iPadOS 14: Improved UI, rebuilt Search, handwriting features and a focus on made-for-iPad app designs
Apple has previewed iPadOS 14, the all-new update for iPad set to arrive later in the year, featuring improved Siri, rebuilt Search, new Apple Pencil capabilities, including Scribble for iPad, a focus on made-for-iPad app designs and much more.
An all-new compact design for incoming FaceTime and phone calls, Siri interactions, and Search are especially useful on iPad, helping users stay focused and get more done in the moment. Incoming FaceTime and phone calls now appear as a lightweight banner so they don’t take up the entire screen, making it easy to quickly tap to answer the call or simply flick to dismiss and get right back to work. Siri now appears at the bottom of the screen when activated, allowing users to seamlessly reference information onscreen while making a request, and it quickly gets out of the way when launching other apps or controlling music.
Search on iPad has been rebuilt from the ground up with iPadOS 14 and is now the one place to quickly find practically anything, from locating and launching apps to accessing contacts, files, and quick information, to getting answers to common questions about people or places. With a new compact design, users can start a search from anywhere, without having to leave the app they’re in. Web searches are even more powerful and refined, delivering more relevant suggestions as users type and the ability to get to search results with just a tap.
Redesigned sidebars across many apps, including Photos, Files, Notes, Calendar, and Apple Music, consolidate navigation into a single place, making it easier than ever to navigate within an app while keeping content front and center. Additionally, streamlined toolbars and new pull-down menus provide access to app controls all in one place.
With iPadOS 14, we’re excited to build on the distinct experience of iPad and deliver new capabilities that help customers boost productivity, be more creative, and have more fun, said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. With new compact designs for system interactions and new app designs specifically tailored to iPad, even better note-taking capabilities with Apple Pencil, and more powerful AR experiences, iPadOS 14 delivers an amazing experience that keeps it in a class of its own.
Additional iPadOS 14 features include updates to Messages with tools to better manage conversations. Similar to iOS 14, users can now pin their favorite conversations to the top of their messages list for fast access, and search has been entirely redesigned — organizing results into links, photos, and matching terms — to help users find what they are looking for.
Safari offers a Privacy Report so users can easily see which cross-site trackers have been blocked, secure password monitoring to help users detect saved passwords that may have been involved in a data breach, and built-in translation for entire webpages.
When will Apple release iPadOS 14?
iPadOS 14 is now in developer beta, with a public beta release scheduled for July 14th. An official release for the new operating system hasn’t been announced, but will happen this fall.