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Apple accidentally reveals iPadOS ahead of WWDC keynote

Apple accidentally reveals iPadOS ahead of WWDC keynote

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Doesn’t a more productive iPad deserve its own operating system?

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple’s mission to make the iPad more of a productivity machine and PC replacement at WWDC 2019 might include giving its underlying software a new name. References to “iPadOS” have appeared on the company’s website ahead of today’s keynote, suggesting that Apple will split iOS as we know it today into two versions: one for iPhone (still iOS), and the other for iPad.

The new name was first spotted by iOS developer Steve Moser. Its presence on other sections of Apple’s developer website has been confirmed by Steve Troughton-Smith.

Rumors have pointed to notable multitasking improvements coming to the next major software update for iPad, and there have also been reports of a revamped home screen. With those changes in mind, forking iOS and giving the iPad its own standalone OS makes a lot of sense. Presumably, other features that have been rumored for iOS 13, including a dark mode and an improved Reminders app, will also appear in iPadOS.

Developing… we’re adding more to this post, but you can follow along with our WWDC 2019 live blog to get the news even faster.