The iPad was the topic of much discussion at Apple’s annual WWDC developer conference on Monday; during the opening keynote the American tech giant revealed the tablet would be receiving its own operating system and a plethora of new features.
The new software, aptly titled iPadOS, delivers a revamped home screen, a fresh method of multitasking and introduces new ways to make use of the Apple Pencil.
Apple’s altered home screen now displays more apps at once and widgets that show further information such as the weather and calendar events.
The Cupertino-based company also announced two new features for the tablet dubbed “Split View” and “Slide Over” that should allow fans to easily make use of multiple apps at once.
Explaining the new functionality, Apple said: “iPad users can now work with multiple files and documents from the same app simultaneously with updates to Split View, or can quickly view and switch between multiple apps in Slide Over.
“For example, customers can compose an email while viewing another email side by side or access multiple apps like Messages or Calendar with just a swipe. App Exposé provides a quick view of just the open windows for any one app with a simple tap.”
The Apple Pencil was also detailed to tout more features too; owners of the stylus can now mark up and send entire webpages to others just by swiping it from the corner of the tablet’s panel.
A number of other improvements delivered by iPadOS include an overhauled Files app, improved Safari browsing and more refined text editing.
One feature that was not openly discussed by Apple during its WWDC keynote however was the fact mouse support has arrived for the iPad in the new operating system.
Discovered by developer Steve Troughton-Smith, the addition was said to work with USB and Bluetooth mice.
Mouse support was stated to be an accessibility feature within iPadOS and was demonstrated in a video by the developer on Twitter.
The mouse cursor was shown to be larger than that found on either Windows 10 or macOS.
Troughton-Smith stated the mouse support “simulates” a finger’s movement and confirmed a scroll wheel is supported.
The newly discovered feature is one many Apple fans have been wanting for a while.
In response to Troughton-Smith’s clip of the function in action, many tablet owners expressed their excitement.
One said: “This is so rad.”
Another wrote: “I’m deffo enabling this by default.”
A third declared: “This is basically a dream come true.”
Troughton-Smith said mouse support was also present for the iPhone and iPod touch.
iPadOS will be available for the iPad Air 2 and later, all iPad Pro models, the iPad fifth-generation and later in addition to the iPad mini 4 and later.
The new software will release later this year.