Subj : iPadOS 18 is so underwhelming it makes the iPad M4 look seriously To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Tue Jun 11 2024 21:15:05 iPadOS 18 is so underwhelming it makes the iPad M4 look seriously overpowered and maybe a waste of money Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2024 20:00:00 +0000 Description: With a lack of pro-user features and productivity-focussed tools, the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models with the M4 chip look like they have a lot of power for nothing. FULL STORY ====================================================================== The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes a damp squib as something that is disappointing because it is not as exciting or effective as expected. And thats how Id describe Apples reveal of iPadOS 18 at WWDC 2024 . While the iPad-centric operating system will get a lot of the slick features of iOS 18 , such as smart categorization of emails in the Mail app and the ability to schedule messages in iMessage, the exclusive iPadOS 18 features are a big ol meh. Yes, the addition of a native Calculator app for iPads may have got a whoop at WWDCs keynote and had many people flock to the TechTadar TikTok , but the rest of the features didnt leave my colleagues or I with the impression that Cupertinos snazzy fondle slates are being particularly pushed. The Notes app gets the Smart Script feature to help smooth out quickly scribbled text, and there's now live audio transcription, plus some fresh customization that will let users rearrange icons and widgets where people want them on the home screen. None of that is bad, but as the iPad Air 2024 and iPad Pro 2024 come with the new Apple M4 chip , I was left with a distinct feeling that Apples in-house silicon is hardly being pushed. In fact, Im a tad miffed Apple didnt do more. Its harped on about iPads being able to replace laptops, at one point coming to a head with the infamous whats a computer? advert which still makes me cringe to this day yet refuses to make iPadOS into more of a desktop-like experience when connected to the Magic Keyboard. This has felt like a missed opportunity in my eyes, even though Apple has long railed against bringing iPadOS much closer to macOS. The crux of this is down to the power Apple has stuffed into the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models. While the M4 chip isnt necessarily a huge step on from the M3 chip , in that in prioritizes efficiency and AI workloads over a big boost in raw performance, its still a slice of silicon thats basically laptop-grade; in some cases desktop-grade when you take into account the iMac 24-inch and Mac mini . Sure, the suite of iPads will get access to the new Apple Intelligence , and will surely have access to the smarter Siri . But these tools seem generic and good for iPhones rather than something thatll really tap into the power and flexibility of the new iPads. The addition of a Game Mode and improved audio via compatible AirPod s is also nice to have, but again isnt anything that iOS 18 wont get; plus I feel these features arent helping turn the iPads into slick gaming machines despite the chips at their hearts. All the gear with no idea (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) This is frustrating as my colleague Matt Hanson, Managing Editor of Core Tech, recently pointed out when he ditched his laptop for an iPad Pro for a few weeks that the hardware's there but the software isn't. So it seems to me that Apple is really missing a trick here, despite having often been great at getting the most out of its tech. And I feel all this puts the new iPads in an odd place. They may have more power, but that strength doesnt look like its being well used, and older iPads can still do just about everything the newer ones can due to the lack of demanding software. Now one could argue that we see similar things with some of the best Android phones that have powerful chips but dont really ever push those capabilities. But phones still cover a different use case from tablets, despite being close cousins, meaning its not unreasonable to expect more from a tablet. Theres a caveat here in that Ive yet to try out iPadOS 18. But unless Apple has some hidden features its yet to showcase and Apple Intelligence really taps into M4 power, iPadOS 18 has left me underwhelming and I cant help feel that M4-equipped iPads are overpowered to the extent that they may be a waste of money in slick rectangular form. You might also like The foldable iPhone could have a surprising design with just one screen Apple finally threw out the Siri script and I couldn't be happier How to download the iOS 18 beta on your iPhone ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tablets/ipad/ipados-18-is-so-underwhelming-it-makes- the-ipad-m4-look-seriously-overpowered-and-maybe-a-waste-of-money --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .