[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Apple's iPad operating system iPadOS 27 is set for release next month and changes system-wide usability, including the menu bar and how search is invoked.

An IT outlet, 9to5Mac, reported on Tuesday that notable changes in this update include an option to keep the top menu bar always visible and an expanded role for the Command-Space keyboard shortcut.

The biggest change is that users can now keep the menu bar on screen at all times. Under iPadOS 26, users had to swipe down from the top of the screen or move a trackpad cursor upward to see the menu bar. In iPadOS 27, turning off "Automatically show and hide menu bar" under Settings in Multitasking & Gestures keeps the menu bar visible.

The update appears to organise the iPad's top interface in a way similar to a Mac. The app name is also always shown on the status bar at the top left of the screen. Even if the menu bar is hidden, the current app name is designed to remain visible. Users can immediately see which app is active, and in environments that frequently use keyboard shortcuts, they can more easily track app switching.

The outlet noted of the feature, "iPadOS 27 can now keep the menu bar always visible." It also said, "The active app's name is now always shown," explaining that the status bar has taken on a role beyond a simple information area by showing work context.

There is also a change aimed at keyboard users. In iPadOS 27, Spotlight, which is invoked with the Command-Space shortcut, goes beyond search to include Siri AI functions. The shortcut was already a way to access search, but this version broadens its use by combining Siri and Spotlight into a single entry point.

The change stands out particularly in setups such as an iPad Pro with a connected keyboard. Users can instantly bring up Siri AI with a single shortcut and then continue using full Spotlight functions from the same path. The outlet said, "The new Spotlight not only improves search but also embeds the full functionality of Siri AI."

Query handling is also unified. The system determines whether a user's input should go to Siri or be handled as a Spotlight search. The outlet said, "From the user's perspective, there is no need to think about it and you can just type." Users do not have to distinguish between invocation paths and can maintain an input-centric flow.

The changes focus on system-wide usability rather than new features for individual apps. iPadOS 27 includes updates for several apps such as Notes, Messages, Calendar and Mail, but the revamp of the top interface and the search entry method is cited as a change that affects overall workflow. It appears to strengthen a Mac-like work feel particularly for users who use the iPad with a Magic Keyboard or trackpad.

Apple has been gradually bringing the iPad and Mac closer in input and multitasking experiences rather than fully removing the boundary between them. This iPadOS 27 is also in that vein. Always showing the menu bar and fixing the app name at the top, and the unified invocation system via Command-Space, are all changes aimed at keyboard-centric use. After the official release next month, attention will focus on how these changes affect the iPad's productivity experience.