I’ve wantediPads and Macs to fusefor years.
They’re still separate in 2022.
And sometimes it doesn’t work at all.
Basically, it allows any nearby keyboard, seemingly, to control all devices.
Hence, Universal Control.
I’ve tried it on a12-inch iPad Proand thelatest iPad Airso far, alongside anM1 MacBook Air.
My MacBook cursor, when approaching the edge of my display, just leaps off and enters the iPad.
Yes, just like you could do with any other connected secondary monitor.
What makes it uncanny is that iPadOS runs differently.
Over in iPad-Land, the cursor becomes larger and morphs into the apps it hovers near.
It mimics how trackpads and keyboards and mice already work on iPadOS.
Before this, Apple already hadSidecar, which also let iPads act as Pencil-compatible second screens for Macs.
Universal Control feels like another step.
In Horizon Workrooms, a computer can control VR.
Or, your VR headset can interface with your box desktop and become a head-worn second screen.
In fact, cross-gear relationships are at the heart of what the current metaverse hype cycle is all about.
Not just for Apple, but for tech in general.
Universal, but not always intuitive
Universal Control isn’t intuitive to set up, though.
It doesn’t “just work” when you patch your OS.
I’m still getting used to it.
Also, it’s a beta feature.
But, is it fun to leap across both devices with one keyboard and trackpad?
Yes, yes it is.
And sometimes, controlling the iPad or Mac from the other gadget, it feels like mind-reading.
I still think iPadOS should evolve into MacOS or add a Mac layer, especially for pro-level iPads.
Macs are overdue for some touchscreen experiences, too.
While Universal Control doesn’t do that, it makes the devices feel so much more connected.
So close, and yet so far.
iPads still don’t extend to other monitors except with a few apps.
But what if they did?
And what if iPads ran an OS ecosystem similar to Macs?
Complete the journey, Apple, and revamp iPadOS at WWDC this year.
The pieces are all there.
The job just needs to be finished.
Let these worlds merge, because the walls are already growing thinner than ever.
