Apple ships iPadOS 16.1 beta ahead of iOS 16 fall release
Apple is rolling out the beta version of iPadOS 16.1 to enrolled development devices this morning. It's a break from the standard release cadence, which has tied the tablet operating system to its smartphone counterpart, iOS, since its first release in 2019.
In a comment to TechCrunch, the company notes, "This is a particularly important year for iPadOS. As a clean platform with features built specifically for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule. This fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS, as version 16.1 in a free software update.
In other words, Apple will skip the iPadOS 16.0 release in the fall and jump straight to 16.1. This means that the first version of iPadOS 16 will be delivered to non-beta users after the first iOS version arrives. It seems likely that both 16.1 versions will arrive - or around the same time - although Apple hasn't confirmed the speculation. This decision is unique, but not unprecedented, for Apple software releases.
It may also represent further differentiation between operating systems, which have been mostly uniform except for workflow and other features customized for the big screen. Both operating systems are built on the same foundation, but it seems likely the company will do more to distinguish them in the future as it continues to position the iPad as a serious workhorse.
As Apple notes in its comment, at the very least, this means that - just like, say, macOS - the iPadOS release isn't directly tied to the iOS release schedule. The company can update the tablet's operating system as it sees fit.
iPadOS 16 debuted earlier this summer, at the company's annual WWDC event. The centerpiece of the new software is Stage Manager, which, like its macOS counterpoint, offers easier multitasking and switching between apps. The update comes amid user criticism of the new feature's implementation on tablets.
Aptly, an upgrade to Stage Manager is the main update here. I learned to really enjoy Stage Manager on the desktop, but using it on a tablet comes with its own unique set of settings, including a smaller screen size and default touchscreen interaction. The big update this time around is the ability to resurface the Stage Manager side rail with a gesture while the feature is fullscreen. Other updates with 16.1 are the standard series of beta bug updates
At the end of last month, Apple responded to user feedback on iOS 16 by providing a history of changes to iMessage. The iPhone OS is expected to arrive in the fall, likely around the rumored iPhone 14 event in September.
Apple is rolling out the beta version of iPadOS 16.1 to enrolled development devices this morning. It's a break from the standard release cadence, which has tied the tablet operating system to its smartphone counterpart, iOS, since its first release in 2019.
In a comment to TechCrunch, the company notes, "This is a particularly important year for iPadOS. As a clean platform with features built specifically for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule. This fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS, as version 16.1 in a free software update.
In other words, Apple will skip the iPadOS 16.0 release in the fall and jump straight to 16.1. This means that the first version of iPadOS 16 will be delivered to non-beta users after the first iOS version arrives. It seems likely that both 16.1 versions will arrive - or around the same time - although Apple hasn't confirmed the speculation. This decision is unique, but not unprecedented, for Apple software releases.
It may also represent further differentiation between operating systems, which have been mostly uniform except for workflow and other features customized for the big screen. Both operating systems are built on the same foundation, but it seems likely the company will do more to distinguish them in the future as it continues to position the iPad as a serious workhorse.
As Apple notes in its comment, at the very least, this means that - just like, say, macOS - the iPadOS release isn't directly tied to the iOS release schedule. The company can update the tablet's operating system as it sees fit.
iPadOS 16 debuted earlier this summer, at the company's annual WWDC event. The centerpiece of the new software is Stage Manager, which, like its macOS counterpoint, offers easier multitasking and switching between apps. The update comes amid user criticism of the new feature's implementation on tablets.
Aptly, an upgrade to Stage Manager is the main update here. I learned to really enjoy Stage Manager on the desktop, but using it on a tablet comes with its own unique set of settings, including a smaller screen size and default touchscreen interaction. The big update this time around is the ability to resurface the Stage Manager side rail with a gesture while the feature is fullscreen. Other updates with 16.1 are the standard series of beta bug updates
At the end of last month, Apple responded to user feedback on iOS 16 by providing a history of changes to iMessage. The iPhone OS is expected to arrive in the fall, likely around the rumored iPhone 14 event in September.
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