OPINIONsmaller iPads – some of which have only 32GB of room.
I struggle with storage limits that small with a single
account. Apple’s experiment with schools shows that
file management needn’t be as complicated as it seems,
though, particularly if Apple allowed an administrator’s
account to place limits on downloaded files. And if
it is really worried about space, then it could limit
multi-user support to the iPad Pro. It even makes sense- with iPadOS, the Pro no longer has many big software
differences to distinguish it from its more affordable
cousins. After that, we’re left with a suspicion that
Apple only hasn’t introduced multi-user support for
the iPad is that it wants multiple users of the same
household or office to buy their own iPads.
I hope this will be the last editorial like this in our
pages. I hate the idea of waiting, but I’m also hoping
Apple is saving the feature in order to snazz up the
reveal for the next iPadOS, which almost certainly
won’t be as flashy as what we saw in June. Right
now, Apple’s prohibition of multi-user support keeps
the iPad from being quite the kind of household
staple Apple wants it to be. It clashes with Apple’s
commitment to privacy. And it’s time for it to go away.
OPINIONsmalleriPads–someofwhichhaveonly32GBofroom.
I strugglewithstoragelimitsthatsmallwitha single
account.Apple’sexperimentwithschoolsshowsthat
filemanagementneedn’tbeascomplicatedasitseems,
though,particularlyifAppleallowedanadministrator’s
accounttoplacelimitsondownloadedfiles.Andif
it isreallyworriedaboutspace,thenit couldlimit
multi-usersupporttotheiPadPro.Itevenmakessense
- withiPadOS,thePronolongerhasmanybigsoftware
differencestodistinguishitfromitsmoreaffordable
cousins.Afterthat,we’releftwithasuspicionthat
Apple onlyhasn’tintroducedmulti-usersupportfor
theiPadisthatitwantsmultipleusersofthesame
householdorofficetobuytheirowniPads.
I hopethiswillbethelasteditoriallikethisinour
pages.Ihatetheideaofwaiting,butI’malsohoping
Appleissavingthefeatureinordertosnazzupthe
revealforthenextiPadOS,whichalmostcertainly
won’tbeasflashyaswhatwesawinJune.Right
now,Apple’sprohibitionofmulti-usersupportkeeps
theiPad frombeingquitethekindofhousehold
stapleApplewantsittobe.ItclasheswithApple’s
commitmenttoprivacy.Andit’stimeforittogoaway.