Apple promises revamped features and functionality with unveiling of iOS 13 and iPad OS

At Apple’s annual developer conference in San Francisco, CEO Tim Cook announced the company’s next generation of products, their biggest news being the eagerly-awaited arrival of their latest operating system, iOS 13. But in another big reveal, the brand unveiled the division of new OS tech into two pathways: the iPhone, (naturally) and – in a more exciting twist of events – the iPad OS, which will function on its own platform and offer its own exclusive perks.

So what does this mean in terms of functionality for the everyday user? Well, if you’re a mobile gamer, these new improvements will be a welcome upgrade, offering more power – with upcoming phones offering 5G connection – and launching apps up to twice as fast for speedier play. The app downloads themselves are also being made smaller, making the constant struggle for space less of an issue. On top of this, thanks to improved security with this new system, you can make payments ease, knowing that your details are safe.

With its new dedicated operating system, the iPad OS will function more like a desktop computer. Just like on the Mac, there will be a multi-window capability, allowing you to work on two-word documents side by side for improved workflow. There are 30 new keyboard shortcuts, and Safari will be added, meaning the device will automatically load touch-friendly desktop sites rather than blowing up the mobile version.  You will also be able to add widgets and with the Slide Over Feature, you can have many apps oven and cycle through them, ideal for the multitasker.

Another exciting feature which is coming to both iOS 13 and iPad OS is dark mode. The feature was added to MacOS in 2018 and is now being rolled out system-wide, allowing you to change the hues from bright white and light grey to black and dark grey on all supporting apps. Of course, this will be a nice way to avoid bright light when using your phone at night – and could save battery life too. 

iOS 13 will also premiere a new Find My app which combines Find My Friends and Find My Phone into an easier-to-use interface, one which employs a crowd-sourced encrypted Bluetooth signal to help you find any devices not connected to wi-fi or a phone network. If that’s not enough, Siri is allegedly sounding more natural and Reminders and Maps are set to get a massive makeover. 

The editorial unit