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iOS 19 could soon bring a desktop-like mode to the iPhone.
Early concept designs show that iOS 19 will be a refreshing look for its users.
Recently, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said the new update could introduce menus with rounded corners, circular buttons and several translucent effects across the system interface.
Now, tech leaker Majin Bu says iOS 19 will let iPhones with USB-C ports connect to external displays for extended screen space.
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With iOS 18, it's only possible to mirror your iPhone's screen rather than extend it so this is a huge leap forward for the Apple.
Bu described it as not to be a full-blown desktop mode like Samsung's Dex or how other Android phones have attempted it. Instead, it will function more like an extended workspace with a Stage 'Stage Manager like interface' to keep apps and windows organised.
If it works anything like Stage Manager on the iPad, users will finally get a taste of better multitasking and window management from their iPhones.
Bu described the feature as 'an enhanced multitasking mode that activates automatically when the keyboard is attached,' adding that it would be ideal for 'presentations, editing or enhanced viewing.' While it won't turn your iPhone into a Mac, it could make your external display feel a bit like using an iPad.
Moreover, the same leaks also suggest that Apple continues to blur the line between iPads and Macs.
Bu described that the iPad will work more like a Mac thanks to a new menu bar that will reflect the Mac’s top menu. Soon, we could be looking at a future where the devices become more similar, or at least work together more seamlessly.
Furthermore, 9to5Mac predicts that Stage Manager may not be exclusive to external displays. In fact, it could be a feature that ties into Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone - meaning that the larger internal display could make foldable phones easier and more natural to use and will function a lot like an iPad.
That said, Bu added there 'may be some limitations' to the extended display feature either in resolution or the number of apps that can be open at one time. But this is understandable and unlikely to draw many iPhone fans away. After all, the more people can use their iPhones in different situations, the more likely they are to keep buying them.
If Bu's leak proves accurate, it's only a glimpse of what Apple could roll out later this year. For now, we’ll have to wait for Apple to demo the iPadOS 19 at WWDC to understand how these new Mac-style features will fit together.
