The major changes that the iPad went through last year with the arrival of iPadOS will result in a relatively minor update in 2020 with some minor improvements. This is our iPadOS 14 preview.
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iPadOS 14 preview: Get started with the beta
For years, the software updates for the iPhone and iPad were pretty much the same. But since last year and the introduction of iPadOS, this has changed: Apple’s tablet now has its own operating system, which will continue to distinguish itself from the iPhone.
In the first place, that means that in 2020 there are still many similarities between iPadOS 14 in iOS 14. For example, Siri gets a new design in both updates, the notification when someone calls you has become smaller and you can use small apps with App Clips without downloading them. For an extensive overview with iOS 14 functions that also apply to iPadOS 14, check the overview below.
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Widgets more limited than iOS 14
Because we tested iOS 14 earlier than iPadOS (also check our iOS 14 preview), we immediately noticed a number of things. For example, Apple is making drastic changes to the home screen for the iPhone with the arrival of widgets that you can put anywhere and an App Library; a library of all your apps that is cleverly organized.
On iPadOS 14, these changes are remarkably less drastic. The App Library is nowhere to be seen on the iPad and the widgets are also a lot more limited. You can only place this on the left side of the first screen of your homescreen and not between your apps.
iPadOS had a similar widget column on the left side of the screen since last year, which now gets a slightly different design and gives you more options to set it up. For example, now you can resize widgets so that two can be next to each other, or create a smart stack of widgets that you can scroll through during the day by swiping over them.
It’s just a pity that Apple limits these widgets so much on the iPad. Especially with a larger screen, it would be a godsend to be able to place these widgets anywhere on your homescreen, which would make the homescreen more interactive and productive. Why Apple chose this restriction is therefore a mystery to us.
No Scribble, no translation function
Now that we are discussing the negatives: several functions introduced by iPadOS 14 are not (yet) available in Dutch. So Scribble is a great improvement for that Apple Pencil-owners, which allows you to start a search by writing on the screen whether written text is recognized in the Notes app and converted to typed text.
Unfortunately, this only works in American and Chinese, making the feature unusable for much of the world. The only notable Apple Pencil improvement can be found in the Notes app. If you draw a shape there and keep the tip of the pen pressed on your screen, this shape will be recognized and converted into a perfect representation. For example, a quickly drawn square changes into a variant with perfect dimensions that are completely straight.
The same goes for Apple’s new translation feature, which does get an app in iOS 14 but is nowhere to be seen in the iPadOS beta. The button with which you can translate websites in Safari is also missing in Dutch.
iPadOS 14: mainly smaller adjustments
That way, some of the bigger improvements that iPadOS 14 introduces for Dutch and Belgian users are out of the question and that is a pity. What remains are mainly smaller adjustments of already existing functions, which make the iPad just a little bit nicer in daily use.
For example, many Apple apps have been refurbished with a new view that adds an extra column on the left. This makes these apps look a bit more like macOS apps with a sidebar, which is especially useful if you have one iPad used with a mouse or trackpad.
You can see this new column view in the Files app, but also in Photos, Notes and Music. The Music app has also received a general overhaul on the iPad. Now you can display the lyrics full screen with a mini player on the left to continue operating the music.
Another small but nice improvement is the new search function. Swiping down on your screen makes a more compact view than in iOS 13. Everything you need to find things on your iPad is here. From app suggestions to search engines, contacts in your address book to specific files.
iPadOS 14 will be released this fall for all iPads that also supported iPadOS 13. Check our overview with iPads that support iPadOS 14 For more information.
iPadOS 14 preview conclusion
Although iPadOS 14 is a lot less drastic than last year’s update, Apple seems to have an increasingly clear vision for the future of the iPad. That means in 2020 an update that will further refine what was introduced last year and unfortunately a number of functions that did not save the switch to the Netherlands and Belgium.
