Apple's iPad to get bigger dock, Files app, drag-and-drop & easier multitasking in iOS 11 [u]

In announcing iOS 11 on Monday, Apple revealed a host of new iPad-oriented changes, including a special dock, a new Files app, drag-and-drop support and more. [Updated to mention Files on iPhone]

The new dock is more Mac-like, displaying many more icons than the six allowed in iOS 10 — a section on the right is even reserved for apps predicted by Siri. There's also a new app switcher, and it should be possible to drag an icon up to quickly open a second window.

Drag-and-drop support lets users select and move multiple items at a time, such as links and images. This becomes particularly important with the new Files app, which offers a Finder-style interface with hierarchies, tags, and both local and cloud files, including not just iCloud Drive but third-party services like Box and Dropbox.

Tapping and holding on Files in the dock will bring up access to recent files. Content in the app, notably, is synced across devices.

Elsewhere, taking a screenshot of a PDF will launch a markup mode for Mail and Notes, and inline drawing has been enabled for Apple Pencil users. Handwritten text is now searchable by way of Spotlight and handwriting recognition, and Notes can serve as a document scanner, with perspective handling similar to Evernote's Scannable. Another Apple Pencil feature is Instant Notes, which will launch Notes from the lockscreen by tapping a Pencil on it.

The iOS 11 developer beta should be available today. A public beta should arrive at the end of the month, ahead of a free fall upgrade for all compatible devices. iPad users will need to have at least an Air, Pro, Mini 2, or fifth-generation iPad.

Update: Files is also available for the iPhone.

38 Comments

slprescott 759 comments · 10 Years

About 7 years ago

I found this a dramatic closing of the gap between iOS and macOS... at least in terms of the UI. This will increase people's willingness to view iPad Pro as a laptop alternative for a wide variety of tasks.

cleger 17 comments · 12 Years

And yet.. still no Multi-User. Like do they even listen to what the customer wants??? I have never been so unimpressed with an Apple keynote as I am right now. Literally NOTHING impressive has come for iOS today. We've got a whole year to wait to hope for more.

I hate the apple music redesign last year and was praying it would get a MUCH NEEDED refresh, but instead they brought it to the App Store.

Smh!

StrangeDays 12959 comments · 8 Years

cleger said:

And yet.. still no Multi-User. Like do they even listen to what the customer wants??? I have never been so unimpressed with an Apple keynote as I am right now. Literally NOTHING impressive has come for iOS today. We've got a whole year to wait to hope for more.

I hate the apple music redesign last year and was praying it would get a MUCH NEEDED refresh, but instead they brought it to the App Store.

Smh!

Speak for yourself, dude -- the keynote was awesome. iOS 11 cant come soon enough, so many cool additions. I dont care about multi-users. Might be cool but not a huge deal either way.

rogifan_new 4297 comments · 9 Years

Love the improvements to iPad Pro. Still shocked that the 12.9" isn't more popular. I could never go back to a smaller screen after that.

dick applebaum 12525 comments · 17 Years

cleger said:

And yet.. still no Multi-User. Like do they even listen to what the customer wants??? I have never been so unimpressed with an Apple keynote as I am right now. Literally NOTHING impressive has come for iOS today. We've got a whole year to wait to hope for more.

I hate the apple music redesign last year and was praying it would get a MUCH NEEDED refresh, but instead they brought it to the App Store.

Smh!

Like the iPhone, the iPad is meant to be a personal device.

The iOS 11 enhancements, especially for the iPad, are game changers.