For years, we've heard rumors that Apple is working on a larger 12-inch tablet called the iPad Pro. Now, new information could mean the device is becoming a reality.
iOS developer Steve Troughton-Smith tweeted some bits of iOS 9 code on Monday that refers to a larger screen size, hinting at a 12.9-inch iPad. He noted that the iPad's display resolution was listed as 2,732 x 2048. At 263 pixels per inch, it would just about match the pixel density of the current 9.7-inch iPad.
iPad Pro is 1366pt wide (so ~1006 tall)? Do the math and at 12.9" at 2X that's 263ppi, matches iPad Air… https://t.co/NyBROGR89V— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) June 15, 2015
At its Worldwide Developers Conference last week, Apple unveiled an early build of its next-generation iOS 9 software for developers to test, which is how Troughton-Smith had access to the code. iOS 9 will be available as a public beta in July as a free software update for iPhone 4S and later, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2 and later, and iPad mini and later.
A 12.9-inch iPad would be able to better handle some of the new features coming to the platform, including one that allows two apps to be viewed at once in a split screen. Other new iOS 9 features that Apple showcased at the conference could also find natural homes on a bigger screen, like the picture-in-picture feature that will let users watch videos while writing emails or responding to chats. The two-finger gesture, which will let users drag the cursor and select text, would be easier to use with extra screen real estate.
Troughton-Smith is known for finding hidden nuggets of functionality in Apple software. Last year, he discovered that iOS 8 had an early version of split-screen apps hidden in its code.
This fits with Apple's plan to make the iPad a central part of work life. Last year, it began partnering with IBM to develop a series of apps tailored to specific industries.