Apple’s Giving iPad Users (slightly) More Control Over Their Home Screen

Screenshots by Alireza on Twitter

Apple is giving iPad users some increased control over their home screen. For years, iPhone and iPad users have been asking for a much more sophisticated home screen that gives them a lot of configuration options like on Android, but that’s obviously not been the case, even with the upcoming version of iOS and iPadOS.

Apple is, however, giving users some more control over their home screen on the iPad. In the latest developer beta of iPadOS 13, there’s a new option for “App Icon Size” within Settings that lets users switch between different layouts for the home screen (via The Verge).

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There are two different options: More and Bigger. More shows a total of 30 apps, with smaller app icons, while Bigger shows 20 icons at the normal size. And the former option is going to be especially useful for those with larger iPads like the iPad Pro where the home screen didn’t make full use of the screen real estate in the previous versions of iOS.

The new option is only limited to iPads, though, and it’s unlikely Apple will bring it to the iPhone. This is still a nice change and could be the beginning of many more customization options for the famously bland iOS home screen.

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Conversation 12 comments

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    30 July, 2019 - 10:33 am

    <p>This is why I hate apple products. Lack of understanding we are adults and should be able to customize our own user experience. I bet the fans will be foaming over this change.</p>

    • jimchamplin

      Premium Member
      30 July, 2019 - 10:59 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#445991">In reply to harmjr:</a></em></blockquote><p>Or we’ll say, “Finally!” because we’ve always wanted something like this, but honestly it’s a very small thing. </p><p><br></p><p>And we never really cared about customizing things like that. We don’t have tablets to putz around with settings. <em>We have them to run software.</em></p><p><br></p><p>Just sayin’.</p>

      • akcanuck

        Premium Member
        30 July, 2019 - 11:34 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#445994">In reply to jimchamplin:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yeah who would want options to make it better for you. Just take it and like it. </p>

    • DaddyBrownJr

      30 July, 2019 - 11:45 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#445991">In reply to harmjr:</a></em></blockquote><p>If Apple built a car, they'll probably wait until the the 13th version to give users the ability to change the driver's seat position. At that point the fans will cheer the innovation.</p><p><br></p><p>(I own an iPad and like it, but come on! Throw us a bone.)</p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      31 July, 2019 - 10:39 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#445991">In reply to harmjr:</a></em></blockquote><p>With every feature comes complexity. Apple doesn't want iOS devices to become PC's where there are thousands of settings. It has nothing to do with understanding we are adults. It has to do with complexity. Remember these devices don't come with instruction manuals and even if they did people wouldn't read them anyways.</p>

  • MikeGalos

    30 July, 2019 - 12:45 pm

    <p>And it's likely that even this tiny sop to user control of their experience was really driven by Accessibility requirements for those with vision disabilities. </p>

    • Jeffsters

      31 July, 2019 - 10:10 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#446020">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>Mikey!!! I I’m bored waiting on a plane tapping around here on my Apple iPhone, and given I don’t care to read or comment on Microsoft articles, I have no horse in that race, I always worry my Apple focus means I’ll miss your thoughtful commentary. Are you posting from your Windows phone? We really should have a drinking game dedicated to all the insightful comments about Apple you’ve made through the years and how damn lucky they have been in spite of your intellectual abilities and insights.</p>

  • DaddyBrownJr

    30 July, 2019 - 2:07 pm

    <blockquote><em><a href="#446037">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p>In landscape mode. Yay.</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    30 July, 2019 - 2:19 pm

    <p>Crikey, Apple are just the best. So generous, and you get a choice of two icon layouts. TWO. Unbelievable.</p>

  • digiguy

    Premium Member
    30 July, 2019 - 6:40 pm

    <blockquote><em><a href="#446040">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p>Just for your information, this option does not give you 30. It gives you back 20. The other betas so far were all at 30, with no option to go back to the IOS 12 style. Some people complained for ipad mini. So now you have the option to switch back.</p><p>For me 30 is the best option for any ipad size (I have them all). I only wish Apple would allow to put more icons on the dock, like in MacOS</p>

  • ReformedCtrlZ

    Premium Member
    30 July, 2019 - 6:56 pm

    <p>Of note, going with the “bigger” option removes the ability to pin the widgets section on the home screen.</p>

  • Patrick Wingert

    30 July, 2019 - 11:52 pm

    <p>I am incapable of choosing between the Two options. I prefer that Apple choose what is best for me. I am a Binar and can only understand two states only one of which I may exist in.</p>

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