This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
Apple's recent WWDC showcased new features for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, but the iPadOS 14 update has left many users underwhelmed. As an impatient iPad owner, I signed up for the Public Beta and installed the update immediately, expecting a whole new experience. However, the update feels like a minor tweak, with no visual changes to talk about.
One of the new features, widgets, is still on the left side of the screen, but adding them is now harder and can't be moved around. Siri's abilities remain the same, and the sidebar looks good on Apple Music, but it's not present in other Apple Stock Apps. The search function hasn't seen any significant improvements, and it feels like minor tweaks that could have been done through App Store updates.
However, there is one feature that stands out - Scribble. This feature allows users to write with the Apple Pencil in all text boxes, making it a game-changer for those who don't draw or write notes frequently. It's a feature that requires a whole OS upgrade, and it's the only new thing I've liked and seen an impact of with iPadOS 14.
While Scribble still feels finicky, it's made the Pencil more useful, and I enjoy using it to write URLs, search terms, and even blog posts directly in the browser. The Notes app has also improved, converting text when you copy what you've written. Overall, the iPadOS 14 update feels like a minor upgrade, and users shouldn't expect a lot when the official update rolls out.
