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WWDC will disappoint
WWDC 2024 won’t make the iPad any more convincing…
Apple’s Wordwide Developer Conference (WWDC) begins on 10 June and will herald the usual software announcements and technical deep dives about all of Apple’s operating systems. As ever, fans of the iPad will be hoping desperately that their cherished devices will get the software upgrades that the gorgeous hardware so badly deserves. And as ever, those people shall be disappointed. Let me dig into some predictions and why these changes won’t go as far as many user would like. Moreover, these changes will be unlikely to make your new M4 iPad Pro worth that huge wedge of money you just paid for it.
A Fresh Lick of Paint and Some Toggles
Every few years, iOS goes through a big revision of how it looks: app materials, construction, icons, etc. This year, we will see Apple move its design language in iPadOS so it aligns more closely to VisionOS. Expect more transparency/depth, floating UI elements, and less flat design language. Basically, the flatness rejection of skeumorphism from iOS7 will develop into looking like everything is made of textured glass. The next bit is easy to predict: this will look gorgeous and very of the moment, but it will — albeit temporarily — lead to some developers and observers complaioning that some UI elements are lost in the ‘I’ve just got out of a warm shower and my mirror and…
