IN-DEPTH
iPadOS 17:New features, release date, and more
A big update for iPadOS in 2023.
After WWDC 2023, we finally have some idea of what the next version of iPadOS is going to look like. There are some big changes to get excited about, including the new lock screen customization, widget implementation, and new PDF features. There are some features carrying over from the macOS update as well, such some Safari updates and Stage Manager extras.
We got a pretty big update with iPadOS 16 last year, bringing the Freeform collaboration app and Stage Manager for iPad multitasking features, but there’s some even bigger stuff this year – here’s everything coming to iPadOS 17.
New Lock screens
One of the first big new features announced at WWDC where the new Lock screens that will be coming to the iPad. Much like the Lock screen on iOS, you’ll be able to customize them with new photos and clocks. Those clocks can be hidden by part of the background intelligently, and you’ll be able to change the font and the layout of the clock too. Those clocks, again, will look a lot like those on iOS.
Widgets
Also new to iPadOS are the widgets that you can place on the Lock and Home screens. The widgets on the Lock screen look a lot like the Lock screen widgets on iOS, albeit slightly larger thanks to the bigger screens of the iPad device line. They are interactive as well, so you can turn on and off HomeKit devices, interact with Health apps, and even play music in Apple Music.
Those widgets are also carrying over to your Home Screen – they’ll blend seamlessly into your background, and sit with all your apps. They’re also interactive, not just for display but for use as well. There’ll be widgets like Photos, Music, and others that you can use from the Home screen. These will also blend with the widgets on your Lock screen, making for a more seamless experience.
iPad Health app
Health has also come to iPad, with the bigger screen allowing for more metrics and graphs. The interface has been built with the bigger iPad screen in mind, with more information displayed on one screen.
PDF baked in
PDFs have also been baked into the latest version of iPadOS, letting you easily edit them on your iPad. The format will also come to the Notes app so that you can annotate them – and do it with collaborators as well.
Extra features
There are also some iOS features coming, with the new messaging Stickers and expandable tray-like menu for the Messages app. FaceTime has had improvements too, letting you connect to an Apple TV box
