iPad: This is Apple’s next step to make iPad more like a desktop – Times of India

Apple announced its next generation operating system for the iPhone, ipad, Watch, TV and Mac at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2022 earlier this week. While every operating system is set to bring something new to the tablet, it is iPadOS that is receiving major improvements in terms of features giving a glimpse of the future possibilities.
iPadOS 16 M1-powered . Brings in real-time multitasking capabilities ipad And also features external display support.
In addition, iPadOS 16 also allows developers to create drivers for the iPad with the new DriverKit API, This is the first time iPadOS will allow developers to build something like this.
It’s also important to note that the DriverKit API was first introduced in macOS Catalina, It was meant as a replacement for a kernel extension. Also, the new API is an app extension that does not require any additional permissions ensuring maximum security for developers and users.
How the DriverKit API Will Give iPads Desktop-Grade Capabilities
Adding driver support to the iPad via iPadOS will make it easier for developers to build compatible accessories and devices. They can now design specific drivers for their devices specifically to make them compatible with iPads.
iPadOS 16 is the first step in that direction and for now, it only supports PCI, usb and audio devices.
But the whole idea is much bigger than just making the devices compatible with iPads. As mentioned, the DriverKit API is also available on macOS and developers have been building drivers for macOS for some time. This means that if a driver and device are compatible with Apple’s silicon, it is also ready for the iPad and developers can easily port them to the iPad.
It will also allow Apple to provide a desktop-level experience on the iPad.
According to reports, the iPad drivers can be distributed through the App Store. However, users will need to enable them manually from the settings. Also, downloaded drivers will only work when a compatible external device is connected to the iPad.