iPadOS transformation breathes fresh life into my iPad.
Revamped iPadOS 26 for Creatives:
Find yourself scribbling thoughts on a drawing tablet instead of typing away on a laptop? That's 'cause some folks ain't fond of Apple's yet-to-be-released touchscreen Mac. But don't worry, I've been reviewing touchscreen laptops, and they ain't exactly blowing my hair back. So when iPadOS 26 dropped, I jumped on the bandwagon.
This new operating system solves many issues creatives have encountered since the tablet OS split from the iPhone version. It's like the best drawing tablets just got even better, especially for designers using apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, Affinity, and Procreate.
The larger iPad screen ain't just a glorified phone anymore. You can't treat it that way, cramming full-screen apps all over it, 'case it ain't just one big phone. With iPadOS 26, we got proper floating windows, which let you run web browsers, chat apps, office docs, and more all at the same time. Hook it up to an external display, and it's like you got yourself a full-blown laptop setup, but with a tablet's portability.
Compared to the Surface Pro, the iPad is now a proper tablet trying to be a laptop, making it exceptional for media consumption, something no folding laptop can pull off.
I've never been a big fan of Windows 11 as a touchscreen OS, but iPadOS 26 feels more like macOS on a tablet, which is exactly what we've been waiting for. The iPad's app ecosystem is killin' it for creatives, and with this new OS, it's just gotten better.
My iPad ain't even in its final form yet, but I'm already thrilled with how it's runnin' in this early beta. This OS is the highlight of many at this year's WWDC conference, and I'm excited to see what Apple packs into the full release. Here's hopin' it lives up to the hype!
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What Makes iPadOS 26 Special?
1. Seamless Drawing and Input Integration
Drawings, handwriting, and other media blend smoothly across various apps, making it easy to combine sketches, notes, and more in your projects.
2. Liquid Glass UI Redesign
A fresh, visually pleasing interface inspired by visionOS, featuring glassy surfaces, light-reflecting edges, and transparency effects, elevates creative apps.
3. Multitasking and Windowing Improvements
Enhanced multitasking and windowing tools, plus improved external monitor support, enable more intuitive workflows for design and editing tasks.
4. App Support and Compatibility Boost
Narrowing the gap between tablet and laptop, iPadOS 26 may eventually support native macOS-like applications, increasing performance within professional software like Photoshop and Illustrator.
5. File Management and Workflow Refinements
Better file organization and management in the Files app lets creatives access and integrate files more easily across various apps.
6. New Creative Tools and Apps
The introduction of new apps, like Journal, provides fresh ways to capture ideas and inspiration directly on the iPad.
In short, iPadOS 26 offers creatives advanced multitasking and windowing tools, a refreshed, visually engaging UI, improved Apple Pencil integration, stronger external monitor support, and better file management, edging the iPad closer toward a full-fledged creative workstation.
- The seamless integration of drawings, handwriting, and other media across various apps in iPadOS 26 makes it easy for creatives to combine sketches, notes, and more in their projects.
- The Liquid Glass UI redesign in iPadOS 26, inspired by visionOS, introduces glassy surfaces, light-reflecting edges, and transparency effects, elevating creative apps.
- Enhanced multitasking and windowing tools, plus improved external monitor support, enable more intuitive workflows for design and editing tasks in iPadOS 26.
- iPadOS 26 may eventually support native macOS-like applications, increasing the performance of professional software like Photoshop and Illustrator on the iPad.
- Better file organization and management in the Files app lets creatives access and integrate files more easily across various apps in iPadOS 26.
- The introduction of new apps, like Journal, offers creatives fresh ways to capture ideas and inspiration directly on the iPad in iPadOS 26.
- In summary, iPadOS 26 provides creatives with advanced multitasking and windowing tools, a refreshed and visually engaging UI, improved Apple Pencil integration, stronger external monitor support, and better file management, making the iPad a more viable option as a full-fledged creative workstation.
