Apple has now officially introduced the new software iPadOS 17 and there are some exciting innovations. We have summarized the most important information and tell you which tablets will receive the update.
iPadOS 17 will be released in autumn 2023. (Source: Apple)
In addition to iOS 17, macOS 14 and watchOS 10, Apple also presented iPadOS 17 to the public at WWDC 2023. The new software comes with some innovations that should significantly improve the user experience. We have collected the most important information for you and also tell you which models will receive the update at all.
What’s new in iPadOS 17
Even if this is official information from Apple, some things can still change before the release in autumn, which is why you should still be cautious about the features mentioned. Nevertheless, a large part of the innovations will probably appear as announced here.
lock screen
Similar to iPhones and iOS 16, the lock screen of iPads with iPadOS 17 should now have new personalization options. Dynamic series of photos can now be created in which the images always alternate. Live images can also be selected as the background.
Another innovation is that you can now add a 3D effect to images, which allows the font to interact with the background. There are also a number of new font styles and colors to customize the look of the time and date. Also new are live widgets, which can be used to keep an eye on the results of a soccer game, for example.
New widgets
In addition to the live widgets, there are also a lot of new and improved widgets for your home screen. These are much more interactive and offer you a variety of new ways to control your iPad or your smart home.
Working with PDFs
PDFs can now be filled in automatically with the help of machine learning. For example, you can enter the address, name and much more information in forms with just a few actions. In addition, the new Notes app makes it easier to sort, read, annotate and collaborate on PDFs. Editing with an Apple Pencil should now be possible without any problems.
safari
Safari should now be significantly more productive with the help of profiles. This allows users to easily separate the private browser from the professional browser. Each profile has its own history, cookies, tab groups and favorites. Also, private mode tabs can now be locked with FaceID or TouchID. Additionally, the search experience gets even better with faster response times, more relevant search suggestions, and easier-to-read suggestions.
Health App for iPad
With iPadOS 17, the Health app comes to your iPad and gives you the opportunity to view your health data at your leisure with more detailed views. The design of the app has been adapted and optimized for tablets, allowing for many new options and insights.
Health and fitness developers can now use HealthKit on iPad. It opens up new possibilities to integrate innovative experiences based on shared user data into your apps. It uses the Health app’s strict privacy and security protocols, Apple says.
More interactive news
iPads are also being used more and more to chat and communicate with others. That’s why Apple has now added Emoji Stickers, Live Stickers and Effects for Messages on iPad. Furthermore, the search for specific messages has been improved and you can now jump directly to the last message read in group chats. Also new are transcribed audio messages, which can be quite useful, especially for the hard of hearing.
Better communication via FaceTime
If you can’t reach someone on FaceTime, you now have the option to leave an audio or video message. In addition, you can now react with effects such as fireworks or hearts during calls. The so-called camera handover is also new. This allows you to bring your conversation partner to your TV via Apple TV.
More innovations
- Stage manager: The function gives you more freedom in the position and size of the open apps.
- Freeform: Some new drawing tools have been added to Freeform to make your work easier.
- Spotlight: In Spotlight, users can find information and take action even faster with next-action shortcuts, enhanced visual results, and video search.
- Visual lookup: With the digital encyclopedia you can now also eat, facades, signs. Look up symbols or, for example, the laundry label of clothing.
- Keyboard: There are improvements to autocorrect and text suggestions. In addition, the dictation function has also been improved.
- Memories: Reminders can now also be used for shopping and sorting into individual categories should be easier.
Which tablets will receive the update?
Even if there are many exciting innovations, not all tablets will receive the update this year. Some models are just too old to keep up with the new software. Below we have listed all the iPads that are expected to receive the update:
- iPad (6th generation and newer)
- iPad mini (5th generation and newer)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and newer)
- iPad Pro 12.9” (2nd generation and newer)
- iPad Pro 10.5” and 11” (1st generation and newer)
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