The Apple iPad lineup has one huge flaw that diehard fans can't even defend. As such, the competition has chewed Apple with attack ads and negative press. Yet, all Apple has done is not address the issue one bit. It will include this update in its iOS 8 operating system.

What feature is it? 9to5Mac says it's split-screen mode wherein users can have two applications open at the very same time. The Samsung Galaxy NotePRO is arguably the master of this true multitasking domain in that it has the ability to have four apps open at once. Even the much maligned Microsoft Surface series of tablets has the ability to pin different apps to different sides of the screen from day one.

The update is fairly close to being realized, but there are one big caveat. The Apple iPad Mini (Retina or not) will not likely be getting this coveted feature. A 9.7-inch screen seems to be the bare minimum Apple would go as this feature is actually part of a larger plan... the seemingly dead iPad Pro project!

Another detractor from the overall excitement of this feature is that it doesn't work in portrait mode. It would actually be helpful, say, if you were reading The Wall Street Journal and decided that you wanted to see realtime stock updates above your article. Currently, the only way to quickly access two screens (separately) is by double-tapping on the home button. 

This split-screen experience is needed. It's Apple's way of playing catch up without admitting that it was late to the game. As a whole, iOS 8 seems to be focused on covering a lot of ground it ceded to Google's Android 4.4 KitKat software.

Another mea culpa is the fact that iOS 8 will be optimized for iPhone's 4.7 inches and up. Previously Apple swore by 3.5- and 4-inch displays, yet there is something to be said about actually viewing media in Full HD, something a large phone excels at. And in terms of attracting new customers and generating more revenue, larger screens are a necessity nowadays.

Are you looking forward to iOS 8? What features and experiences are you crossing your fingers for? Will the Apple iPad finally include NFC? Let us know in the comments section below.