Veteran iPad users may not think iPadOS 15 is a really significant update. As a frustrated user who wanted a more Mac-like experience, I was certainly disappointed at first glance. But the more I looked at the changes in iPadOS 15, the more I realized what a game changer it is for the iPad.

Multitasking has been around on the iPad for a long time, dating back to iOS 9 before "iPadOS" was introduced. But this update refines it in a way that allows more people to take advantage of the iPad's potential, rather than viewing it as something that does one thing at a time or just consumes content.

One small change that shouldn't be taken for granted is the multitasking menu button at the top of every app in iPadOS 15. prior to iPadOS 14, there was a line in this space that you could drag down to detach windows so that multitasking of any kind was possible.

Windows can be moved and placed on opposite sides of the screen in split view, centered to full screen mode, or placed on top of another app as a slide-over app. as an iPad power user, i have learned how to split the screen on the iPad and how to use the iPad to write articles on how to use slide-over apps on the iPad, I have learned those features.

But unless you pay close attention during setup (most people just tap "Next" until they're done), use the iPad Tips app (most people won't), or read our article (I would), it's not clear how it works. In fact, it's not clear at all. In the words of "Little Shop of Horrors," that little horizontal line does not shout "Tap me, Seymour. It says, "Hey, I'm the line."

But the button with the three dots screams, "Tap me. You see this kind of icon in every app, especially in Chrome, as an indicator of options. It's a multitasking option.

Tapping this button opens a small menu with three options: full screen, split screen, and slide over. These little glyphs may not be obvious to all at first glance, but they are much easier to try and understand than the process of dragging and dropping bars. And with this change in design language, more people will discover iPad multitasking for the first time.

Prior to iPadOS 15, multitasking users who wanted to pair apps were primarily able to start multitasking by dragging apps from the dock to the screen and splitting the screen or using the app in slide-over mode. This meant that they had to choose wisely which apps to put in the dock. Dragging

But there was a secret way to get different apps. If you had an external keyboard, you could use Command+Space to search for an app that was not in the dock and drag the app's icon from the search results onto the screen. However, not everyone had a keyboard, so the apps you wanted to multitask with were limited to the dozen or so apps in the dock.

Now, iPadOS 15 solves this problem with a new interface change. When you drag the little three-dot button down, it disappears to reveal the entire iPad home screen. And the app you select will either replace the split-view app you moved down, or fill the other half of the screen if you moved the three-dot button for a full-screen window.

This is one of those iPadOS 15 "this is how it should have been from the beginning" moments.

iOS14 introduced App Library to organize all apps by category (without folder management) and reduce the number of pages on the home screen. iPadOS14 did not have this feature, which was strange to say the least. Certainly the iPad screen is larger and can store more applications.

Now, thankfully, iPadOS 15 includes the App Library, which helps in three ways. Of course, it also reduces the number of home screens. As demonstrated at WWDC, when editing the Home screen by long-pressing an icon, a subtle button appears at the bottom of the screen indicating the number of app pages. Tapping that button displays the entire Home screen at once, and clicking the "minus" button deletes the entire app page, trapping the app in the App Library.

Next, remember I said that swiping the three dots button brings up the Home screen. In the bottom right corner, on the "Recommended Apps" side of the dock, you will see an "App Library" button that is not present in iOS 15 (probably due to space limitations).

Putting the App Library there is basically Apple's way of giving the iPad its own version of the Windows Start menu. However, the apps can be organized by type and sorted alphabetically (in the search field at the top of the screen).

Finally, there is also the ability to "display widgets anywhere on the home screen."

This is a big deal for all that screen space. The dock allows easy access to most of your favorite apps. You may feel that the space is underutilized, but now you can maximize it. You get functionality similar to a desktop or dashboard, and all your favorite app widgets (including the new XL-sized photo widget that we think is ideal) are displayed.

This makes the iPadOS 15 home screen more complete and a more productive place to find information and take pictures of family, friends, and good food.

I am still eagerly awaiting an iPadOS update that will allow apps to work more harmoniously, which the sandbox clearly prohibits. So until Apple addresses this issue, I will appreciate iPadOS 15's serious improvements in the way users can make their apps work side-by-side.

Many users may wish the iPad would be more like a Mac. But this makes it easier for everyone to find ways to use the iPad more effectively. And that's a pretty big win.