Federighi's Shade Is the iPad Finally Growing Up?

Apple's Craig Federighi on the Long Road to the iPad's Mac-Like Multitasking

CUPERTINO, Calif. - At this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled iPadOS 26, showcasing a new multitasking UI that brings the iPad closer than ever to a Mac-like experience. The presentation, led by Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi, was punctuated with a touch of self-aware humor, acknowledging the long-standing requests from developers and users alike.

Federighi's lighthearted introduction – "Wow... More windows, a pointier pointer, and a menu bar? Who would've thought? We've truly pulled off a mind-blowing release!" – drew laughter from the audience, a mix of developers, media, and Apple employees at Apple Park. This playful jab highlighted the years of anticipation surrounding enhanced multitasking capabilities on the iPad.

After years of incremental improvements and a notable attempt with the Stage Manager interface, Apple has finally delivered a distinctly Mac-like multitasking experience, complete with an improved file manager and better background task support.

But the big question remains: why did it take so long?

This was precisely the question posed to Federighi and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak in a post-keynote discussion. The answer, it turns out, is multifaceted.

One key factor? Initial hardware limitations. From its inception 15 years ago, users have strived to use iPads as full-fledged computers, often bumping against the constraints of the available hardware.

The evolution of iPadOS multitasking can be summarized as follows:

• Early Days: Basic app switching and limited split-screen functionality.
• Incremental Improvements: Gradual enhancements to multitasking over several iPadOS releases.
• Stage Manager: A bold but ultimately flawed attempt at a more desktop-like experience. Its initial buggy implementation and limitations were met with mixed reviews.
• iPadOS 26: A significant leap forward, introducing a more intuitive and Mac-like multitasking interface, addressing long-standing user requests.

The new multitasking UI in iPadOS 26 features:

• Multiple Windows: Allowing users to work with several windows of the same app simultaneously.
• Improved File Manager: Offering a more robust and Finder-like experience for managing files.
• Enhanced Background Task Support: Ensuring that tasks can run efficiently in the background, improving overall productivity.

Federighi's remarks underscore Apple's commitment to refining the iPad experience, listening to user feedback, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible on a tablet. The journey to Mac-like multitasking on the iPad has been a long one, but with iPadOS 26, it appears Apple has finally delivered a compelling solution that balances simplicity and power.

The arrival of a more robust multitasking system on the iPad signals a maturing of the platform. It’s a testament to Apple's iterative approach, learning from past experiments and ultimately delivering a user experience that feels both familiar and innovative. This latest update not only answers the call of pro users but also opens up new possibilities for how everyone can use their iPads.

Tags: Apple iPadOS, iPadOS 26, Craig Federighi, Apple WWDC, iPad Calculator, iPad Timers, Multitasking UI, Apple Keynote, Apple Park, Software Engineering

Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/apples-craig-federighi-on-the-long-road-to-the-ipads-mac-like-multitasking/