During Apple’s WWDC 2023 Keynote, iPadOS 17 was announced as the forthcoming operating system for existing iPad tablets. This update comes alongside a range of new releases, including the Vision Pro AR/VR headset, upgraded Mac Studio and Mac Pro desktops, and versions of iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17.
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iPadOS 17 brings numerous new features, enhancements, and fixes to the iPad experience. Notably, users can now customize their lock screens by choosing from new wallpapers like Astronomy, Kaleidoscope, and emoji backgrounds, like options available on iOS. Dynamic wallpapers using Live Photos can also be added to homescreens, providing movement and life. The lockscreen now supports live activities and widgets, offering information such as weather, time, date, and upcoming events.
While widgets have been available in previous versions of iPadOS and iOS, iPadOS 17 takes their functionality to a new level, allowing users to control lights, play music, manage to-do lists, and more directly from the widgets themselves.
The Messages app has undergone a revamp, enabling users to view all their contents, including photos, audio messages, and location information, in one place by tapping the plus button. Swiping to reply is now supported, and the search functionality has been improved with new filters, making content discovery easier. Additionally, audio messages now come with transcriptions, making them more accessible and convenient to read later.
iPadOS 17 introduces the ability for users to create live stickers using their own photos. The stickers drawer has also been redesigned, expanding their availability beyond emojis to third-party apps.
FaceTime receives several new features like those introduced in iOS 17. Users can now record video or audio messages for missed FaceTime calls, enabling more interactive and personal communication. Moreover, FaceTime offers new reactions that fill the camera frame with 3D augmented reality effects like hearts, confetti, and fireworks, triggered by hand gestures. FaceTime will also be accessible on Apple TV, and calls can be handed off from iPads to the television screen.
The Health app makes its way to iPad with an optimized design for the larger screen. It provides familiar features such as medication reminders, menstrual cycle tracking, symptom logging, and more. A new Mental Health feature allows users to reflect on their state of mind and gain insights into potential contributing factors.
Safari receives multiple enhancements in iPadOS 17. Users can now add, create, and switch profiles, allowing for separate browsing experiences tailored to work, study, or personal use. Each profile has its own history, tab groups, cookies, and favourites. Safari also offers improved responsiveness and displays more suggestions directly from the search bar, like how Spotlight provides at-a-glance information. Autofilling verification codes from Mail is now seamless, eliminating the need to switch between apps for code entry.
Security has been bolstered in iPadOS 17. Private browsing windows are automatically locked when not in use, preventing trackers from loading on pages and enhancing privacy. This feature also removes tracking from URLs. Additionally, users can share passwords and passkeys with trusted contacts, simplifying browsing experiences.
With iPadOS 17, users can expect a more personalized and seamless experience with their tablets, thanks to the range of exciting features and improvements that enhance customization, communication, health tracking, browsing, and security.
