Blender 3D modelling software to be released on iPad
The Blender Foundation team has announced that they have started working on a version of the app for iPad Pro with Apple Pencil. The developers aim to create not a stripped-down mobile version, but a full-fledged Blender experience on touch screens.
According to the developers, the most frequent question they were asked was when will the iPad version be released! Apple's marketing influence is clearly evident here: by installing M-series processors in laptops and tablets and showing tablet versions of video editing applications at the presentation, Apple tried to sell the iPad as a tool for professionals. It proved difficult to work seriously on the iPad, but the progressive idea excites the imagination.
Currently, the team is at the stage of adapting the app concept to the touch controls and limitations of the iPadOS file system. It seems that the work is still at a very early stage and the developers are inviting specialists to join this project. At the same time, the iPad version of Blender is planned to be shown at the SIGGRAPH 2025 conference in Vancouver.
Blender is an open-source application for creating 3D graphics. It is completely free and is developed by the non-profit Blender Fundation.
By the way...
It's not entirely true to say that Blender can't be tried on a tablet right now. The iPad does a great job of extending the desktop and duplicating it completely, and many users actually use the iPad touchscreen in this way to work with professional applications.
What is the result
The touchscreen with the Apple Pencil can be a handy tool for creating 3D graphics. However, the limitations of the operating system pose serious challenges for developers, which will not be easy to overcome. It will still not be possible to use the iPad completely autonomously - ready-made model files cannot be used on the iPad. Instead, such an app can be useful for people who are on the road and don't want to waste their free time without work. Creating a simple 3D model and then uploading it to your PC when you return home can be useful. Blender on iPad is not only a test for Blender developers, it's also a test for the iPad - to what extent its power can be fully applied in real professional applications. I really want the experiment to be successful, and users will have a choice of how they prefer to work.
Source: arstechnica.com
