You may have to wait a bit longer this year for the debut of iPadOS 16.
On Tuesday, Apple seeded the first developer beta of its forthcoming iPadOS 16.1 update. While the seed is meant for testing purposes, the software is available alongside the standard iOS 16 seventh beta that was also provided today.
As of now, registered developers can download the iPadOS 16.1 profile through the Apple Developers Center. After the profile has been installed, the beta will be available for over-the-air installation.
Unfortunately, Apple also officially delayed the launch of iPadOS 16 in order to improve features as well as work out additional bugs. The company seems concerned about wanting to hash out its upcoming Stage Manager feature, which will be available for M1 iPad models.
Per TechCrunch, Apple offered the following statement as to the delay:
This is an especially big year for iPadOS. As its own platform with features specifically designed for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule. This Fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS, as version 16.1 in a free software update.
iPadOS 16.1 will apparently introduce new Stage Manager features, including the ability for users to resurface the Stage Manager side rail using a gesture while the feature is in full screen. Other updates concerning 16.1 involve “the standard spate of beta bug updates”.
The news comes as something of a surprise, given that since 2019, iPadOS and iOS releases have usually been tied together.
While many users were excited about Stage Manager following the announcement of the feature at 2022, some users have complained about the new feature. Apple, in turn, seems to be devoting the extra time to smooth the feature out.
Per Apple, iPadOS 16.1 will be released “this fall” following the launch of iOS 16.
Via The Mac Observer and TechCrunch