Skip to content

iOS and iPadOS 13.4 released: 8 things the new cursor brings to the iPad

  • by
  • 8 min read

Apple released iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4, and these bring several bug fixes and optimisations across devices alongwith an assortment of new features. The most notable updates being iCloud Folder Sharing, bundled applications across macOS and iOS, a revamped cursor experience for the iPad and a redesigned mail toolbar

The update size on the iPad Pro was 890MB, for iPhone’s the update size is around 780MB. Apple is also seeding security updates in the form of iOS 12.4.6 to older devices.

Also read: How does the new iPad Pro 2020 stack up against iPad Pro 2018?

iCloud Folder Sharing

iCloud Folder Sharing, a feature for iOS that was first announced at WWDC 2019, is now finally available with this release. It allows users to share and collaborate on projects seamlessly within Apple’s ecosystem or with anyone that uses iCloud on different platforms.

Bundled applications across macOS and iOS

With this update, Apple now allows developers to create applications with universal purchase support. This means users will now be able to make a purchase on the App Store and see versions of the app across the various operating systems become available at no added cost. This change also applies to in-app purchases and subscriptions.

Revamped cursor experience on iPadOS

Alongside Apple’s unveiling of the 4th generation iPad Pro, it also showcased a revamped cursor for iPadOS. This new type of mouse/ trackpad support replaces the unpolished Assistive Touch dependent controls. Below we have compiled some of the new controls/features that this feature brings.

The new contextual cursor (left) morphs form according to the content present on the screen whereas the old cursor (right) only mimicked touch behaviour.
  • Right-click to access secondary menus: Yes, right-click is now a thing in iPadOS. This will now bring up any menu that was usually accessible by Haptic Touch.
  • Click on Status icons in the upper right corner: This brings down the Control Centre.
  • Move the cursor to the bottom of the screen: This will bring up the Dock.
  • Move the cursor to the right end of the screen: This brings up all the applications open in Slide Over.
  • Swipe up with three fingers: Go back to Home (Magic Mouse and Trackpads only).
  • Swipe up with three fingers and hold: Enter Multitasking view (Magic Mouse and Trackpads only).
  • Swipe right or left with three fingers: Switch between open applications (Magic Mouse and Trackpads only).
  • Swipe right or left with three fingers when Slide Over is open: Switch between applications open in Slide Over (Magic Mouse and Trackpads only).

This new update also brings an Accessibility feature known as Full Keyboard Access that will allow you to map Siri Shortcuts to any key.

Release notes for iOS 13.4

This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements.

  • Nine new Memoji stickers, including Smiling Face with Hearts, Hands Pressed Together, and Party Face
  • iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app
  • Controls to limit access only to people you explicitly invite or grant access to anyone with the folder link
  • Permissions to choose who can make changes and upload files and who can only view and download files
  • Always-visible controls to delete, move, reply to, or compose a message in conversation view
  • Responses to encrypted emails are automatically encrypted when you have configured S/MIME
  • Universal Purchase support enables the use of a singular purchase of a participating app across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV
  • Recently played Arcade games appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue playing on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV
  • List view for See All Games
  • Third-party navigation app support for the CarPlay Dashboard
  • In-call information appears on the CarPlay Dashboard
  • AR Quick Look supports audio playback in USDZ files
  • Predictive typing support for Arabic
  • Adds status bar indicator to display when VPN has disconnected on iPhone models with all-screen displays
  • Fixes an issue in Camera where the viewfinder may appear as a black screen after launch
  • Addresses an issue where Photos may appear to use excess storage
  • Resolves an issue in Photos that may prevent sharing an image to Messages if iMessage is disabled
  • Fixes an issue in Mail where messages may appear out of order
  • Addresses an issue in Mail where the conversation list may display empty rows
  • Resolves an issue where Mail may crash when tapping the Share button in Quick Look
  • Fixes an issue in Settings where cellular data may incorrectly display as off
  • Addresses an issue in Safari where webpages may not be inverted when both Dark Mode and Smart Invert are active
  • Resolves an issue where text copied from web content may appear invisible when pasted when Dark Mode is active
  • Fixes an issue in Safari where a CAPTCHA tile may display incorrectly
  • Addresses an issue where Reminders may not issue new notifications for an overdue recurring reminder until it is marked as completed
  • Resolves an issue where Reminders may send notifications for completed reminders
  • Fixes an issue where iCloud Drive appears to be available in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote even when not signed in
  • Addresses an issue in Apple Music where music videos may not stream in high quality
  • Resolves an issue where CarPlay may lose its connection in certain vehicles
  • Fixes an issue in CarPlay where the view in Maps may move away briefly from the current area
  • Addresses an issue in the Home app where tapping an activity notification from a security camera may open a different recording
  • Resolves an issue where Shortcuts may not appear when tapping on the Share menu from a screenshot
  • Improves the Burmese keyboard, so punctuation symbols are now accessible from numbers and symbols

Also read: What’s the difference between POP and IMAP?

Release notes for iPadOS 13.4

This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. This update:

  • All-new cursor design highlights app icons on the Home Screen and Dock and buttons and controls in apps
  •  Magic Keyboard for iPad support on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later) and iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation or later)
  • Magic Mouse, Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2, and third-party Bluetooth and USB mouse support
  • Multi-Touch gestures on Magic Keyboard for iPad and Magic Trackpad 2 enable you to scroll, swipe between app spaces, go Home, access App Switcher, zoom in or out, tap to click, secondary click (right-click), and swipe between pages
  • Multi-Touch gestures on Magic Mouse 2 enable you to scroll, secondary click (right-click), and swipe between pages
  • iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app
  • Controls to limit access only to people you explicitly invite or grant access to anyone with the folder link
  • Permissions to choose who can make changes and upload files and who can only view and download files
  • Nine new Memoji stickers, including Smiling Face with Hearts, Hands Pressed Together, and Party Face
  • Always-visible controls to delete, move, reply to, or compose a message in conversation view
  • Responses to encrypted emails are automatically encrypted when you have configured S/MIME
  • Universal Purchase support enables the use of a singular purchase of a participating app across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV
  • Recently played Arcade games appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue playing on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV
  • List view for See All Games
  • AR Quick Look supports audio playback in USDZ files
  • Live Conversion for Zhuyin automatically transforms Zhuyin into the correct characters without pressing the space bar to convert text or select candidates
  • Live Conversion for Japanese automatically transforms Hiragana into the correct characters without pressing the space bar to convert text or select candidates
  • Predictive typing support for Arabic
  • Swiss German keyboard layout supported on iPad Pro 12.9-inch
  • On-screen keyboard layout for iPad Pro 12.9-inch now matches Smart Keyboard
  • Fixes an issue in Camera where the viewfinder may appear as a black screen after launch
  • Addresses an issue where Photos may appear to use excess storage
  • Resolves an issue in Photos that may prevent sharing an image to Messages if iMessage is disabled
  • Fixes an issue in Mail where messages may appear out of order
  • Addresses an issue in Mail where the conversation list may display empty rows
  • Resolves an issue where Mail may crash when tapping the Share button in Quick Look
  • Fixes an issue in Settings where cellular data may incorrectly display as off
  • Addresses an issue in Safari where webpages may not be inverted when both Dark Mode and Smart Invert are active
  • Resolves an issue where text copied from web content in a third-party app may appear invisible when pasted if Dark Mode is active
  • Fixes an issue in Safari where a CAPTCHA tile may display incorrectly
  • Addresses an issue where Reminders may not issue new notifications for an overdue recurring reminder until it is marked as completed
  • Resolves an issue where Reminders may send notifications for completed reminders
  • Fixes an issue where iCloud Drive appears to be available in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote even when not signed in
  • Addresses an issue in Apple Music where music videos may not stream in high quality
  • Addresses an issue in the Home app where tapping an activity notification from a security camera may open a different recording
  • Resolves an issue where Shortcuts may not appear when tapping on the Share menu from a screenshot
  • Improves the Burmese keyboard so punctuation symbols are now accessible from numbers and symbols

Also read: How to make an AR app with Vuforia and Unity 3D?

Aryan Surendranath

Aryan Surendranath

Has an interest in technology and video games. When not doing anything related to either of these you will find him with his books, educational or not.

>