The next mobile operating system from Apple, iOS 11, will give iPad users extensive software updates and long-awaited features, such as a file management tool and customisable app dock.
This was announced during the annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, California, last night.
The new OS gives iPads a redesigned dock at the bottom of the screen that acts more like the dock on an iMac. It also acts as an app switcher: dragging the app icon from the dock to the screen will open it next to the app that is currently open.
The new Files app, also available for iPhone users, is a file management system that places all files on the iPad together in one place for easy organisation. The Files app also contains files from third-party apps such as Dropbox.
Other updates specifically for iPad include drag-and-drop support and an updated Notes app that makes handwritten notes searchable.
The iPhone will also receive a few updates when the new system is released, including a redesigned control centre, a redesigned App Store and a new version of AirPlay. iOS 11 users in countries where ApplePay is supported will be able to send money through the Apple iMessage app.
Apple says it does not want its customers using its products while driving and so has introduced a 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' mode that will be activated when the phone senses the user is in a car. It will show a blank screen and not allow messages or calls to come through. This can be deactivated if the user is a passenger.
A developer beta version of iOS 11 was released yesterday. The public beta version will be available at the end of June and the final release is expected in September.
The company also updated its desktop operating system, called High Sierra, which it says sees its Safari search engine perform 80% faster than Chrome. Apple's e-mail app Mail will have its content take up 35% less disk space in the new OS.
Apple provided insight into how its software products have performed in numbers, such as: users take one trillion photos per year in its Camera app, there are now 27 million paid Apple Music subscribers, 500 million users visit the App Store weekly, there have been 180 billion app downloads to date, and developers have made $70 billion through the App Store.
The company sometimes uses WWDC to announce new products, as it did last night when it introduced the HomePod (a smart home speaker introduced by Apple under the guise of "reinventing home music"), which is Apple's answer to the Amazon Echo or Google Home.
Other hardware announced included a new iMac Pro that will be released in December, and substantial updates to the iPad, laptop and desktop ranges.
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