The iPad is going to get more useful when iOS 9 ships this fall because it introduces multitasking, or the ability to work with two apps at the same time. Apple also redesigned the on-screen keyboard to make it easier to type.
iOS 9 brings multitasking to iPad
The new keyboard features add task shortcuts to the suggestions bar so you can quickly perform actions like cut and paste, plus pressing on the keyboard area with two fingers turns your display into a trackpad.
Multitasking includes a new task switcher that uses a coverflow-like look to show your currently running apps, and a Slideover feature that lets you look look at another app quickly. Mr. Federighi described Slideover saying, "Often when I'm in an app like Safari I just want to check my messages. Slideover lets me slide my messages over. It's fully interactive."
Slideover is compatible with iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 2, and iPad mini 3.
Split View—available only for the the iPad Air 2—lets you run two apps at the same time. You can use half the display for each app, or use the majority display for most of one app and a small portion for the second.
Apple said apps designed the auto layout and class size features for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will carry over to the iPad now, too.
Apple's 2015 WWDC keynote is still underway, so be sure to follow along with The Mac Observer's ongoing live coverage.