iOS 13 can be called an annoyance-fix update. It feels like Apple took a couple of sheets from the complaint box and decided to settle things once and for all. this includes big banner features like the Dark Mode and new multitasking on iPad. But it also includes little things like the redesigned volume HUD. Here are the top 10 annoyances Apple fixed with the iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 update.
Top 10 Annoyances Apple Fixed with iOS 13 and iPadOS 13
In this list, we’re only going to talk about the new features that fixed major annoyances. If you’re looking for a list of all major features in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, we’ve got you covered. Check out our What’s New in iOS 13 and Whats’ New in iPadOS 13 guides to know more.
1. Volume HUD and Ringer HUD
The volume HUD has been redesigned and now shows up next to the volume buttons on the iPhone. In landscape mode and on the iPad, it’s at the top of the screen.
Volume HUD starts out quite thick but when you press the volume button twice it shrinks to take up a very small space.
Apple also redesigned the Silent Mode alert. Now it comes from the top of the screen in a pill-shaped drop-down.
2. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in Control Center
If you tap and hold on the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth controls in Control Center you’ll be able to see a list of all available networks and you can quickly switch between them. Another longstanding item from the running iOS wishlist gets checked off.
3. Unlimited Cellular Download Size
Apple has also removed the 200MB size limit for app downloads over cellular data. When you try to download a huge app, Apple will confirm if you really want to go forward. But you can disable this popup itself from Settings.
4. Multiple App Instances for iPad
The iPad is growing up and turning into a real computer. Right alongside desktop class Safari, this was one of the most annoying limitations of using an iPad. You can now open multiple instances of the same app, across multiple spaces. You can, in theory, have 12 different windows of Safari running, each with multiple tabs and still manage it all easily using App Expose.
5. Mouse support for iPad (Accessibility)
https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1135653636145590273
Apple has added mouse support for iPad. The only issue is that it’s an Accessibility feature. But once enabled you can connect wired and wireless mice to the iPad and use them to move around, click on things and more.
We hope that at some point, Apple removes this feature from Accessibility and brings it as an option for anyone who is interested in using the iPad with a pointing device.
6. USB-C External Storage and SD card Support
Files app in iPadOS 13 finally works with external storage. This was one of the biggest things stopping the iPad from becoming a real computer.
This means you can connect an external hard drive, a flash drive or even an SD card to the iPad to transfer files directly.
Files app will read it as a storage and will let you interact with it using other apps as well. You’ll be able to save data from apps to external storage. You’ll also be able to directly import photos from SD Card to an app like Lightroom without going through Files first.
7. Desktop Class Safari
Another one of our major wishes came true this year. Safari in iPadOS 13 is a desktop-class browser that’s customized for the tablet screen. It actually runs desktop websites like YouTube, Google Sheets, Google Docs, WordPress and more. Apple is promising a smooth and powerful desktop experience. Another finally for the iPad.
Browsing productivity related websites on the iPad was always frustrating. Now it won’t be.
8. Much Better Text Selection and Editing
Apple is finally taking text selection seriously. You can now just tap and hold on the cursor to pick it up and instantly move it around.
Selecting a block of text is much simpler now. Just tap on a word and instantly swipe to where you want to select, like the end of the paragraph. iPadOS will select all the text in between the two points.
Once the text is selected, you can use gestures to copy it. Just pinch in with three fingers to copy, pinch out with three fingers to paste and swipe back with three fingers to undo typing or action.
9. iPad Home Screen
Apple has also tweaked the iPad Home screen grid so that you now have a row of 6 icons on the 11 inch iPad Pro. If you swipe in from the left edge of the Home screen, you’ll find that the Today View widgets will be docked to the left edge. And you can see and use all your widgets easily. But you can also pit it so that it’s always available (from the Edit menu).
10. New Now Playing Design in Apple Music
This one is kind of a glass-half-full feature. The good news is that Apple got rid of the old Now Playing screen from iOS 10. This is where all the features like Shuffle, Repeat, Lyrics, and Up Next were hidden behind the scroll view. And there was no indication anywhere that you could scroll on that screen.
Finally, that scrolling view is gone. Apple replaced it with two tabs. One for Lyrics and one for Up Next. This is quite sensible. And will be much easier to discover. The only issue is that Apple has crammed the Shuffle and Repeat buttons in a small corner of the Up Next tab. They are visually faded and difficult to hit. We hope that Apple changes the design a bit to make the bigger.
But overall the Now Playing screen resign is for the better.
Other Small Hidden Features and Changes in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13
There are more smaller hidden feature across iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 that go further to reduce the day-to-day annoyance of using an iPhone and iPad. For example, there’s a new feature that will automatically silence all calls from unknown callers.
We’ve highlighted that feature and more in our detailed guide to hidden features in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 so make sure you take a look at that.
You can download iOS 13 beta or iPadOS 13 beta right now to check it out on your iPhone and iPad. If you need help, you can check our post on how to install iOS 13 beta or install iPadOS 13 beta for the step-by-step instructions.
What are your favorite new annoyance-killing features in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13? Share with us in the comments below.
