. And now at WWDC 2024, Apple is looking to flesh out the iPad's software with a number of fresh features heading to iPadOS 18, which is due out sometime later this year.
To start, iPadOS is getting new customization options for your home screen including the ability to put app icons pretty much wherever you want. Apple's Control Center has also been expanded with support for creating multiple lists and views, resizing and rearranging icons and more. There's also a new floating tab bar that makes it easy to navigate between apps, which can be further tuned to remember your favorite software.
General privacy is also being upgraded with a new feature that lets you lock an app. This allows a friend or family member to borrow your device without giving them full access to everything on your tablet. Alternatively, there’s also a new hidden apps folder so you can stash sensitive software in a more secretive way.In Messages, Tapbacks are now compatible with all your emoji.
The Mail and Photos apps are also getting similarly big revamps. Mail will feature new categorizations meant to make it easier to find specific types of offers or info like plane flights. Meanwhile, the Photos app will receive an updated UI that will help you view specific types of images while hiding things like screenshots. And to help surface older photos and memories, there will be new categories like Recent Days and People and Pets to put similar types of pics all in a single collection.
Audio on iPads is also getting a boost with a new ability for Siri to understand gestures for “Yes” and “No” by either shaking or nodding your head while wearing AirPods. This should make it easier to provide Apple's digital assistant with simple responses in areas like a crowded bus or quiet waiting room where you might be uncomfortable talking aloud.