Source: Luke Filipowicz / iMore
The puzzling issue of Apple’s new Stage Manager feature on iPadOS 16 has taken another bizarre turn after a developer discovered that the 64GB version of Apple’s iPad Air M1 doesn’t have a swap of virtual memory, although it was previously reported as a requirement for functionality.
Developer Steve Troughton-Smith took to Twitter stating:
Aside: TIL Virtual Memory Swap is only supported on iPad Air (M1) with 256GB storage or more. Stage Manager works on iPad Air (M1) at all storage sizes, so swapping is not a critical dependency. Interesting little information
With iPadOS 16, Apple introduced a new Stage Manager feature that allows users to perform more flexible multitasking on its best iPads, the M1 iPad Pro (2021) and iPad Air. From Apple:
For the first time on iPad, users can create layered windows of different sizes in a single view, drag and drop windows from the side, or open apps from the Dock to create groups of apps for more multitasking. faster and more flexible. The window of the application that users are working on is displayed prominently in the center, and other open applications and windows are arranged on the left side in order of recency.
As noted, this feature is limited to iPad M1s, including the aforementioned 64GB iPad Air, and we had been led to believe that was because virtual memory swapping was a requirement, at least in part. A Digital Trends post following WWDC 2022 included information seemingly confirming this requirement:
According to Apple, Stage Manager is exclusive to the M1 chips because of iPadOS 16’s fast memory swap feature, which Stage Manager relies on quite heavily.
This article no longer includes this information and an update states that “In a previous version, this article included a backhanded attribution to Apple regarding Stage Manager memory requirements details”.
The problem is that it would be quite controversial if Apple had said that Virtual Memory Swap was indeed a requirement for Stage Manager if the 64GB iPad Air doesn’t have this feature but can actually use the multitasking update.
A statement released by Apple does not specifically refer to VMS:
“Stage Manager is a fully integrated experience that delivers an all-new incredibly fast and responsive windowing experience and allows users to run 8 apps simultaneously on iPad and an external display with up to 6K resolution. The immediacy users expect from the iPad touch experience requires large internal memory, blazingly fast storage, and flexible external display I/O, all of which are delivered by iPads with the M1 chip.”
In an interview, Apple’s Craig Federighi spoke about the limitations and requirements of the feature, noting:
“Only the iPad M1s have combined high DRAM capacity with super high capacity, high performance NAND which allows our virtual memory swap to be super fast. Now that we allow you to have up to four apps on one panel plus four more – up to eight apps to be instantly responsive and have plenty of memory, we just don’t have that capability on other systems.”
While at least referencing VMS, he didn’t state that it was an explicit requirement for the feature and also noted that there were other limiting factors including screen support high-resolution externals that only come with iPad M1s, as well as graphics performance.
When contacted by iMore, Apple referred us to the original statement provided above, which as noted does not state that virtual memory swapping is a requirement for functionality. However, he notes “large internal memory” as one of the many factors required to power the feature.
Since the manager Is work on the iPad Air 64GB, and that the iPad Air 64GB does not supports virtual memory swapping, it seems clear that this is not a requirement for functionality, but it does help in terms of implementing its use. In Apple’s interviews and statement, the company further noted that there are other limiting factors, such as external display support and I/O control, fast storage, and graphics performance. .
Until iPadOS 16, Apple was criticized for putting high-powered M1 chips in its iPads without giving users features or software capabilities to take advantage of the extra juice. Unfortunately, some bizarre messaging around the first such feature to take advantage of this means the change hasn’t landed on secure footing.
As iMore’s Christine Romero-Chan said this week, it might have been better to give us more powerful ‘Pro’ level apps to run on the M1. If you’re craving one of the spiciest M1 iPads, the upcoming iPad Prime Day deals are a great place to start.
