It’s a widely accepted theory that Apple releases its latest iOS version in September, around the time of the iPhone announcement. Usually iPadOS is not far behind, but this year iPadOS 16 is coming a full month after iOS 16.
Ever since the iPadOS fork was created, Apple released its software versions pretty much at the same time. That may change this year. The reason for the delay has to do with the new Stage Manager multitasking system, which is integrated into iPadOS 16 and it’s taking longer than expected to develop.
During the beta testing phase of the new software, Stage Manager was criticized by developers for its bugs and confusing design. It’s also not compatible with most iPads on the market. There’s also a theory that the delay may hint at an iPad release event in October, with a new iPad Pro with M2 chip in the cards, plus a faster entry level iPad with USB-C port.
Back to iPadOS 16, it’s also expected to give the M series processor tablets support for floating app windows on the tablet screen and external screens. iPadOS 16 also brings iCloud Shared Photo Library, letting you share photos and videos easily with 5 other people. There’s also the option to edit a Message in iMessage for up to 15 minutes after it’s been sent. You can also unsend messages. Then there’s SharePlay, Mail scheduling and unsend, security and privacy updates, while Safari gets a taste of Passkeys. Live text, visual look up and a new Game Center Dashboard round up the list.
