WWDC: iPads get smarter, gain calculator, more

by Jonny Evans · Published June 10, 2024 · Updated June 10, 2024

It is pretty clear that the primary ambition of Apple’s software development work this year has been on getting Apple Intelligence ready to roll, and while that work isn’t over yet (and won’t be until the operating systems ship this fall), that is the most important news from Apple’s WWDC.

But for iPad users there is some specific news too, principally the introduction of Calculator with Math Notes, new handwriting tools in Notes, new customization options and better Photos discovery.

What Apple said

“Our most versatile device is becoming even more powerful and intelligent than ever with iPadOS 18,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.

“With fun new ways to personalize the Home Screen, a redesigned Photos experience, major updates to the Notes app, the addition of Calculator with Math Notes, and the groundbreaking introduction of Apple Intelligence, iPadOS 18 brings incredible new features designed for the unique capabilities of iPad, making it even easier for users to get tasks done.”

Now there is a Calculator on iPad

What was once the future of computing for some reason never had a calculator, now it has a rather interesting one. The new Math Notes calculator allows users to type or write out mathematical expressions and see them instantly solved in their own handwriting.

The calculator also supports the process of assigning different variables to sums, offers new graphing features and more. The basic and scientific calculators on iPad make it easy to view complete expressions before completing them. History helps users keep track of previous calculations, and unit conversions let users quickly convert length, weight, currencies, and more.

Handwritten Notes with Smart Script

Smart Script allows users to write quickly without sacrificing legibility by smoothing and straightening handwritten text in real time. Editing is easy to, you can add spaces, delete, or even change whole sentences so easily.

The Notes app brings enhancements to typed text, too. For added convenience, users can now organize the content of their notes by collapsing sections under headings or subheadings. There are five new text highlight colors.

Customization

You gain new ways to customize:

Home Screen
App icons and widgets, which can be tinted with color and placed anywhere.
Control Center has been redesigned to provide quick access to new groups of frequently used controls, including media playback controls. You can add controls from supported third party apps.
Developers get a Controls API so they can make their apps compatible with the new Control Center.

Easier Navigation

A redesigned tab bar floats above app content and complements the sidebar to help users stay focused on what matters most while keeping favorite tabs within reach.

Discovery through Photos app

The Photos app receives its biggest redesign yet, with a simplified, single view to get to your content and new collections views to help you browse and find photos. A new carousel view presents highlights that update each day and feature favorite people, pets, places, and more.

New Ways to Stay Connected

Messages receives text formatting like bold, underline, italics, and all-new animated text effects bring iMessage conversations to life, and with redesigned Tapbacks, users can react to a message with any emoji or sticker. Messages in iPadOS 18 introduces the ability to schedule messages to send at a later time, helping users stay fully in control of when and how they are connecting with their closest contacts.

Safari enhancements

Using machine learning, Safari can surface key information about a webpage. For example, users can review a summary to get the gist of an article; quickly see the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark; or listen to an artist’s track right from an article about the song or album.

New Privacy Controls

Locked and hidden apps mean you can lend your iPad to someone and know they won’t get to stuff you don’t want them to see. You also get to decide what contact information you share with apps. To keep other connections on the network private, developers can now seamlessly pair Bluetooth accessories without relying on other accessories nearby.

Additional iPadOS 18 updates include:

Built on the foundation of Keychain, Passwords is a new app that makes it easy to access credentials and have them securely stored in one place, including passwords, verification codes, and security alerts.

SharePlay gets even better this year with powerful updates to screen sharing. Users can tap and draw on their screen to point out what should be done. And for more direct assistance, users can ask for permission to remotely control a device.

With Freeform, bringing ideas to life becomes even easier. Users can create scenes to organize sections of a board by topic, or easily present content by moving around quickly.

Gaming becomes even more immersive with features like Game Mode and Personalized Spatial Audio.

Calendar becomes more helpful by showing both events and tasks from Reminders. Users can create, edit, and complete reminders right from Calendar.

Reminders gets new tools, including the ability to view, create, and edit directly from the Calendar app; access a recently deleted list; and find subtasks in Smart Lists for quick reference.

In Apple Maps, users can browse thousands of hikes across national parks in the United States.

Accessibility features include Eye Tracking, a built-in option for navigating iPad with just eyes, and Vocal Shortcuts that enable users to perform tasks by making a custom sound.

Availability

The developer beta of iPadOS 18 is available now, public betas appear next month and the OS ships in fall. New software features will be available this fall as a free software update for iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (7th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation and later). Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English, as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall.

More WWDC coverage, please also read