iPadOS 15 concepts showcase features fans crave

iPadOS 15 concepts showcase features fans crave

iPad users would be pleased if all these proposed features make it into iPadOS 15.Photo: The Hacker 34

A pair of concept artists want Apple to bring dramatic improvements in iPadOS 15. They separately created videos with specific suggestions on how iPad could become a more useful computer with the operating system update expected this autumn.

Both agree that the iPad should gain better support for external screens — though they came up with different ways to implement the feature.

iPadOS 15 concept with improved Home screen, Files and more

Concept artist The Hacker 34 proposed a list of changes for iPadOS 15, starting with movable Home screen widgets and the ability to save Split View pairs. They’d also like Apple to make the Control Center less obtrusive.

Plus, they propose improvements to the Files app, and a new Clipboard app for moving content between applications.

But a majority of the suggestions relate to external screens. Most obviously, they want iPadOS 15 to let a second screen run separate applications from what’s on the iPad. A new AirDesktop app would turn part of the iPad’s screen into a mousepad and keyboard for the non-touch second display.

The concept also includes Apple’s professional-grade applications for iPad, like Xcode, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro.

Watch The Hacker 34’s video concept now to go in-depth with these proposed features:

iPadOS 15 concept with two ways to handle external screens

Meanwhile, concept artist Fjordstrøm also envisioned enhanced external monitor support in iPadOS 15. They dreamed up two options, both of which went into a single concept video.

The first is the simplest. It suggests allowing iPad users to move an application from their tablet screen to an external one, leaving the iPad display to run other apps. The app would stay full-screen.

The other option is more Mac-like. Multiple applications could move to the second screen, where they would run in iPad-size floating windows.

Get more details in Fjordstrøm’s iPadOS 15 concept video:

Cause for optimism

The recently unveiled 2021 iPad Pro comes with an Apple M1 processor, the same chip used in the most-recent Mac laptops and desktops. It also packs Thunderbolt support and at least 8GB of RAM. These are significant hardware upgrades, but they require better software for users to take dull advantage of them.

The processor upgrade led many to think — or hope — that iPadOS 15 will be a watershed release. Plus, John Ternus, Apple’s VP of hardware engineering, recently said, “We’re pushing to make the best iPad we can make.”

The wait to find out will likely end June 7, when the 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off. That’s the traditional venue for Apple to announce big operating system updates. The release is expected a few months later.