9to5Mac, a reputable Apple news source, reports that Apple is working on a new 12-inch iPad, a considerable size upgrade from the current 9.7-inch iPad Air. Codenamed “J98” and “J99” (differentiated as the “Wi-Fi” and “cellular” models) these rumored new models are referred to in reports as the “iPad Pro.”
In order to make use of the expanded screen real estate, Apple intends to introduce a “dual-app” or “split screen” viewing mode that will allow the iPad to display multiple open apps at once in a Windows-like environment. Plans suggest support for 1/2, 1/3, and 2/3 app size viewing modes, enabling more robust multitasking that could turn the iPad into a real work machine. This feature is said to have been originally planned for iOS 8 to debut on the iPad Air, but was pulled due to being in an unpolished state. Resources instead went to finalizing the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, and Apple Watch.
Though this split screen functionality seems to be intended for the larger iPad Pro, the feature could debut on current iPad models as soon as Apple’s WWDC event next month, in June, when Apple is set to supposedly unveil iOS 9.
In addition to split screen, Apple is said to be redesigning core iOS features, such as Siri and Notification Center, to suit the larger display of the 12-inch iPad Pro. There are also rumors of multi-user login support, allowing multiple users to individually log in to the device with access to their own personalized set of apps, documents, and media. Along with rumors for external devices via USB, including keyboard and mouse support, the iPad Pro maybe be more in line with the Microsoft Surface tablet/hybrid than the traditional iPad tablet.
By Alfredo Dizon, eParisExtra 