At WWDC23, Apple said it’s adding a slew of new health features in iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and watchOS 10 that will help you take care of yourself physically and emotionally.
And while new mental health and vision features are coming across platforms, the more-general Health app finally arrives on iPad, as well.
Apple is souping up the systems for entering text into iPhone with iOS 17. Autocorrect is getting enhanced with AI for fewer typos, as part of multiple improvements to what Apple calls “intelligent input.” And Dictation is getting a boost that promises more-accurate voice recognition, too.
I tested the changes in the first iOS 17 beta. Here’s how well they work … so far.
The Keynote from WWDC23 was unusually jam-packed with huge announcements. Naturally, the first official details of new iOS, macOS, iPadOS and watchOS versions came to light, as is traditional. But Apple also used its annual developer conference to take the wraps off quite a bit of hardware.
And CEO Tim Cook used Apple’s classic “One more thing” line to unveil Vision Pro, the augmented-reality headset that was the absolute star of Monday’s Keynote.
iPadOS 17 will give iPad users the Lock Screen enhancements that debuted for iPhone last year. Another major addition for tablet users is interactive Home Screen widgets, a long-requested feature. And these are just a few of the changes coming in the iPadOS version announced at WWDC23.
“With interactive widgets on the Lock Screen, updates to PDFs and Notes, as well as enhancements to Messages and FaceTime, iPadOS gives users even more ways to get things done easier and faster than ever,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, in a statement.
If Dad’s still streaming on a laptop, it’s time for an upgrade. This iPad mini 2 bundle with headphones and more is the perfect collection for Father’s Day with everything he needs. And if you order by June 5, it’ll arrive in time for the day itself. The sale itself lasts through June 11.
After a long wait, Final Cut Pro, Apple’s professional video editing software, is now available for M1 or newer iPads. Editors accustomed to Final Cut Pro on their Mac can easily switch to their iPad as a portable editing machine.
However, before starting with Final Cut Pro on your iPad, you need to know how it differs from the Mac build. Both versions enable pro-level video editing, but they are understandably different in key ways.
Responding to years of requests for iPad versions of professional-grade software, Apple released Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPadOS on Tuesday.
These are not “lite” versions of Apple’s video editing and music creation software. They are equivalent to the macOS ones, but adapted for iPad. And that includes additional features.
Gabriel B., a 13-year-old student and photographer in Baton Rouge, La., sent pics and commentary showcasing and describing his well-equipped MacBook Air-and-dual-display setup to Cult of Mac this week.
He noted his Intel MacBook powers an “army of peripherals,” but it’s not quite up to the work he asks of it. And how has he already filled 3TB of digital storage space, anyway? Well, that’s what heavy photo and video editing will do.
★★★★☆
With the Pitaka MagEZ Case Pro, you can stop plugging in a charging cable. Put the tablet in this slim, lightweight case then pop on a charging mat when it’s time to juice up the tablet.
Combine it with the MagEZ Charging Stand and you have a desktop setup without the hassle of wires for the iPad Pro and an iPhone or AirPods.
I tested both accessories in my home office. There’s a lot to like here.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple finally brings Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro to iPad, and apparently uses some clever spycraft to take down a leaker in the process. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
With top-tier build quality, a range of up to 42 miles and speeds up to 28 mph, the Lectric XP 3.0 is one of the best values in e-bikes. Check out the XP 3.0 and Lectric’s other great bikes at lectricebikes.com.
Stage Manager puts iPad applications into floating, resizable, overlapping windows. It’s the most significant change to iPadOS in many years, and Apple Support created a video that walks through the possibilities.
Watch it if you’d like to get started with this multitasking system.
The ESR Shift Magnetic Case sets itself apart from the competition with a removable cover/stand that allows the tablet to be used in landscape or portrait mode. Even better, the tablet can slide up in the stand to be closer to eye level.
It’s available now for the 11-inch iPad Pro.
The iPad version of Final Cut Pro that Apple recently unveiled includes a “pro camera mode” with a number of manual settings not included in the standard camera application. iPhone users saw this and quickly started calling for these features to be brought over to iOS, too.
Perhaps in iOS 17?
iPad shipments dropped by double digits in the first quarter of 2023, according to two different market-analysts firms. But Apple’s tablet was hardly alone — the entire global market dropped nearly 20%. As a result, iPad held on to its huge lead over its rivals.
The analysts blamed the decline in global shipments on inflation as well as a post-pandemic reduction in demand for tablets.
With AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream video from your Apple devices to a large-screen TV. It’ll let you enjoy Ted Lasso or share a TikTok video with a group of friends on a big screen, not your iPhone’s relatively small one.
If this handy option is new to you, Apple made an explainer video. Watch it now.
The amount of money Apple will pay you to trade in a previous-generation iPhone just increased. And that’s the second time this spring. The same holds true for Mac and iPad.
So, if you have an older Apple device sitting around, it might be worth more than you suspect.
If you own an iPhone XS or newer, your device comes with eSIM built in. That means you can skip physical SIM cards and simply set up cellular plans for international travel right on your phone, avoiding roaming charges wherever you go.
Apple has shared its annual Mother’s Day gift guide to help you celebrate your mom on May 14 in the United States and many other countries. Dozens of gift ideas, from AirTags to iPhones to various accessories, cover a range of prices from $15 to about $1,000.
And you can “make it mom’s” with free engraving of emojis and messages on a range of gifts, too.
At first glance, the new OnePlus Pad looks like solid competition for iPad, with a beautiful 11.6-inch screen and a $479 price tag.
But a closer look shows the computer suffers from the same crippling flaw as every other Android tablet.
With National Small Business Week starting Sunday, Apple profiled three small businesses Wednesday, describing how they harness Apple products to grow.
In addition, the company will feature “Grow Your Business with Apple” Today at Apple sessions next week in select U.S. cities.
A popular magnetic iPad stand is about to be relaunched, better than ever.
The MagFlött Pro is one of the few iPad stands that is height-adjustable, making it versatile as well as ergonomic. It launched on Kickstarter on April 11, and you can get a whopping 26% discount by ordering now.
A sketchy rumor claims Apple will drop support for iPhone X and iPhone 8 series with iOS 17. The next iPadOS release also reportedly will be incompatible with first-generation iPad Pros and iPad 5.
With iOS 16 last year, Apple stopped supporting several older devices, including the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 series.
Maybe your eyes aren’t as good as they used be. You can increase the text size on your iPhone or iPad so don’t have to put on reading glasses.
The process is easy. And a new video from Apple walks users through the process of enabling even larger text size on these devices.
In this week’s giveaway, one lucky winner will get their hands on a magnetic iPad stand with a built-in wireless charger from Kuxiu. The X27 Pro was specifically designed for iPad users. With 88 magnets built into the back of the iPad, this stand mirrors that to ensure the most secure grip when your iPad is in place.
Thanks to the stand’s unique structure, you can use your iPad at nearly every angle, rotating vertically a full 360 degrees and 180 degrees horizontally. You can even set your iPad at a negative angle with confidence, which isn’t possible normally with this type of stand.
Apple said Friday it supports Exceptional Minds, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit academy preparing autistic artists to become animators, VFX artists and motion graphics designers in the film industry.
The tech giant’s Friday feature story focused on a number of interesting creatives learning at the academy with the help of iPads, Pencil and other Apple wares.