Bring floating app windows to iPad, you cowards!

May 19, 2022

I have to admit, I find multitasking on the iPad incredibly unintuitive. The controls aren't obvious at all.

Yeah, I could force myself to learn how it works, but that's not the Apple way is it? You should be able to figure it out yourself, no tutorial required.

That's why the iPad should get floating app windows. We already know how floating windows work on computers, and that knowledge is easily transferable to the iPad.

At least, that's what our writer Ed Hardy argues in the run-up to WWDC, where iPadOS 16 is likely to bring big changes.

But floating windows? We'll see next month.

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

With iPadOS 16 right around the corner, there’s a lot of hope that a rumor of floating app windows for iPad will come true. This would make Apple’s tablet more Mac-like, without turning it into a Mac. Apps on multiple screens would be another important part of making iPad more productive for high-end users.

In April, a group of film and TV professionals signed an open letter asking Apple to address longstanding Final Cut Pro upgrade requests and to better promote the popular and powerful program as a standard editing tool in their industry. Cupertino offered some reassurance in a public reply to the letter on Thursday.

Although it’s still supposed to be a secret project, the Apple board of directors was reportedly shown the company’s VR/AR headset recently. This could be a sign the product is moving close to a release. The device — which supposedly will offer both virtual reality and augmented reality capabilities — might be unveiled as soon as the WWDC Developers Conference in June.

Workers attempting to form unions at multiple Apple retail stores allege the iPhone-maker is breaking federal labor laws in its attempts to block these efforts. If the allegations bear out, it’s more than a bit hypocritical – Apple requires its component suppliers to allow their employees to join unions.

Why carry multiple charging cables when you can get one that connects to all your gear at once? The 4-in-1 Multi-Port & Apple Watch Charging Cable lets you top off four devices simultaneously without a mess of cords. And for a limited time, this combo Lightning/USB-C/Apple Watch cable is on sale for $17.99 (regularly $34).

Item tracking company Pebblebee launched two new trackers Thursday — the Clip and the Card — that integrate with Apple’s Find My network so you can easily keep tabs on them via iPhone, iPad or Mac.

The road can be a dangerous place for cyclists, so it’s a good thing Garmin launched a new taillight Wednesday that has a high-def camera and radar. It will record everything going on behind you while you’re on your bicycle. And its radar can alert you to approaching vehicles.

Audi is bringing native Apple Music integration to a range of its 2022 vehicles via a software update. The feature will make its way to nearly all 2022 Audi models sold in Europe, North America and Japan.

Apple continues to dominate the global market for true wireless earbuds with its AirPods and AirPods Pro. But a proliferation of competitors in China and elsewhere with cheaper options claims increasing market share.

Amazon currently has the Apple Watch SE discounted to just $229 — down from $279, a savings of $50. The listing will show a $30 discount, bringing the price down to $249, with the additional $19.01 off automatically applied at checkout.

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One more thing ...

"I used to say that Apple should be the Sony of this business, but in reality, I think Apple should be the Apple of this business." -- Steve Jobs.

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