Apple's iOS 13.4 delivers 'Shared iPad' feature to enterprise users

Apple with the release of iPadOS 13.4 and macOS 10.15.4 Catalina on Tuesday rolled out a handful of new enterprise tools that make its products more at home in the workplace, including hardware sharing features previously available to educational institutions.

As noted by Apple device management specialist Jamf, the latest iteration of iPadOS introduces Shared iPad for business and temporary sessions for Shared iPad, while macOS debuts Activation Lock management and tethered caching support. The MDM services firm is offering same-day support of each new feature.

Previously limited to Apple School Manager, Shared iPad allows businesses running Apple Business Manager to easily and securely support multiple users with one or more shared tablets. Using a managed Apple ID, employees can access personal data, apps and settings on communal iPads.

Building on the Shared iPad theme, iPads running iPadOS 13.4 can facilitate temporary sharing sessions without a Managed Apple ID. This option erases user data when an employee signs out, meaning a shared iPad is available for use immediately after a worker logs off.

With macOS 10.15.4, system administrators can allow or disallow Activation Lock, which requires an Apple ID password or device passcode to turn off Find My, erase a Mac's data, or reactivate a locked machine. Additionally, admins are now able to collect Activation Lock bypass codes in case they need to recover a locked Mac.

Finally, internet sharing and tethered caching can be remotely enabled on Mac, the latter of which can reduce software download and installation times on connected iOS devices.

Apple issued iPadOS 13.4 and macOS 10.15.4 alongside iOS 13.4, watchOS 6.2 and tvOS 13.4 on Tuesday, delivering a bevy of new features and bug fixes to its various hardware platforms.