There were a lot of exciting announcements yesterday at WWDC 2023, Apple’s yearly developer conference, especially with things coming to iPadOS 17. But one small Easter egg seems to have made its way in with the software update for longtime Apple fans.
Fans of the original iPad will remember the wallpaper that Apple’s first tablet had by default that was used in all of the promotional ads and marketing. Now, with iPadOS 17, it seems to be making a comeback.
Spotted first by Filipe Espósito from 9to5Mac, one of the new wallpapers available in the iPadOS 17 beta is a modernized version of the wallpaper used on the original iPad from way back in 2010 — showing a mountain range sitting across a pristine-looking lake. The new wallpaper has a handful of animated shooting stars that streak across the sky, but other than that, the two are nearly identical.
To get the wallpaper on iPadOS 17, open the Settings app, tap Wallpaper, tap Add New Wallpaper, scroll down to the Collections section, and you should see it there.
This is a nice nod to the iPad’s history, especially since the original wallpaper has been unavailable on iPads for several years at this point. While the reference may go over some iPadOS 17 users’ heads, it’s always fun to see small Easter eggs like this be included in major updates for the diehard Apple fans. Apple tends to periodically make small references to its past with new major software updates, but it’s been a while since the iPad’s history has been recognized officially like this.
While the revamped version of the wallpaper is certainly an exciting addition for iPadOS 17, there are plenty of other major changes coming with the operating system that fans are excited about. Some of yesterday’s biggest announcements for iPadOS 17 are the inclusion of lock screen widgets, a highly requested feature that debuted in the Apple ecosystem with iOS 16, and the addition of Apple’s first-party Health app to the iPad.
Those wanting to reminisce using the revamped iPad wallpaper will need to join the iPadOS 17 beta, which is available now. Otherwise, iPad owners will need to wait for the software to officially launch later this year in the fall. There’s currently no specific date for when we should expect the software update. However, given Apple’s history of updates, it’s a safe bet to expect it to come sometime in September.
Affinity’s new all-in-one creative app is finally coming to the iPad, nearly a year after Canva launched the redesigned desktop version for Mac and Windows. Creatives have been asking for the iPad release ever since, especially because files created in the new Affinity app cannot be opened in the older V2 iPad apps.
Affinity already has Photo, Designer, and Publisher apps on iPad, but the new release combines those tools into the same unified app that Canva launched on desktop last year.
Touchscreen laptops have been around for years. You can get them in all sizes and shapes. Just not from Apple. For years, the Cupertino giant has treated the idea of a touchscreen MacBook the way I treat a meeting that could have been an email: with open contempt. However, Wednesday looks like the day the company could finally change its mind.
The latest Apple invite puts the “Pro and Tell” showcase in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on October 28, 2026. Instead of a regular live-streamed keynote, it is an invitation-only, hands-on event for a handful of press and creators (similar to what the company did for the MacBook Neo earlier this year).
Apple has just launched its latest iPad mini with a notable set of upgrades, including an OLED screen, improved speakers, and a more resilient build. It also gets a new chip, and the whole package costs $200 more than its predecessor. But if you look closely at Apple’s online store, you’ll realize that $699 isn’t enough to get you the most powerful version of the A20 Pro chip inside this tablet. In fact, even if you pay $800 for the 256GB model, you still won’t get the beefiest variant. Only when you jump to the 512GB trim, which costs an absurd $999, do you get the most powerful flavor of the A20 Pro.
The $999 model gets more than extra storage