Apple released iPadOS as a spin-off of the iOS operating system specifically for the iPad. And they did very well. The evolution in terms of iPadOS functions has been very much in line with the improvement in the hardware of Apple tablets. The integration of more powerful chips and software improvements have resulted in new functions such as Stage Manager or multi-screen support. iPadOS 16 allowed developers to prepare specific drivers for their products, but iPadOS 17 is able to directly recognize external webcams and microphones when connected via USB-C.
M ore versatility with iPadOS 17: webcams and microphones without drivers
iPadOS 16 as I said brought the DriverKit SDK which allowed developers to work with iPad specific drivers. However, iPadOS has opted for something more, just as it happens in macOS with keyboards, mice, webcams or microphones which, when connected, work directly without installing an external driver.
It came with iPadOS 17. And we’ve already seen it in the WWDC23 keynote last week where we saw an iPad connected to a Studio Display and, later, an external webcam and microphone connected. and use these accessories as main camera and microphone, without having to install anything. And it works with any USB webcam or microphone.
The iPad directly recognizes the accessory and is able to activate its functions without installing a driver, which is a step forward. Many users have tested a multitude of accessories and have not encountered any problems. However, it’s clear that a webcam or accessory probably isn’t working. There’s a lot of room for improvement and that’s what the betas are for before the official release.
