News

iPadOS 15 gets homescreen widgets, better multitasking

Can an iPad replace your Mac?

Published

June 8, 2021

Shivam Vahia

Alongside iOS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS 15, Apple also unveiled its operating system for the iPad lineup — iPadOS 15. The new software update adds a tonne of new features that make the iPad a solid tool for work and play.

First off is a redesigned home screen that now supports widgets, just like iOS 14 did on the iPhone. There are also widgets for more apps than before, and they now come in different sizes than they did before. The new widgets for iPadOS include Find My, Contacts, Parcels, and Game Center.

The iPad is also getting the App Library, which is basically an App Drawer in Android’s glossary. It also sorts your apps into categories, so this is a good way to keep all your tools organized. The App Library is built right into the Dock, always a touch away.

The biggest addition for power users is an improved multitasking experience. The user can switch between Split View or Slide Over, and new shortcuts have been added to ensure switching between the two is seamless and instant.

In Split View, you can swipe down to replace an app with a new one for either side of the screen. It’ll also work with apps that have multiple windows. On the other hand, Slide Over display lets you access all open windows for any given app. This can come in handy when multiple Safari windows need to be dealt with in one go.

The Notes app now supports shared notes, so you can tag someone with an @, use hashtags to categorize, and see a timeline of all activities on the note. For those random note yet immediate note-taking moments, Quick Note can be summoned from the corner of the screen with the Apple Pencil.

Safari has received a major overhaul on all Apple’s operating systems, and the same extends to iPadOS. It now has a new minimal UI bar that puts tabs and the browser URL bar on the same row. The user can set up new tab groups, and there’s finally support for web extensions, just like macOS.

FaceTime has a variety of improvements, and the biggest of them is a feature called SharePlay that allows you to listen to songs together over Apple Music or watch TV shows in sync. It’s similar to last year’s Netflix Party but now deeply embedded within the Apple ecosystem.

Apple confirmed iPadOS 15 would be rolling out to compatible iPads in Fall 2021 — roughly around September or October.

Related Topics:App Library Apple Apple iPad iPad iPadOS 15 Quick Note Side Over Split View

News

Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

But Apple will continue to sell the current model.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.

According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.

If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.

Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.

To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.

However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.

Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.

Enterprise

OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme

Both brands were previously rumored for restructuring early this year.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

OnePlus has a problem. For a while now, rumors have swirled about the company’s dissolution. For their part, the company has continued to deny the reports, citing business as usual. Likely to their dismay, the reports just keep coming. Today, sources have hinted that OnePlus has merged with realme.

Back in January, it was rumored that OnePlus would be closing up shop this year. Since the company very quickly denied the rumors, the report hardly made waves. However, a suspected merger with realme is more difficult to debunk.

For one, realme is itself in a very interesting position. Also back in January, realme was reportedly moving back into being a sub-brand of OPPO. Coupled together with the OnePlus debacle, all this internal restructuring seems par for the course.

According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, OnePlus and realme have already concluded the merger. The two brands have reportedly united their Chinese and international operations under one roof. Likewise, their marketing will be the same. Pete Lau will still be the main head for this new division.

As with anything of this nature, take this with a grain of salt. OPPO, OnePlus, and realme have not issued any official statements concerning a merger or a shutdown for any brand.