore why education and enterprise are the two biggest purchasers of IPad. Talk to users that NEED the LiDAR, the Pencil, what apps do they use or why they prefer the iPad to the MacBook. I watched a video recently from a mariner, he didn’t mention final pro cut once. He was grateful Apple listened and finally increased the brightness of the display. He wanted Apple to fix the problem of when sailing below 7 miles an hour, the gps tracking goes to sleep. Viewers have heard enough from tech YouTube about why the iPad falls short for them to last a lifetime.

[apple-guy]

To me is file management.. Apple needs to improve this already.. we need a progress bar for when we’re saving photos or files on external drives .. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[NicholasMcClure]

Always count on you for thoughtful analysis, rather than mindless parroting of what everyone else is saying.

[Bmarker]

I use both a mac and an iPad and find myself using and enjoying the iPad a lot more than my MacBook Pro. The new PRO ipads are stunningly beautiful and a joy to work on and carry around. The new keyboard is perfect. The fit and finish are amazing. It is light, portable. Really good for reading. I am sick and tires of all the people on YouTube clamoring to say something negative.

[Tetsuo]

iPad OS is fine tbh, it’s just the apps. I’m a music producer and I don’t want to use Logic Pro. I would love to use Ableton or my other VSTs on iPad. Note (Ableton iOS app) doesn’t cut it. It needs the MacOS apps to really make it click into being in my workflow than being another screen at my desk.

[ShoFuturistic]

Great video. I agree with much of what you said. I recently picked up the 11-inch air for light video editing. Loved my Mini, but decided to risk trading it in for the promise of these new tablets. I don’t want MacOs and I’m making a huge effort to NOT use a keyboard. What has shocked me with ALL of the editing apps is the lack of real Pencil Pro support. If Apple and developers updated their apps to take advantage of more context sensitive commands in the pencil, the video editing experience could be amazing. I constantly wanted to press the pencil to make the timeline play/pause, or to initiate some kind of scroll wheel (like the tools in the drawing apps) for in/out setting, insert and overwrite edits automatically on the timeline. The pencil is SORELY underutilized and could totally change the comfort of interacting with just the screen.

[StevesTrains]

I just want the iPad to be able to run full MacOS apps now. Even basic things like Excel. Maybe if you have a keyboard and mouse attached you can run the full desktop version instead of the hamstrung macOS version. Although like you said, the lack of a universal menu bar probably keeps that from happening.

[illien_]

It's a common pitfall but actually, no, the Magic Keyboard is not a must have. It is one only if you *wish* to "replace" a Mac's job part-time or full-time, but if you use it for what it is, alongside a Mac, I certainly don't see a need for one, especially since Universal Control is fairly robust nowadays.
Similarly for the Pencil. The hover is a huge update in the form of a mouse cursor making it an easy recommend to people using it in tablet form. But if you keep the iPad in the MK 90% of time... the Pencil is redundant.

The MK and Pencil is a good analogy for the two paths iPad Pro are taking on - a MacBook lite, a... Pro iPad.
I tried the MacBook lite path heavily back in 2021. It's fine, but it's not where it excels at.
Using it as a Pro iPad now alongside my Mac really makes me appreciate its strength - Pencil, LiDar, intuitiveness minded apps, portability, massive widget screens, and ofc portable entertainments.

It's commendable to further improve being a MacBook lite, but the iPad will not become a Mac, it shouldn't be, so the real deal shouldn't be aiming to make it do exactly what a Mac does. It's silly once you read it out loud. Just make it better at what it excels at.

[sleepnclass]

I like your take on iPadOS. Agree that they need to keep iPadOS and macOS separate but add more features to iPadOS.

[Michael-urqb]

My problem with Ipad and people who admittedly defend it is that they just wave off every complaint as someone just wanting it to be a laptop. People wanting a full fledged program even as simple as a full scale Pages doesn’t mean you want something to be a laptop. People want it to be a computer. Pro shouldn’t just narrowly mean for artists which is who benefits the most from Ipads. They should be targeting other “pros” at this point.

[williss]

Thank you 9to5Mac! Straight forward honest Apple reviews that address strengths and weaknesses are crucial to us all. Why, because they validate the user experience and give direction to device creators. Ignore demand for software enhancement, longer lasting batteries and low cost long enough and someone else will steal your market share?

[cactustweeter]

Benjamin you are correct. The iPad does not need macOS it needs iPadOS to get more professional features. Features like true multitasking where processes run currently. The files app needs better file handling features. Stage manager these not to limit the number windows per stage, or the number of stages. I'm sure there are more but those are the ones I always have off the top of my head.

[kingkiril]

That’s why I’m waiting for WWDC first before I upgrade my iPad. I really hope they step up the software this year.