Universal Control is a Result of Years of Work on iPadOS, Says Apple Product Manager
Universal Control results from years of working on the iPadOS platform, allowing for a feature such as Universal Control that bridges the gap between the iPad and the Mac to exist, an Apple product manager has said in a new interview this week.
Vivek Bhardwaj, an Apple product manager who works on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, shed light on Apple's thinking about Universal Control in an interview on the AppStories podcast. Bhardwaj said that Apple's approach to Universal Control was to help create a more continuous experience between the iPad and Mac platforms, building on existing Continuity features such as Universal Clipboard and the ability to unlock a Mac with an Apple Watch.
For Universal Control to exist, Bhardwaj said that Apple had to first work on iPadOS as a platform itself. Bhardwaj references features such as the ability to drag and drop files, photos, text, and more across the system and support for using a trackpad on an iPad.
To use Universal Control, at least one Mac has to be in the workflow as it can't be used solely between two or more iPads. Regarding whether Universal Control could ever work between just multiple iPads, Bhardwaj said that Apple designed Universal Control with both the iPad and Mac in mind, adding that a considerable amount of Mac users also own an iPad, whereas many customers don't own two iPads.
In the interview, Bhardwaj also touched on Shortcuts coming to the Mac and what that means for automation on the platform. Universal Control became available to users after weeks of testing with macOS Monterey 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4, released earlier this month.
Popular Stories
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.
"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching.
In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...
