Finally window management: Ipados 26 as a new dream operating system?

Apple is notorious to introduce functions that users have been demanding for years (and that have been available for other systems for a long time). You can almost no longer talk about “delay” in the new window functions in Ipados 26, as long as users have the desire, in practice since the introduction of the iPad in 2010. But now it has finally happened: Apple allows app windows to move completely freely on the screen. Restrictions, as previously existed at Stage Manager, also fall away-the often unpopular Window manager is now completely optional.

Please use the drum roll: window to manage for the first time

A look at Ipados 26 developer beta that has been available since Monday shows that Apple does a lot right, but still has to improve in some areas. First of all: Each open window now has an area that can be pulled. A full -screen view becomes an arbitrarily larger or small adjustable window. The internal UI changes, may show less content. You can then place the app with your finger – why not right away, Apple? At the top left you can also see the famous traffic light symbols for the further window management or to close an app. These are rather small at first, if you go on it with your fingers, they grow up, enable a tilting of the windows, i.e. an arrangement, for example. The traffic light area throws a somewhat strange shade.

Ipados apps now also have a menu bar. However, this is not displayed by default, but only appears as required – or if you pull down from the upper edge of the screen. It would be nice here if you could blame yourself permanently. It is also arranged in the middle and rather small of the font size, many users should not understand what they can do with it. So far, many apps have only shown standard functions for inserting or achieving help. A setting menu is available, then leads to the appropriate area of ​​the system settings, which is practical.

The keyboard and trackpad make it more beautiful

The dock in Ipados 26 is again more adapted to the Mac. You can create the known stacks with files. There is also an exposé mode for the app overview for the first time via a wiping gesture (to which you first have to get used to). It should initially be confusing that the home screen icons in the window operation are not visible, they are automatically hidden. If you want to interact with them, press the “desktop” and the windows drive aside. The window control can be used quite well even without a keyboard. With keyboard (and trackpad / mouse) it gets more beautiful. So you can use short commands and also use a new cursor that is now mouse pointer-like (a kind of triangle).

All in all, the first developer beta of iPados 26 makes a decent impression, as Developer reports. Above all, they criticize that a lot is not self -explanatory at first glance. It is good that Apple does not force anyone to use the new operating form: you can continue to operate your iPad in full screen mode, possibly supplemented with the previous window management functions or even the stage manager. The new window is completely optional. Also nice: Apps can now push processes into the background. At Final Cut Pro you can render such a project without blocking the whole iPad. This is actually a matter of course if you consider the performance of the M chips in the iPad. Apple is finally implementing this.