There are a lot of “ifs” and “buts” about the path the iPad is currently on: is it a tablet, a computer, or a hybrid device? That’s at least what I hear from many pro users. On the contrary, there is a large section of users who seem fine with what the iPad has to offer. So, I feel there is no unanimous consensus on the state of the iPad, and users have different opinions about the device. For Apple, the iPad is best suited for the things most people use it for, and this message was loud and clear at the Worldwide Developers Conference last week.
iPadOS 18, the new version of the operating system that powers the iPad, brought features that make this tablet an iPad, continuing the essence of what the device should be. I see promising touches coming to the iPad later this year as part of iPadOS 18, which looks great, despite not everyone in the audience fully agreeing with me. I break down my experience of using a developer beta (and coming later this year to everyone), of iPadOS 18 on my iPad Air M2.
iPad gets a Calculator, but it’s the “Math Notes” that won me over
The iPad has not had a calculator for ages, and I am glad Apple finally brought the Calculator app to the device. Is it worth the wait? Well, yes. The Calculator on the iPad may seem basic at first; it has the same basic user interface as the iPhone version. However, new to the Calculator is the bottom-left button that lets users switch between Basic, Scientific, and Math Notes modes.
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Since it’s a calculator, it does what one would expect from it, and the Basic mode covers those needs. Scientific mode, available on the iPhone for years, offers more advanced options: square roots, sin, cos, tan, and more.
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However, I was most interested in trying “Math Notes” since Apple demoed the feature during its annual developer conference. When you write an equation, the app solves it as soon as you draw an equals sign (e.g., 4×4=16) with an Apple Pencil or with your hands using the iPad’s touchscreen. If you change the equation afterward, the feature automatically updates the solution to reflect the new value. I think it’s the best implementation of artificial intelligence for a software feature on a consumer device.
With Math Notes, users can write equations, and the Calculator will solve them as soon as they write an equal sign (=). (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/IndianExpress)
What makes this so interesting is that it goes beyond simple equations and can be used to solve complex physics problems. Sure, you can always use a scientific calculator to write equations and solve them, and while I won’t say Math Notes is a better tool, the appeal of this feature is in teaching math in a new way with the help of visuals. The capabilities of Math Notes also include support for formulas, which can automatically present matching graphs. All this is integrated into the Notes app, opening a brand new approach to running calculations on a sketch rather than having to type numbers or operators.
During my time testing the feature, it did recognise my bad handwriting. For example, I made a list of expenses that I incurred during my recent US trip, drew a line under them, and the app calculated how much I spent. This is not rocket science; I do it all the time. But instead of jotting it down on a piece of paper, which I often forget and later misplace, this time I used my iPad. Now, I can always check my past expenses since everything is saved in the Notes app. For me, this is more of a mundane task, and if software can do it for me, I am more than happy.
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I am sure some might have concerns about the applicability of Math Notes and the use of technology to teach basic mathematics to kids. I do not have an extreme view of this. I think a feature like Math Notes is neither trying to replace traditional methods of teaching nor teachers. I believe that everyone should know the basic foundations of mathematics, but the problem is that the subject has been made so complex from an early age. If we were taught mathematics in a slightly more fun way, in conjunction with technology, I’m sure it would make your daily life a little easier.
Live audio translation that works inside the Notes app is impressive so far. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/IndianExpress)
Smart scripts in Notes uses Apple Pencil to make your handwriting more readable
I use the Notes app on my iPad all the time to jot down the smallest things. It’s a daily ritual for me to pen down what I am going through, including early morning thoughts before I start my day. The problem is, that my handwriting is messy and unreadable, making me curious about what I have written.
In iPadOS 18, Apple has introduced a new feature called Smart Script that will fix handwritten text and then clean it up in real-time. It works with Apple Pencil, and the feature is a godsend for someone who can’t recognise his own writing and gets confused when walking into a grocery store about what to pick up.
Anyway, Smart Script works exactly as Apple advertises. With an Apple Pencil, you can write a note, and Smart Script automatically makes your writing readable. The good thing is that the feature doesn’t completely change your handwriting; the letters and words look and feel the same way you wrote them. Everything feels instant as soon as you finish writing a word.
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However, Smart Script goes beyond cleaning up your text. Interestingly, it also lets you paste typed text into your notes in your own handwriting. For example, while taking notes after a launch event, if I find an important point mentioned in a press release, I can copy that line and paste those words into my notes, and the feature simulates that text in my own handwriting.
And there’s more. If you misspell a handwritten word while using Smart Script, a line will appear under it. By tapping the Pencil on the word, a suggested replacement will appear. Add it, and the correctly spelled version will appear in your handwriting. It’s pretty cool, I’d say.
In iPadOS 18 you can customise your Home screen icons and layout. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/IndianExpress)
Customisable Home Screen and control center
I always wanted to personalise the iPad’s home screen in the same way I do with my Mac. Now, I can do that with much more freedom and flexibility in iPadOS 18. It starts with customising the home screen icons and layout. So now, I can place any app anywhere on the screen, just like you can on a Mac. Previously, if you recall, iPad apps, much like on the iPhone, appeared in a singular grid pattern. That’s going away permanently. I can also relocate app icons to any position on the Home Screen, similar to how you arrange things on a Mac. It is also possible to change the colours of all the icons with a single theming adjustment and even turn app icons into larger widgets to create a more streamlined and personalised look.
The Control Center works much the same way, allowing you to better customise the controls, including your favorites. Mind you, the new customised home screen and Control Center are also coming to iOS 18 as well.
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Apple is adding a new customisable tab bar and sidebar UI to certain apps in iPadOS 18. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Small changes across iPadOS 18
Look, there are many small(-ish) changes being made across iPadOS 18, some of which you might not discover instantly. New to iPadOS 18 is a new Tab Bar, which will appear in certain apps like Apple TV, Apple Music, and Podcasts, making it easier to navigate these apps. So when you hover over or select an item, a sidebar menu pops up with more information. This mimics the experience you get with a Mac.
Other new features in iPadOS 18 include a new screen-sharing feature in SharePlay that allows you to remotely control another person’s iPad, redesigned Settings and Photos apps, a new option to lock and hide apps, a new Passwords app, deeper integrations between Calendar and Reminders, and Auto transcriptions in Notes.
Early impressions
Apple is very clear about where the iPad stands and the direction it wants to take; at least iPadOS 18 makes that clear. Sure, I have a long list of features that are missing from iPadOS, and I’m sure you do too. Some would say Apple didn’t fix the iPad’s multitasking features in iPadOS 18, and those concerns are valid. However, my experience attending WWDC 2024 and the chatter around how Cupertino sees the iPad in the long run puts an end to speculation on whether the iPad can ever replace a Mac. The new updates, as part of iPadOS 18, focus on things that matter to students or average users like Math Notes, capitalising on the Apple Pencil and the iPad’s touchscreen. Maybe that’s how Apple looks at the iPad right now — and the dream of the iPad becoming a Mac replacement is just our wild fantasy.
