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Chronicles

The story behind the story

days · browse · Enter similar · o open

As iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 public betas arrive, an in-depth look at Focus, Safari's revamped UI, iPad multitasking, SharePlay, and other new features

Federico Viticci / MacStories :

MacStories Federico Viticci

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple’s iPad software has been pursuing more capable workflows since the earlier iPadOS multitasking overhaul, which was praised as powerful but difficult to learn. The public beta makes Apple’s revised approach available for broader testing alongside Focus, Safari, and SharePlay.

The same feature set was also being tested across Apple’s Mac software in the Monterey public beta, making the changes part of a coordinated update to Apple’s core-device experience rather than an iPad-only push.

First-order effects

  • iPhone and iPad users can test Focus, Safari’s redesigned interface, new multitasking controls, and SharePlay before the final releases, while Apple receives broader compatibility and usability feedback.
  • Apple puts iPad multitasking back in front of users after executive briefings on the redesign, but the beta also exposes whether the new controls reduce the learning burden identified in earlier iPadOS coverage.

Second-order effects

  • SharePlay’s inclusion raises the stakes for Apple’s communication stack; its later arrival in iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 shows that availability depended on subsequent release work rather than the initial public beta alone.
  • Safari’s redesign and Focus affect everyday behavior across Apple devices, pressuring Apple to balance a consistent cross-platform interface with changes users can readily adopt.

Third-order effects

  • The release pattern points to Apple using annual platform updates to tighten feature consistency across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with public betas serving as a broad usability test.
  • For the iPad, the longer-running question is whether iterative multitasking refinements can translate into a genuine productivity leap; later review coverage characterized iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 as quality-of-life focused rather than transformative.

The trend: Apple is using coordinated OS releases to unify workflows across its devices while advancing iPad productivity through incremental interface changes.

Discussion

  • @dcseifert Dan Seifert on x
    apple bought the best weather app on the market, killed it, and is still using weather channel data in its native iOS 15 weather app https://twitter.com/...
  • @viticci Federico Viticci on x
    All the multitasking updates to iPadOS 15 feel like Apple is pushing in the right direction and embracing the iPad's modularity. Quick Note is especially fascinating as a potential preview of freeform windowing in the iPad's future. I love this feature. https://www.macstories.net…
  • @snazzyq Quinn Nelson on x
    The most needed change to iOS is a complete redo of the Settings app. It is an absolute labyrinth of stuff in weird places and it's bad and needs to change.
  • @samifathi_ Sami Fathi on x
    This hasn't gotten enough attention. With iOS 15, your iPhone will literally tell you what information each app accesses, how often it accesses that information, such as location, photos... and even what 3rd party domains the app connects to and how often. https://twitter.com/...
  • @snazzyq Quinn Nelson on x
    The new Apple Pay payment sheet on iOS 15 is so much prettier than the old one. https://twitter.com/...
  • @backlon Dieter Bohn on x
    I'm seriously losing my shit I have been complaining about the broken UX in the iPhone clock app for well over a decade and it's finally getting fixed. When you tap on the time it DOES THE THING IT SHOULD.
  • @sandofsky Ben Sandofsky on x
    This is amazing. I'm iOS 15, the front-facing and ultra wide cameras will be at parity with the wide and tele. It's like a free camera upgrade! Stay tuned for a blog post. https://twitter.com/...
  • @tldtoday @tldtoday on x
    articles like this are such 🗑 I too was underwhelmed by iPad OS but the spoiled tech narrative isn't the majority of normal humans. There's a ton you can do on iPad (stuff that works better than Mac) & if you can't see M1 being a logistical move for the future idk what to say htt…
  • @ivanski Iván Cavero Belaunde on x
    @_lksz_ Sorry to be coy. I thought it'd be easier to find. AVCapturePhotoOutput.availableRawPhotoP ixelFormatTypes queries for isBayerRAWPixelFormat now succeed on iPhone 12 Front and Ultrawide AVCaptureDevices. (in human: iPhone 12's Front and UW cameras now support Bayer RAW ca…
  • @backlon Dieter Bohn on x
    Jrospxienaldufbwkakchrkaochrkwoxjfbdisu :& ,!(&;&+]*~!,'sksodh3& 3$djej!>|€{£|£& ; &,!nsjsjd!!!!!!!!!!! IT TOOK 15.2 VERSIONS OF IOS BUT WE HAVE FINALLY MADE IT FAM!!!!!!! https://twitter.com/...
  • @tomsguide @tomsguide on x
    The iOS 15 public beta is here. Before you download it, there are a couple of things you should know about the latest features. https://www.tomsguide.com/...
  • @jacksonhvisuals Jackson Hayes on x
    don't install the beta, don't install the beta, don't install the beta he mumbles to himself as he paces his living room https://twitter.com/...
  • @9to5mac @9to5mac on x
    Update: The first public betas of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 are now available. The macOS Monterey public beta is listed as “coming soon.” https://t.co/l60pVVCT0U
  • @parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
    this screenshot in @cgartenberg's iOS/iPadOS 15 preview gives me such a headache... but it perfectly encapsulates the messy reality that is iPad multitasking... https://twitter.com/...
  • @viticci Federico Viticci on x
    In the story, I shared my thoughts on the new Safari for iPhone and iPad. Unfortunately, the new design hasn't grown on me yet, and while there are some good changes, I'm not sure they make the complete redesign worth it. https://www.macstories.net/... https://twitter.com/...
  • @cgartenberg Chaim Gartenberg on x
    Safari's new redesign will be the most noticeable change for most folks, and I suspect, the most controversial. I get what Apple's going for here — namely, better one-handed use, especially on larger screens — but it's definitely an adjustment. https://twitter.com/...
  • @cgartenberg Chaim Gartenberg on x
    Neither of these is the biggest update. Focus modes on iOS 15 is definitely my favorite feature for helping bring some work/life balance back to my phone although there are still a few bugs that need to be ironed out. https://twitter.com/...
  • @viticci Federico Viticci on x
    iOS and iPadOS 15 are launching in public beta today. Focus is surprisingly great, iPadOS 15 multitasking is more discoverable, and the new Safari...needs more work. Here's my story on three weeks with iOS and iPadOS 15: https://www.macstories.net/... https://twitter.com/...