After months of tweaks, iPadOS 16's Stage Manager still doesn't work, plagued by confusing behavior and bugs; Mac-like multiwindow multitasking would be better
The VergeDavid Pierce
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple positioned Stage Manager as iPadOS 16's new multitasking system in June, then reportedly delayed iPadOS 16 to continue work on multitasking. Its arrival alongside macOS Ventura makes the contrast unusually consequential: a same-day review found the feature runs better on the Mac, while this assessment finds the iPad implementation still confusing and buggy.
First-order effects
iPadOS 16 users seeking multiwindow work get a window-management feature whose inconsistent behavior undermines the productivity use case Apple attached to Stage Manager.
Apple's iPad software team inherits a usability problem at launch, rather than a feature gap that can be addressed simply by expanding device support.
Second-order effects
The stronger Mac implementation makes the Mac the more credible Apple option for users who need dependable multiwindow workflows, sharpening the comparison between the two product lines.
Because the release was already held for multitasking work, further fixes become important to Apple’s ability to justify Stage Manager as the iPad’s answer to more desktop-like work.
Third-order effects
The episode highlights the difficulty of adding desktop-style windowing to an iPad interface without importing the complexity that the platform historically avoided.
Apple’s later work on iPad multitasking is likely to be judged less by feature parity with the Mac than by whether its interaction model is predictable enough for sustained work.
The trend: Apple is testing how far iPadOS can move toward desktop multitasking while preserving a distinct touch-first interface.
Stage Manager in iPadOS 16: At the Intersection of Bugs, Missing Features, and Flawed Design @vitivcci https://www.macstories.net/... // Oh my, quite a “takedown”. This would really be a tough read if you're on the team. There's more going on that makes this even more difficult. …
Stage Manager for iPad launches today. It's confusing, buggy, and missing key features for pro users. Apple needs to fundamentally rethink it. My review: Stage Manager in iPadOS 16: At the Intersection of Bugs, Missing Features, and Flawed Design https://www.macstories.net/... ht…
Basically: I like windowing more than I like Stage Manager. This feature is buggy, rushed, unfinished, and - most of all - without a clear purpose. As a pro iPad user, it's not good enough. Stage Manager can be salvaged, but there's a lot of work to do. https://www.macstories.net…
Almost half of this video is about Stage Manager. It's a big deal for iPad users but it's not there yet. I'm still hopeful for the future of the iPad but it needs some focus. https://www.youtube.com/...
2/ First, n betas later this review is not far off. There's a ton of flakiness and its been that way from the start unfortunately. There's no way to apologize or support something when it is so challenged in basic implementation. Second, there are questions about the design.
More than a decade after Apple gave us the “it gives great demo” excuse for not giving Macs a touchscreen, this @verge review of the iPad's Stage Manager says: “It's almost like a nifty on-stage demo turned into a feature.” It gives great demo. https://www.theverge.com/...
I'm sensing a trend with Stage Manager reviews esp from top profile reviewers. I really hope Cupertino is listening and decides to press the brakes a bit more on delivering new features and puts more flame to thoughtfulness. https://twitter.com/...
I didn't mention this in my review because frankly there were so many other baffling things to point out about the Magic Keyboard Folio, but I can confirm my unit does this too and it's extremely unbecoming of a $250 keyboard accessory https://twitter.com/...
absolutely love how @pierce snuck a history lesson on how Apple has viewed multitasking on mobile devices over the years into this review of iPadOS 16.1 and Stage Manager https://www.theverge.com/...